Basketball isn't only winter sport at IU

Every year at this time, Indiana is gearing up for its three winter sports of preference, high school basketball, college basketball and professional basketball. There is, however, another sport that many regions around the United States enjoy every winter, hockey.\nMany at IU have had little exposure to the sport. Most know what hockey is, but few have any real impression of it.\n"The only thing I like about hockey is the fights," junior Joshua Ross said. "None of the local papers cover it, and it's always the last thing on 'Sportscenter.'"\nHockey fans are often hard to come by in this part of the country, but in spite of this, the IU hockey team has built a loyal fan base and one of the most successful programs in the country.\n"I definitely think we are unique to this part of the state," IU coach Rich Holdeman said. "Going to a hockey game usually isn't something students see as an option, but I've worked real hard to get people to the games."\nHoldeman said that when he came to IU in 1992, the fan base was small, but has grown considerably. About 300 spectators will come to Frank Southern Arena for any given game. \n"Things have changed dramatically since I've been here. Our first semester, the rink wasn't even up and running; we played our games in Columbus," Holdeman said. "We had a few loyal fans, mostly girlfriends and parents. Now, we have an advantage because of the fans, and we've been pretty successful at home."\nThings have changed. Last year, the team ranked in the top six at IU for attendance and revenue generated, thanks in large part to the success IU has had. Every year since 1995, IU has appeared in the ACHA National tournament and has finished second three times. IU won the GMHL championship last year in the league's inaugural season.\n"Hockey in general, around the state, has never really picked up," IU hockey General Manager Adam Schuchman said. "But I think the success of this team and the professional way that they're run, they've created a fun atmosphere to go spend a Friday or Saturday evening."\nGraduate student and forward Tom Orr said the excitement of the games is what keeps fans coming back. He said the team, despite being club hockey, has much to offer fans.\n"The level of play is really good," Orr said. "It's not really a club for hockey because there are so few varsity programs. We'll play the best team a school has to offer every time out."\nSchuchman said he has been watching club hockey for years, and today's game is an improved product.\n"We're starting to see stronger programs and more professional coaches get into these programs. The quality of play is getting more recognition," Schuchman said. "It's not the same old club hockey that people had known in the '70s and '80s where half the team would get tossed out for fighting."\nThe team is not going to quit recruiting fans. Holdeman said he still is willing to make a pitch to any of his IU biology students to get them to a game.\n"We find that if we can get them there once, they're hooked, because hockey is a great sport and a great spectator sport"