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WILKES-BARRE CITY – It didn’t take much to convince Wilkes University president Patrick Leahy to add men’s and women’s ice hockey to the list of athletic offerings at the institution.
But Leahy didn’t stop there.
Not only did he form a partnership with an ice rink right in the neighborhood – the Toyota Sportsplex, Wilkes also entered into an affiliation with the local pro team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The news was announced at the Toyota Sportsplex on Tuesday, and Leahy said the men’s and women’s teams will begin play in the 2017-18 academic year. In the meantime, they’ll search for coaches and recruit student-athletes, and the Penguins will be on board to help along the way.
“I believe (the affiliation with the Penguins) will be attractive to student-athletes,” Leahy said. “Even if it’s a loose affiliation, to be affiliated with one of the greatest hockey organizations in the world will benefit Wilkes University.”
Jeff Barrett, CEO of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, said they will assist Wilkes with marketing and promoting its program at games and team events. Barrett said Wilkes could also benefit by having Penguins coaches assist the team and work with players individually.
Wilkes will practice and play its home games primarily at the Toyota Sportsplex, but Barrett said it’s possible the team could hold an occasional practice and game at the Mohegan Sun Arena as well.
“One of our mission statements is to help grow the sport of hockey,” Barrett said. “Being involved with Wilkes and seeing them take the next step in their hockey journey is exciting for us.”
He added that even though Wilkes’ academic and athletic reputations will be the driving force in recruiting, the affiliation with the Penguins will help.
“Maybe we can push it over the top when they realize they practice at the same facility the pro team practices at,” Barrett said.
Under Leahy’s tenure at Wilkes, the university has added seven athletic programs, including men’s and women’s ice hockey. Lehay said ice hockey held further appeal due to the broad scope of recruiting, which can bring in students from across the country and internationally as well.
Because of the recruiting potential, Leahy anticipates other schools in the state to add ice hockey programs. The Wilkes men’s ice hockey program is the fourth Division III team in the state, and the women’s program is the fifth Division III squad in Pennsylvania.
“Once the wisdom gets out that you can recruit students from a national and international market, other schools, where they can find ice, will add this program,” Leahy said.
Wilkes becomes the second area institution to add men’s and women’s ice hockey programs, joining Kings which implemented theirs earlier this summer.
The potential for an ice hockey rivalry between the two schools hasn’t gone un-noticed by Leahy.
“If you think the atmosphere at a Kings-Wilkes football game or a Kings-Wilkes basketball game is exciting, imagine the atmosphere at a Kings-Wilkes ice hockey game,” Leahy said. “We’re thrilled to have Kings also involved in this. They are a great athletic rivalry and this will further strengthen that rivalry.”