Flames DII and DIII hockey teams own the ice
When 3,000 fans rock Liberty University’s LaHaye Ice Center during the Flames Division I men’s hockey games, it may seem that those nights are all the arena is made for. But it is made for much more than that.
LaHaye Ice Center houses the club sports offices and a weight room. It hosts figure skating competitions, intramural broomball games, free skating hours for the public, Liberty women’s hockey contests and other events for the Lynchburg community.
It is also the home of the men’s Division II and Division III hockey teams, who — like the DI squad — are pursuing excellence both on and off the ice as they enter the second half of the 2018-19 season.
Anchored by senior defenseman Jackson Roy and second-year head coach Ben Hughes, the Division II team stands at 7-3-1 after routing the University of Virginia, 6-1, Nov. 4.
“We have really high expectations just based off the personnel that we have,” Hughes said. “We have a lot of depth. … In terms of executing, I think we’re getting there.”
The Division III team, meanwhile, has exceeded expectations under first-year head coach Jared Smith, winning its first eight games before tallying a tie and a loss versus Kennesaw Nov. 3 and 4.
Smith is ecstatic about setting a DIII program record with the most wins to begin a season, while the accumulative record of 8-1-1 at the midway point of the season is no reason for complaints, Smith said.
“Obviously, (I’m) very happy with the start,” Smith said.
The coaches pointed to the players who have stepped up in leadership — specifically Roy, team captain for the second straight season, and senior defenseman Dillon Brown, the Division III team captain — as huge factors in each teams’ chase for success.
“They’re the ones that are really building that culture in the locker room and making sure that everyone wants to be there,” Hughes said. “As you know with sports, too, it’s more fun and I think you do better when you want to be there. So that’s what we’re trying to accomplish, and I
think we’re close.”
Hughes leans on Roy, who has collected four goals and five assists on the year, to help establish an uplifting environment and consistent excellence. It is a huge responsibility in Hughes’ mind, since the DII Flames have 11 freshmen on its roster.
“Just making sure guys are excited to come to the rink and excited to be on a team and excited to go on the road and things like that,” Hughes said. “Because I think once you bring that energy and positivity, it can have a dramatic impact on the team.”
While there are areas Smith wants to challenge his squad to improve in, such as avoiding penalties, he has been extremely pleased with how his captains and upperclassmen have influenced the DIII team.
“They just seem to be doing a good job with just setting the tone for the team,” Smith said. “Practices and off-ice, just making sure everyone’s showing up. … They’re doing a good job just preparing the guys and giving them a lot of confidence out there.”
The early on-ice success of the DIII Flames is significant as they attempt to finish in the top 10 of the ACHA standings in order to qualify for the South Regional tournament in March. If they end in the top four at Regionals, then they will move on to the Division III National Championships.
But before then, the DIII Flames will look to get back in the win column when they go to the University of Georgia Nov. 30.
Hughes said he especially wants to make sure Liberty DII hockey does not get caught looking too far ahead towards an appearance at Nationals, which would require advancing out of the Southeast Regionals that take
place March 1-3.
“That’s something we’re trying to create, is a culture of just showing up each day to learn and get a little better each day,”
Hughes said.
The team will be playing their next four games on road, including a matchup against the University of Maryland Nov. 17. The DII Flames return home, to the LaHaye Ice Center, to play Virginia Tech Dec. 1.