Business students help Mizzou Club Hockey make history and advance to national championship

By Elleyna Rudman

A business-minded team

For the first time in program history, the University of Missouri's club hockey team has qualified for the Division III American Collegiate Hockey Association national championship in Boston, Massachusetts. The Tigers soared to the Northeast hot off a 13-game win streak, an eighth place national ranking and a recent regional title.

To ensure success, the team worked diligently to build a positive culture and an efficient organization that encompassed the core values of dedication and teamwork.

The club hockey team runs like a business, with students overseeing all aspects of its operation, including managing social media accounts, merchandising and game scheduling. Eight members on the 25-player roster are students at Trulaske School of Business. Nathan Austin, Aidan Blumenshine, Jack Hazelton, Jacob Kasten, Brett Martin, Cole Morris, Danny Rudman and Nick Trainor all use skills acquired in the classroom and apply them on the ice.

According to Rudman, who plans to study finance, the BA 1500 course with instructor Tim Hill has been especially helpful in developing applicable leadership skills. The course’s weekly lectures and lab allow the material to be translated into a variety of different settings, such as sports and team activities.

Furthermore, Kasten, the president of Mizzou Club Hockey, employs more technical skills in his role. His time at Trulaske has prepared him for the heavy workload of leading the large organization.

"I think being a business student has been a huge help for the club's operations," Kasten said.

Kasten's role as president consists of budgeting and travel logistics that require a strong affinity for finances and management. His involvement in Trulaske College of Business and his emphasis in marketing have prepared him for the significant responsibility of running the organization.

 

Teamwork and brotherhood

The players invest a lot of time and effort into the team, and it is all because they love to play. Their dedication and determination helped them realize their full potential. After that, they went full throttle.

"When it was time to dial in, we were all fully invested," Blumenshine, a marketing student, said.

The brotherhood built in the months since the season kicked off has been integral to their success. The Tigers have even participated in special team-building activities with other Mizzou sports, such as the club gymnastics team. The hockey players spent time with the gymnasts at their facility, where they attempted challenging acrobatics and learned more about the gymnasts' own experiences in a different sport.

"These opportunities gave us a chance to look into what other Mizzou students do for fun and how they compete within their various organizations," Martin said. As a senior finishing up his degree in finance, Martin is one of the older players on the team. His years of experience and service as an alternate captain have helped shape the organization and set the stage for the younger players.

 

Road to nationals

Between the late-night practices and weekend trips for games, there is no shortage of team bonding for the Tigers. First-year players are welcomed with open arms by seasoned members.

"We have this tradition where rookies get assigned to veterans who show them the ropes and help them connect with the guys," Trainor, a future marketing student, said. "They showed me how committed they were to the team."

These off-ice friendships transformed seamlessly into on-ice domination. Although the team had an average start to the season, it was a short time before players realized that their talent and drive gave them a chance at a winning season. After returning from winter break, the team started a significant victory streak and steadily advanced in the rankings.

"We play as hard as we do because we play for each other and not ourselves," Austin said, who plans to pursue a degree in accounting.

Their hard work paid off as the Tigers advanced to the regional finals, where they faced off against the University of Nebraska in a close game. By the end of the third period, the two teams were in a stalemate with four goals each, and the game went into overtime. In the dying seconds, the Tigers scored the game-winning goal. Their regional win and eighth place national ranking punched their ticket to nationals.

Fundraising and fan support

While the Tigers were ecstatic about their qualification for nationals, they knew attending the tournament would be expensive. So, the team started a GoFundMe, hoping that generous fans would help cover some of the trip's costs.

The campaign raised over $20,000, enough to cover the entire tournament.

"It's a really great feeling knowing that so many people are rallying behind us," Rudman said. The support and dedication of the fans helped the team make history by sending them to nationals for the first time since the program was established almost 50 years ago.

 

Performance at nationals

On March 15, the Tigers went to the East Coast to kick off the pool play round, playing teams from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Central Michigan University and Hope College.

The Tigers went 2-1 in Boston, losing only to Hope College, the national champions in 2021 and 2022. Unfortunately, the loss prevented Mizzou from advancing further in the tournament, and their season came to an end. Although they did not win a national championship, the team had achieved a feat never accomplished before by the organization. The Tigers' success this season has filled friends, family and fans with pride.

 

Looking ahead to next season

While disappointed about their loss in Boston, returning players are already focused on their goals for next season.

"We know we can win a national championship and won't settle until we do," Morris said. Morris plans to study marketing. He and the younger guys on the team will be the future of the organization.

Mizzou's hockey team made a name for themselves this year. This season's progress is unmatched by any other year in the organization's history. With natural talent and a perseverant mindset, the players have been able to compete at the highest level in their division. Though the 2022-2023 season is over, they plan to advance their program further in the coming years.

The Tigers will return to the ice this fall, determined to finish what they started at nationals.