Hockey

When you think of Kansas athletics, you think of basketball, football and maybe even the Kansas Relays. Most people don't think of hockey. But KU does have a hockey team and it's growing.

Adam Paulitsch, St. Louis sophomore Goaltender, said there was more awareness on campus of the team than there was just a year ago.

"I think definitely more people are aware of the hockey team than when I first got here and that was just over a year ago." Paulitsch said. "We as a team have been campaining on Wescoe, selling bus tickets. We have a part bus that goes to every home game and attendance has increased."

The Jayhawks compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), which is a seperate entity from the NCAA. Other Big 12 teams in the league include Colorado, Iowa State, Nebraska and Missouri. There are no scholarships in the ACHA. Instead, each player has to pay to play. But according to Tim Veach, Pittsburgh senior assistant captain, that hasn't hurt recruiting.

"Well we've gotten a lot more serious," Veach said. "We've got some dedicated guys, the talent level has gone up. Last year we had a real good freshman class. We've got a lot more interest from out of state guys. We've got guys emailing us from Minnesota, Missouri. I had a couple guys back home in Pittsburgh email me wanting to play. So the skill level is definitely going up."

Coach Marty McSorley played for the Jayhawks from 2000 to 2004. He has seen the schedule increase from just nine games five years ago to almost thirty this season.

"Every year, it gets more and more, with exposure and games we get," McSorley said. "It's getting to the point where we are an established program and players can come here out of high school."

The Jayhawks resume their home schedule February, 3 at 8 p.m. at the Ice Midwest Center at 135th Street and Quivira Road in Overland Park.