The University’s Men’s Ice Hockey Club is crowdfunding to pay for travel to and from its competitions along the East Coast. Currently, team members use their own vehicles for travel.
“Each year, the team is hit with heavy costs that at times come straight out of each player’s pocket,” said hockey club member Michael Rea. “To join the team, a new player must pay $2,500 while returning players pay $2,200. Unfortunately, these costs have increased within the past few years due to expenses such as traveling costs that add up to around $12,000 per year.”
The Men’s Ice Hockey Club was founded in 2005, starting out as a Division III team in the Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League. The team improved and, in 2015, moved up to Division II. Rea said the team has made the playoffs every year since, winning the ACCHL Championship during the 2017-18 season by defeating the Wake Forest University team 6-2.
“This team is very passionate about providing great competition and successful seasons, not just for themselves but for the fans as well,” Rea said. “Through hard times financially and competition wise, this team has worked through many obstacles and is determined in being the best they can be.”
Crowdfund UNC Charlotte, administered by the Division of University Advancement, is an online platform for students, faculty and staff to raise money to support ventures that are important to them.
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also is crowdfunding to send 49er student-athletes to the 2020 NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Forum. The forum brings together student-athletes and leaders in intercollegiate athletics to discuss equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives. They learn from each other ways to address these issues on their respective campuses. The money raised would pay for transportation and lodging to the forum, which will be held April 17-19 in Denver.
Tyriq Harris, a redshirt senior on the 49ers football team, is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving as an officer for the second consecutive season. Listen to him talk about the importance of the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Forum here.