UNC club hockey team provides a unique opportunity for students

At a university with a history of elite varsity athletics, the UNC club hockey team is creating its own identity.

For the past 30 years, the club has competed in the ACC Hockey Men’s Division II league, unlike the other North Carolina teams that play at the Division I level.    

Without scholarship funding and recognition as a UNC varsity sport, club hockey provides a different type of opportunity for athletes. These players can continue their career at a high level all while forging the bonds that are often synonymous with teams. Players have the chance to travel across the country, compete for championships and work toward eventually securing that Division I recognition. 

Starting in 2025-2026 the team will be elevated to compete in the ACHA Division I and become a founding member of the ACCHL M1 Division alongside Alabama, Louisville and N.C. State. Joining the ACHA Division will allow the team to play higher caliber opponents as they continue to progress towards NCAA Division I. 

Although, until then, playing on the club hockey team is more about enjoying the sport itself. 

Upon coming to North Carolina, senior Michael Vaglia has been playing hockey his whole life. When he got into UNC, he reached out to then-head coach Jeff Volkman about joining the team. 

But although the ice hockey team doesn't receive the same funding, players still have to adjust to balancing academics with the physical demands of the sport. The team practices twice a week and plays almost every weekend throughout the fall semester.

To manage their time effectively, many players try to make use of certain pockets of time so that when it's game time, their only focus is hockey. 

“Working on bus trips has become pretty mandatory for me,” Vaglia said. “It's not a time to relax. You've got a five hour bus trip to Maryland or something — that's time to try and hammer on a paper or finish an assignment.”

Despite the demanding nature of being collegiate athletes, there are certain moments in the sport that many players argue make it all worth it. 

“I got on the team and what really helped me fall in love with the team was just the people on it," Vaglia said. "The seniors that were there when I came in as a freshman were super welcoming and helpful.”

One of those moments came in the form of UNC beating N.C. State in 2022 to win its first ever Governor's Cup. 

“It was an incredible experience to play out there,” senior Ben Edwards said. “We played at PNC Arena in front of thousands of fans, and it was the first Governor's Cup win in program history. It was really impactful, really special for our program, and it was incredible.” 

It is particularly special for the players when they compete in front of large crowds, like PNC Arena, as the team faces challenges getting fans to home games. The Tar Heels currently play at the Orange County Sportsplex in Hillsborough — about 30 minutes off campus — however, that is set to change. 

In December 2023, the club hockey team announced their new 2,000 seat arena plans, scheduled to open in time for the 2026-27 season. This will allow the team to have increased time on the ice, more convenient game times and increased fan engagement, as the new arena will be 10 minutes from campus in Carraway Village. 

“It's going to be really special to see the kind of growth another rink can bring to this area,” Edwards said.

Although club hockey at times can be a grueling experience that requires much time and physical energy, the Tar Heels are on the trajectory to become a Division I recognized team. But for senior Spencer Haskell, competing with his teammates makes the journey fulfilling in the interim. 

“It's really rewarding to go out there with 20 of your closest friends and to work hard and put in the work and fight and get the result,” Haskell said.

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