No lockout for club sports

By Anthony Sestito
September 19, 2012

The Cabrini roller hockey team won the PCRHL Championship in 2011. (Anthony Sestito / Submitted Photo)

Unlike the NHL, the Cabrini men’s roller hockey team will not go into a lock out this season. Since 2002 the Cabrini roller hockey team has claimed their home rink just 10 minutes up the road at Marple Sports Arena in Broomall.

Cabrini competes in the Philadelphia Collegiate Roller Hockey League (PCRHL). In their first season, the team did not claim a regular coach. In 2004, Nick Voight was called upon to coach the team in hopes of a championship.

The team has made playoff appearances for three years straight. In the 2006-2007 season, Rich DeMatteo took the coaching job and led the team to the playoffs.

In 2010, the team lost the championship game against St. Joe’s. With the bitter taste still in the players’ mouths, DeMatteo wanted another shot at the title, but this time he called upon his right hand man, Ryan Bright, to help coach the team.

In 2011, DeMatteo and Bright took the team to the PCRHL playoffs for the third time. The men’s roller hockey team battled against Villanova and Neumann University for the title. The team beat Neumann University in the final minutes of the third game to hoist the cup, making a statement that Cabrini is here to stay.

Playing in the tier two division, Cabrini faces off with many different schools in the Philadelphia area such as Villanova, West Chester, Widener, Kutztown, Neumann, Penn and St. Joe’s. Although the roller hockey team is considered a club sport at Cabrini, those who play wear the “C” on their jerseys with pride.

“I never think of the team as a club sport at Cabrini,” defenseman Mike McCann said. “When I put my jersey on I represent Cabrini and I play my very best. To be honest I believe that we play harder schools than any sanctioned team here at Cabrini.”

The team has many different players with different backgrounds in hockey. Whether or not they played in an ice hockey or roller hockey league, the fundamentals are both the same. The team only has a few practices and has games every Sunday from October through April.

If hockey is not your sport, don’t sweat it. There are plenty more club sports to join. Cabrini offers men’s club lacrosse, club cheerleading, the dance team and the ski and outdoor club.

All clubs are competitive and are a great way to make new friends. Club sports are also a great way to learn the sport you have always wanted to try. Playing at the club level, there is no such thing as a bad player. Everyone who signs up participates and has a great time.

If you would like to get involved you can email Orlin Jespersen at orlinj@cabrini.edu, or visit his office located next to the gym.

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Anthony Sestito

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