After finishing 2-10 in their
first season, the MSU club
hockey team is looking forward
to a fresh start with a full
roster and new faces under second-
year head coach Michael
Mayhew.
Despite a sub-par first season,
a fresh start means the
team is aiming for the title
of Southeastern Champions
among SEC schools.
As a prospective club team,
MSU was able to compete in the
first SEC this spring. However,
Tennessee was the first to be
crowned champs.
All SEC schools competed
in the Division III tournament
with the exception of Auburn,
Ole Miss and Kentucky. Auburn
is still without a team while Ole
Miss has recently formed one,
and Kentucky is in Division II.
The MSU hockey team’s first
game of the 2009-2010 season
will set them up against
Vanderbilt in a two-game series
on Oct. 2-3 in Nashville, Tenn.
The schedule also includes
games against SEC teams such
as Ole Miss, Georgia, Arkansas
and LSU.
With Ole Miss now having a
team, another rivalry between
the Bulldogs and the Rebels will
now make an appearance on the
ice in several two-game series
this season.
According to club president
Alex Palmer, the team
is attempting to have a bestof-
three competition with the
Rebels resulting in a winner the
week of the Egg Bowl.
The victor will receive a
trophy resembling that of the
Egg Bowl but will also have a
“Stanley Cup” look to it as well,
Palmer said.
Recruiting efforts for the
2009-2010 season did not
require social networking sites
such as Facebook and a wordof-
mouth campaign to bring in
players.
“Last year, we had people,”
Palmer said. “This year we have
a team. We’re going to be a force
to reckon with in the SEC.”
While hockey is catching on
in the South, MSU students
who happen upon such an
opportunity take up the chance
to play.
play.
“I think it’s great because
there are obviously people on
campus that are going to want
to be a part of it, and it’d be
a great opportunity for them,”
sophomore Lee Berkley said.
With most of the team consisting
of players from Mississippi,
Alabama and Tennessee, players
such as Mike Killian, Joe
Lamerson, Cory McCorn and
Palmer have northern roots.
Mike Killian, a 54-year-old
MSU undergrad from Grand
Island, N.Y., received his degree
from the Mississippi University
for Women and planned on
coming to MSU for a graduate
degree, and found out a hockey
team was starting up.
“I signed up for nine hours
so I could be eligible to play
hockey,” Killian stated.
Palmer, of Buffalo, N.Y.,
came to MSU after his father
got a job with the university.
Palmer saw the opportunity and
established the team.
Joe Lamerson is also from
N.Y. while Cory McCorn hails
from Champaigne, Ill.
“[Lamerson] is going to be
our superstar this season,”
Palmer claims, “He was going
to play NCAA hockey, but he
injured his knee and decided to
come down here.”
With the closest ice rinks
located in Tupelo, Miss.,
Pelham, Ala. and Decatur, Ala.,
not only is it a hassle just to
drive to practices, it also provides
lower attendance numbers
at games.
“It takes away from a lot of
people that would go if you
can’t just walk to the other side
of campus,” Barkley said. “But
to drive an hour limits people
who would do that.”
Palmer said if the economy
were to pick up, the possibility
of an on-campus ice rink could
be a factor.
“But long after I’m gone,”
Palmer added. “I would love
to come back and watch ice
hockey on campus at MSU.”
A possibility of rinks located
in the Golden Triangle could
also be in the mix.