Norwich women's ice hockey
returns for fourth season

By Candace Bushey
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Norwich Women's Ice Hockey returns for their fourth season on the ice with determination and a positive attitude that will help lead them into a winning season. Hitting the ice nearly two weeks ago, the women's club sport has over thirty players who will bring talent and experience to the program that it has never seen.

"We've got really good potential with a bunch of girls that have little or no skating experience," said Ken Goslant, Norwich Women's Ice Hockey Coach. "We've been trying to increase the numbers in the program. This is the first year I feel it has progressed; we have more girls than we've ever had."

"I think it's (the program's) come a long way," said Leitra Buckley, 20, a criminal justice major from Duxbury, Mass. "This year we seem to have stronger skaters, so I think we can work on different skills than what we were working on at this time last year."

"This year it's a big difference skating-wise; the people who came back are stronger, faster, and quicker," said Jason Molino, 21, a political science major from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and the Norwich Women's Ice Hockey Assistant Coach "The people that we're added on, are better skaters as well as they know how to play the game."

Goslant hopes to "mold everybody into a team and keep them working hard, way above and beyond any of the levels that they have ever skated at before."

The women started preparing for the season a month before they hit the ice. "They trained five days a week," Molino said, adding that by doing dry land practices the women prepare more and get better.

Both Balserus and Buckley would like the program to grow to a varsity status.

"We have a good amount of support from the school but we could use some more, in order to move onto a varsity level," Buckley said.

Goslant said he would be happy just becoming "a really good club team," but in order for that to happen, "the school needs to bring in some experienced skaters." He added that "as soon as the program gets some experienced skaters in, it will blossom."

"Recruiting to get girls to come to Norwich and play hockey will just bring our team up another level that we couldn't do on our own," Buckley said.

"Without recruiting its hard to build a team with just getting skaters who have never played before and putting them together for four years," Molino said. "They'll be good at the end of four years but its not what a varsity program is made out of."

Even though this is the largest women's hockey team since the program started, Goslant said that "nothing has really changed because we're not getting any experienced players in to help get the other players at a higher level."

Buckley said the school, "should invest more money and help us with recruiting."

Goslant added that by doing this "it would increase enrollment and really put Norwich on the map more than it is today.

"I don't think the school's supportive at all," Balserus said. "We need better ice time, more funding and recruiting."

"A little bit better ice time, experienced players and a coach that can be there a lot more than I am to take this to the next level," Goslant said. "Is Norwich University ready for that? I wonder, because it hasn't been done at this point."

As far as the season is concerned, Buckley said the team plays 10 to 15 games a year.

Molino added that due to having a new facility and little funding, the team can't really travel.

"I've only traveled four places in the last three years," Balserus said, "because of the tight budget, twice to St. Michaels College, once to Skidmore and once to Plattsburgh."

According to Goslant, Norwich is supportive in some respects by having the ice available, supplying uniforms, gloves, pants and helmets.

"However, as far as support, Middlebury College has a top ranked team, St. Michael's College doesn't even have a rink and they have a varsity team, obviously UVM has a team," Goslant said.

"I strongly believe Norwich could really do a lot more that would help their enrollment, that would bring more and more girls here every year," Goslant said. "Women's hockey is here to stay; it's not a fad."

"It surprises me that so many girls are interested in playing hockey," Buckley said "Girls that have never played the sport before."

"People have really got to respect the girls at Norwich," Goslant said, "because at least they are trying to do something that is very difficult to do."

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