Outreach to Asia

Liberty hockey players will spend spring break overseas

Despite having finished their last game, the Liberty University Division I Men’s Hockey team continues its involvement both on and off the ice by gearing up for its first cultural engagement trip to East Asia.

The team will complete this outreach program during spring break, leaving March 10 and returning March 19.

The trip will allow the hockey players to connect with the culture of East Asia, share stories and compete athletically.

“The doors have really opened over there,” Associate Head Coach Jeff Beottger said. “We are going to be running some youth hockey clinics and we’re playing four games. Our first game will be with a club team, the second will be an Asian national team, the third game is with an under 20 league, and the fourth game will be with a university from South Korea. So there’s a lot of different levels, and impact opportunities.”

According to Beottger, the hockey program is hoping to establish international partnerships through this trip by joining the other teams in a meal after the games, and possibly organizing a function at Liberty for the abroad teams.

“Sports really break down barriers and allow for connections,” Beottger said. “We might even be able to recruit some players.”

Beottger, a former professional hockey player, participated in similar trips when he was 20 years old, and now has been encouraging his players to travel like he did.

“It’s great to be able to see this type of thing done with Liberty hockey, because it had a huge impact on my life,” Beottger said. “There’s a lot of growth that can come from this.”

And while the hockey players are giving up their spring breaks for a trip halfway across the globe, the team members do not consider this opportunity to be sacrificial.

“I don’t look at it as giving up my spring break, it’s a trip of a life time,” the team’s captain said. “I can honestly say that I’m looking forward to every aspect of this trip.”

The hockey team has launched several campaigns to raise funds for the trip, the most recent of which being a “Division 4” hockey game, where the Division I hockey team competed against the rink employees.
Throughout this “Division 4” game, spectators could donate money and set stipulations and obstacles for the players.

“During the first period, my teammate and I were tied together with bands from the gym,” the team captain said. “We were slingshot-ing each other, skating backwards, and taking other people out with the band, which would then make us fall. We actually took out our goalie in warm-ups when we accidentally close lined him with the band. During the second period, I had to play with the butt end of my stick and I had my skates tied together. I was just falling all over the place. It was honestly one of the funniest moments I’ve had in a while.”

Each player has the obligation to raise $2,200 for the trip, however, they work as a team to make sure nobody is left behind for financial reasons.

“The guys have done an awesome job (raising money), and for the last month or so it’s been pretty hard,” Boettger said. “So we’re just trying to finalize the last few thousand dollars to be able to wrap it up.”

As well as trying to encourage his team, Boettger also encourages others to help with this trip by donating to the team through hockey@liberty.edu.

Editor’s Note: Names and locations have been changed for security purposes.

RICE is a feature reporter.