Elizabethtown College has yet to have an official NCAA hockey team in the school’s history. But, what if the famed, back-to-back Calder Cup champion team started one?
The Hershey Bears are not far down the road from Etown, just about half an hour north of campus.
For numerous Bears, this wouldn’t be their first time in the NCAA, but definitely their first versus Division III competition. Goalie Clay Stevenson attended Dartmouth College for two years before signing a contract with the Washington Capitals. Left-wing Alex Limoges played all four years of his eligibility at local favorite Penn State. The list goes on of Bears who would be returning to the NCAA for one last rodeo.
However, for some players, this would be their first time competing at a college, since they were signed out of high school or before. Etown would provide the perfect opportunity for these players to experience college life, albeit at a smaller liberal arts school compared to the larger schools their teammates played for.
Some of the team is even young enough to be considered college age, so they would fit right into the college life and not stick out due to age. Center Henrik Rybinski would be a senior or fifth-year, being born in 2001. Including Rybinski, seven total Bears are college age, with the youngest being left wing Ivan Miroshnichenko who was born in 2004, making him a junior in college based on age.
If the Hershey Bears were to transform into the Elizabethtown Blue Jays, it is safe to believe they would have a fair shot at winning the national championship. Hobart College won the 2023-2024 National Championship 2-0 against Trinity College. With the Statesmen losing two of their top players, there is almost no competition for the new Jays squad to dominate.
Yes, the majority of players are 30 years old or older, but that’s not the point.
If students on campus were to mingle amongst the back-to-back champions, what would their majors be? Looking back at Limoges, it is assumed he would keep the same degree area from his original degree at Penn State, which was supply chain management and information systems. Since Etown doesn’t offer that, he would major in business administration with a minor in marketing.
Looking at a player who didn’t attend college, center Mike Sgarbossa is more of an open book. Sgarbossa is originally from Ontario, Canada. Some of the most in-demand jobs currently in Ontario include accountants, software developers and business managers. By looking at Sgarbossa’s quiet but tactically intelligent play style, it is safe to say he would major in accounting with a potential minor in business administration.
So, what would campus life be like if the Etown Blue Jays were to welcome 31 of the most accomplished current AHL players to the school? Who knows, maybe one day students won’t have to ask themselves this question but instead ask the team themselves.
