By Travis Hall ’19, Staff Writer

With time running down until Lebanon Valley College men’s ice hockey team takes the ice for its home opener, the players are getting set for a new challenge.

After finishing the year ranked seventh in the nation as a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the Dutchmen are slated to make their long awaited return to the NCAA. The LVC ice hockey team participated in the Eastern College Atlantic Conference West division until 2010 when they moved to the ACHA. Now, the Dutchmen will be joining the ECAC West once again.

“I take the return to [Division III] as a tremendous opportunity and honor,” P.J. Hefferin, senior captain, said. “We have the opportunity to rebuild the program’s name back to where it once was within the NCAA, and show that our school belongs here. This league and division is highly competitive, and every single night we throw on that uniform, we will be going to battle.”

The Dutchmen begin full practices next week but have been on the ice for captains’ practices for the past three. Senior assistant captain Jake Thomas feels good about the direction the team is headed.

“As far as our play goes, I think we have a legitimate shot at being a very good team,” Thomas said.

What the Dutchmen lack to start the season will be experience at the Division III level. However, Hefferin played one season of Division III at Becker College before transferring to LVC. Now entering his third year as captain, he is optimistic about what his tenure in the NCAA will bring to the locker room.

“What I learned from that experience is that every single player on the team—on the ice and in the stands—plays an important role in the team’s success,” Hefferin said. “If we have everyone pulling the rope in the same direction with the same goal in mind we will be successful.”

The Dutchmen launch their return to the NCAA on October 29 at Hersheypark Arena at 7 p.m. Admission will be free to students with a school ID.