From The University Daily Kansan
By Sam Lance
Senior defenseman Aidan Pearson feels a responsibility to keep Kansas’ hockey club alive after winning only one game this season.
Pearson, who believes they can get back to the level the program was at two years ago as national contenders, has been a key leader for the program this season and isn’t afraid to use his voice.
“A lot of these guys didn’t come from bad teams so it’s important to tell them, ‘Hey, it gets better than this,”’ Pearson said. “There’s no point in putting your head down and throwing in the towel. You kind of define your own destiny, and I think they know that.”
While the year hasn’t gone as planned, Kansas is developing a new generation of hockey players. The roster has 14 total newcomers, with 10 of those being freshmen and the other four sophomores.
Because of COVID-19, last season was canceled. So even the six returning players for Kansas have similar game experience as the freshmen and sophomores.
“Most of our team graduated so it was basically like we were starting from scratch again,” senior forward Steven Siavelis said. “All we had was a core couple of us that were returning and the coaches and that’s it.”
With limited practices this season an hour away from Lawrence in Kansas City, it will take some time for the young guys to gel. But when they do, Pearson believes they can be American Collegiate Hockey Association national contenders again.
“They are going to be as good as they want to be,” Pearson said.
(Originally published at https://www.kansan.com/sports/young-guys-look-to-lead-future-of-kansas-hockey-club/article_1f68de12-4bb2-11ec-b666-13f8003b2903.html)
