From ONU Athletics
By Sam Viebrock
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Olivet Nazarene University Director of Athletics, Mike Conway and VP for Student Development Woody Webb, officially announced the addition of Club Men’s Ice Hockey to the ONU Athletics umbrella starting in the Fall of 2022.
“This Fall will lay the groundwork in building a strong foundation for the future in this highly competitive sport, Hockey is such an exciting and fast paced game that will attract new student-athletes to ONU from the Midwest and beyond” said Conway.
Senior Development Officer for Athletics, Jeff Domagalski has been instrumental in developing the plan to move forward with the program and has provided the additional support necessary for this project.
“We are so excited for this opportunity that ONU Athletics has created for hockey players to get high quality Christian education and be able to continue to play the sport they have grown-up playing,” said Domagalski.
In December, Conway appointed 1997 ONU Grad, Bjorn Lindgren to be the first Tiger Club Ice Hockey head coach. Conway stated, “Bjorn is a dynamic coach with over 16 years of Hockey coaching experience who understands the mission of ONU and Tiger Athletics”. The Tigers will play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA). ONU’s competition will include, Wheaton College, Bradley University, Northern Illinois University, Marquette University, Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, University of Iowa, Illinois State, and University of Illinois.
“I’m full of anticipation and excitement at the opportunity to teach men about Godly character through the sport I love. said coach Lindgren.
The Tigers will play their home games at the Ice Valley Centre in Kankakee, Ill. and will compete in 25 contests which will begin in September and conclude in February. The majority of games will be played on Fridays and Saturdays during the season. The initial goal of the program is to lay a strong foundation for the future and provide an opportunity for athletes to be part of a first-class and highly competitive club hockey team each year.
Coach Lindgren and ONU will host a showcase in April to assist in recruiting the first class of ONU Club Ice Hockey student-athletes. If you are interested in being a part of the ONU Hockey program, please contact Jeff Domagalski at jdomagal@olivet.edu or head coach Bjorn Lindgren at balindgren@olivet.edu or at 815-549-1959.
(Originally published at https://www.onutigers.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220122hbzr66)
