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The only water typically associated with hockey is the frozen kind - but that’s not the case at UMass Lowell. The University has an underwater hockey club team, which participates in nationwide tournaments throughout the year.
Underwater hockey is played like soccer or ice hockey, except on the bottom of a pool. It is played with a 3-pound puck, a catch basin and foot-long sticks, which are used to maneuver and pass the puck. A team is composed of six players: three play in front and three play in the back. There are no goalies, but a back player may act as a “stopper.” Players may use their bodies to defend the puck, but any other contact, such as elbowing or accidental kicking, can result in a penalty. There are four referees: three in-water and one poolside.
“If you like being in the water and fast-paced activities then underwater hockey is a good option,” says captain Jared Defoe, who says the sport is ideal for him, as he loves the water and is also a scuba diver as well as a lifeguard. “I was a competitive swimmer in high school; I wanted something to do at UMass that would allow me to mix things up while I continue with my workload.”
Defoe organizes UMass Lowell’s participation in tournaments; the team will host its own tourney this spring, the Potluck Tournament. UMass Lowell’s team will also participate in the George Mason Tournament, which is held in April. Last year the University’s team competed against Michigan State, Georgia Tech, University of Florida, University of Illinois, Sandwich High School and, of course, George Mason University. The team will also participate in several other tournaments across the United States and Canada.
Mike Trapani, vice president of the team, runs practices and coaches new players. He says underwater hockey offers him an ideal way to combine his interests.
“I have always enjoyed swimming and did play ice hockey for several years; underwater hockey was a way for me to combine both interests,” he says.
Assoc. Prof. Christopher Niezrecki of the Mechanical Engineering Department serves as the team’s faculty adviser.
