CLUB SEAHAWKS
Chris Day still plays ice hockey several times a week in one of several adult leagues. So does Tony McCabe, assistant coach of the UNCW
Club Ice Hockey team. Because they know each other on and off the ice, Day was able to arrange for Christian to practice at the collegiate
level during the week.
Tony says Christian is allowed to
practice with the club team because the
full-time roster took a big hit during
Hurricane Florence when the university
was closed for weeks and on-campus
activities, including athletic club prac-tices,
GOING FORWARD
For younger players like Harrison Hockaday,
Christian recommends they learn to skate as
fast as they can. Off the ice, he conditions
himself with speed drills and running, as well
as weight lifting, squats, lunges and ab exer-cises
at the gym.
Harrison Hockaday says playing ice hockey
has taught him to learn from mistakes, to
value teamwork and to respect leadership.
“When I was a second-year squirt, I had the
honor of being the team captain,” Harrison
says. “This position taught me how to be
a leader and helped me learn to listen to
others.”
Christian stays in contact with his former
U14 Icehawks teammates and agrees that
girls need their own league, because “boys
get stronger faster.” Peyton sees herself earn-ing
“scholarships for the sport that I love. It
would also be cool to start coaching a girls
team when I’m older. I help coach the begin-ners
team now and I love it.”
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were prohibited. The number
of full-time players shrank from 25 to
14. Skating speed, puck-passing skills,
and physical conditioning to mini-mize
injuries are college level qualities.
Christian’s size qualifies him to practice
with the college team; but, he admits,
“They are a lot smarter than others I
play with.”
CAMERON STARK
Hunter Phillips, No. 9 UNCW Club Ice
Hockey team captain, is assisted by
No. 14 Jacob Bowers during an away
game at Elon University in October.