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Since its start in the 1970s, the Tar Heel Club Hockey team has been an outlet for student players, helping to break the ice and popularize the sport in North Carolina.

The team, composed of 28 students on the roster and several coaching and administrative staff members, currently practices twice a week at the Orange County Sportsplex in Hillsborough. They travel to division opponents along the East Coast or host them at the Sportsplex. The Tar Heels play about 30 games a year, with their season starting in August and running through March.

Next season, the team will move up to American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 to face more competitive teams. They will be one of the founding members of the Atlantic Coast Conference Hockey League M1 Division, along with Alabama, Louisville and NC State. (The ACCHL also recently added a women鈥檚 club hockey team that has attracted a wider audience.)

鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to set high expectations, but the good thing is we have the players who are excited to do that,鈥� said senior Michael Vaglia, center and alternate captain for the team. 鈥淭he team is ready to play at higher levels and tougher games.鈥�

Like other sports teams at Carolina, the players鈥� connections are very strong. 鈥淎ll the guys on the team are great friends,鈥� said Spencer Haskell, senior and defenseman for the team. 鈥淎s a transfer, I automatically gained 20 friends with the hockey team.鈥�

With the sport鈥檚 increased popularity, there鈥檚 a high demand for ice time amongst college and youth programs in the area. The team currently practices along with the Duke University club team and other area teams at the Sportsplex, often practicing late at night when the ice is free.

With the team鈥檚 growing popularity, they鈥檝e been able to start their own traditions over the last few years. More than 25,000 people came to the 鈥淔rozen Finley” game in 2023, when the Tar Heels played against the NC State Icepack at Carter-Finley Stadium.

鈥淣ow I鈥檓 out on Franklin Street after we beat Duke in basketball, and I see multiple hockey jerseys, and it鈥檚 such a surreal experience,鈥� said Vaglia. 鈥淥nly a short time ago, people were like, 鈥榃e have an ice hockey team?鈥� and now people are buying jerseys and supporting us.鈥�

As the team finishes their 50th season, they are looking forward to the program鈥檚 growth in the years to come.

鈥淔ifty years is a testament to all the guys that started this program when they were playing at Daniel Boone Arena. A lot of times they would just travel anywhere to find ice time because they loved hockey,鈥� said coach Steve Rice. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e the ones who started this program. We鈥檙e grateful for everything they鈥檝e done.鈥�

Along with looking toward the future, the team also appreciates reconnecting with past players.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been so cool to reconnect with the alumni and get their perspective. I love that they鈥檙e keeping up with us and they care about our results,鈥� said Vaglia. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to honor them because they laid the groundwork. Without them, we wouldn鈥檛 have a program.鈥�