In the back-stretch of its season, Central Michigan Women’s Club hockey team has turned its focus to dominating the American Collegiate Hockey Association for years to come. However, there was a time that returning to the ice wasn’t promised.
“It's been a challenge," said head coach Chris Haney. "So definitely, with the team not playing last year, we only could practice a little bit in the second half. With there not being a team that year before, it's been a challenge to keep it together. And I credit Mac Barnett with that, with keeping the team going to allow us to build so this is a building here for us."
In 2008, CMU Women’s Club hockey came into existence. However, without a goalie, the team almost came to an end in 2019. After turning to a local beer league for ice time, Club President and senior defenseman Barnett struggled to keep the ship afloat.
Then in 2020, Haney stumbled across the job. Haney spent 13 years as part of the Midland youth hockey world, coaching his children throughout their journey. But as his son entered high school, Haney began to question if his coaching days were coming to an end.
After seeing a post on Facebook, Haney sent in his resume. Barnett and the rest of the e-board interviewed two other candidates, but when they sat down with him, the board knew Haney represented the direction they were looking to head.
“Chris was the obvious choice,” Barnett said. “He was fantastic. When we interviewed him and I looked at my teammate and said this is the one. And so we're thankful that he decided to join us.”
Haney accepted the job in March 2020, and with the problem of who will lead the team solved, Barnett and the Chippewas struggled through an unexpected hurdle, COVID-19.
With the team struggling to find members, Haney got to work and began recruiting players for the upcoming year. However, just as the process of building up the roster began, COVID-19 forced them to spend the entire 2020-21 school year on the sidelines.
“We were ready to practice in the fall, but then the school said, ‘no, you're not allowed to,’ and so we kind of were just waiting mentally on that part,” Barnett said. “It was very frustrating because it was like, we just want to skate.”
After two years without lacing up the skates, Barnett and the team returned to practice.
“Once we started, you know, looking towards this season where we were having better odds of playing, We went, ‘okay guys, we got to start doing some workouts doing some running,’” Barnett said. “And so during the summer, we sent out like, you know, you guys should be doing a workout once a week type thing… Physically it was a challenge but just trying to get back into the grind of it, but once we got on the ice together it was better.”
It took time to shake off the rust, but the relatively young CMU women’s club hockey team broke out once games began.
Kicking off its season on Oct. 8, 2021, the Chippewas won secured three wins in their first five games.
A fast start couldn’t ward off the midseason grind, and after beating Bowling Green State 6-0 on Oct. 22, CMU women’s club hockey lost nine consecutive games going into the break between CMU’s fall and spring semesters.
Although most teams would struggle to maintain motivation, the Chippewas kept their head down and focused on the fun.
“It's a challenge," Barnett said. "But I think because of the way that we set up our team and the way that it kind of makes it more a family. It's more supportive. A lot of teams have so many girls, and they don't even play... We play every single girl we have, and they get plenty of ice time. So it's a family atmosphere.”
In addition to the atmosphere around the team, Haney believes his freshmen goaltenders have played a pivotal role in helping the team survive the slump.
“Thankfully, our goalies have kept us in the game,” Haney said. “If we wouldn't have had the goaltending that we did these scores kind of got out of hand. So when you're trying to preach the message of the big picture and you know we're establishing ourselves to be better in the future. It certainly helps when the scores even if you're losing a little closer. So, I think they got a great attitude about it.
“I think that especially with COVID-19 and not being able to play last year, they're happy to be playing. It's a good group of girls, that even when the layoff and some cancellations, whatnot that we can still practice we can still get together as a team a couple of times a week.”
Once the Chippewas returned from Christmas break, they had to wait to end their losing streak as their scheduled games against California University of Pennsylvania and Lake Superior State University were canceled.
The time off paid dividends for CMU women’s club hockey, as sophomore forward Emily Kostielney returned from injury ahead of the Chippewas game against Bowling Green State University on Jan. 29. CMU won 5-1 on the road, and Kostielney stood out.
“She's broken her collarbone three times in her life, unfortunately, and including earlier in the season,” Haney said. “(Kostielney) is fully healed and got the doctor's okay to come back. It was her first game since her injury back in November. She did very well, so I was happy to see her out there. It was a big moment for her."
Barnett recorded two goals and an assist in the win.
With four games left in their season, the Chippewas are hoping to secure a few more wins to crack the playoffs. They are also preparing to send their seniors off in style on Feb. 5, when they face Notre Dame at 7 p.m. in Mount Pleasant at Martin Ice Arena.
For Barnett, the team's goals going forward are clear.
“Short-term goals, hope we can plan another few wins here and get a good wrap-up of the season,” Barnett said. “It would be great you know making the playoffs here at the end of February. I have no expectations from it, but because we have a pretty large division or conference. I wasn't sure how many teams they play, or they take for playoffs so I'm unsure if we'll make it. Long-term goals, definitely win that around Chris, for sure. I would love to come back, you know five years later and he's still running it and cheer that they've made it to Nationals.”