Here at St. John’s, there is a group of men who are driven by love and passion for a sport. They give up hours of their busy evenings to participate in “The League.” The League is a group of students on campus who play intramural hockey.
This intramural activity has quickly become one of the most popular and exciting sports on campus. Intramural hockey has a high level of competition that most of these Johnnies are looking for. They also believe it has the perfect balance of fun and a laid back atmosphere.
League games are played every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in Richmond, Minn, at the River Lakes Hockey Arena. The games are split into two 22.5-minute halves and each team plays once or twice a week. The teams have 12-15 men and are responsible for paying an entry fee of $375. The League is overseen by Bob Alpers, head coach of the SJU golf team.
These Johnnies play their games with an intense spirit of competition and pride. Games are five-on-five with the players covering all of the regular positions of a hockey team, including a fully padded goalie. Some teams even have “student coaches” who motivate their team from the bench.
“This league is what gets me through the week,” sophomore John Sloan said. “I love the com- petition and rivalry that goes along with hockey. My team is named the “Back Door Bandits,” which of course refers to the back door opportunity for a goal. We have a lot of fun, and I love being able to keep playing hockey.”
This intramural league gives an opportunity for other athletes to keep their competitive drive going for the entire year.
“I play for the Charleston Chiefs,” senior Ben Vangsness said. “This team is made up of guys from the SJU golf team, and we are doing pretty well at 4-1 this season.”
Like most Johnnies in the league, Sloan and Vangsness grew up playing hockey and par- ticipated in the sport while they were in high school. The amount of Johnnies who played hockey in high school and still play intramural hockey in college is one of the reasons that this league is so competitive.
The League welcomes students looking for a competitive intramural hockey experience.