Trinity Western announces addition of BCIHL Men's Hockey to Varsity line-up

After a 20 year absence, Trinity Western University will once again see Men’s Hockey wearing the Spartan logo and colours. Spartan Director of Athletics Murray Hall and Dean of Human Kinetics Dr. Blair Whitmarsh announced that Spartans varsity hockey will return beginning the fall of 2010.

“We enthusiastically welcome men's ice hockey as the newest team to the Spartan family,” Hall said. “Adding a Canadian favourite to our sport menu is an important step in the growth of hockey at TWU. There is a big upside to this new Spartan sport. We can't wait for the puck to drop this fall.”

Despite the 20 year absence from the varsity program, Men’s Hockey has been alive and well at TWU. Recreation Services has had club hockey for many years in the form of the TWU Titans and the TWU Bombers. However, over the years, the Titans have grown past club status and have competed in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) for the past five seasons with Dr. Whitmarsh and the School of Human Kinetics taking control of the program his past year.

“The Titans hockey team, under the direction of Dr. Chuck MacKnee and, most recently, Dwayne Lowdermilk, has been a strong club team for many years,” Whitmarsh said. “After all these years of challenges and triumphs, it is very exciting to see the Titans hockey team making the transition to full varsity status within the Department of Athletics. The name change to Spartans signifies a strong commitment by the University and the Department of Athletics to see university hockey flourish and grow.”

 Current head coach Dwayne Lowdermilk, who was behind the Titans bench this past season, also coached Spartans hockey in 1988-89, while Dr. Chuck MacKnee, who has been coaching TWU hockey for over 20 years and the Titans since their inception in 2001, has been instrumental in keeping hockey active at TWU over the last two decades.

The Spartans hockey program was first developed in 1973-1974 when they competed in the Fraser Valley Hockey League. In 1976-77 the Spartans, under head coach Allan Kotanen joined the BCCAA, where they continued to play until the 1990-91 season.

For more information on TWU Spartans hockey visit the TWU website at gospartans.ca or email Spartans hockey at hockey@twu.ca.