The Panthers are back on the ice after a three-year hiatus. The last team, who played in the 2016 winter season, had a 0-14 record while giving up 77 goals and only scoring 11. After taking three seasons off, HPU jumps right into a challenging season playing 19 games total, and only seven home games.

They will be playing in Greensboro Ice House. It was opened in 1997 and offers adult hockey leagues, youth skating, open skate times, birthday parties and more. It houses an ice rink equal to a professional NHL size, 200 feet long by 80 feet wide. That is what HPU will be playing on this season.

Connor Mullen, the right wing, is ready to be a big part of the club this year. Mullen, who has played since he was 13, has always loved the game.

When asked about how he is feeling coming into the season, he said, “I just want to be on the ice again and playing hockey with a solid group of guys. I am also excited to see what my teammates, coaches and myself can do to grow this program. And of course I am also excited to win.”

Donald Starcher, the new coach, will be taking over. Due to the length of time since HPU last had a hockey team, Starcher will essentially be starting a brand new program.

The Panthers will have their first game Sep. 21 in Fort Bragg against the Fort Bragg Patriots. The team started in 2012 and is a group formed of mostly active-duty soldiers. Fort Bragg is a two-hour trip from High Point. It will be the first long-distance challenge for the Panther’s hockey team.

Starting up a new team with brand new players comes with its challenges. Mullen expressed his concerns about how people who played in high school will struggle to adapt to the different nature of college games.

College hockey games are substantially different than those played by high school level teams. As Mullen said, the game is getting played at a much faster pace, the bodies are bigger and the shots are faster.

“I would say the hardest thing about transitioning from high school to college is going to be the speed of the game,” said Mullen. “There is not going to be a lot of time to dangle around with the puck. Another challenge is that the passes are going to be a lot quicker, as will taking shots at the goal.”

Panthers Hockey is a club team, rather than a Division I team. That does not mean that the games will not be as exciting to audiences or that the players take it any less seriously, but the team is trying to earn some respect. Some of the members are confident that they will find quick success.

“I’m ready to play, I’m ready to win and I want to give President Qubein no excuse to not make us a Division I hockey program,” said Mullen.

The team has gone through their tryouts and started their 5 a.m. practices. Their locker room is set up and their skates are sharpened. They are eager to get going and with the season approaching, they will not have to wait much longer before they return to the ice.

“We are a team,” said Mullen. “As long as everyone is ready to put the team and the game above themselves, there is no better team I would rather play for, and my teammates would agree with me.”

Those interested in more information on the hockey team can follow @hpuhockey on Instagram to get all of the latest updates, pictures and scores for the team all throughout their first season back.