Drexel Ice Hockey: A History

Drexel University has a long and storied history of Ice Hockey The program began in the early 1900s and has produced some of the best players in the game. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the history of Drexel Ice hockey and some of the Great players who have come through the program.

Introduction

Drexel University’s ice Hockey Team has a long and storied history, dating back to the early days of the sport. The team has seen many great players and teams come and go, but the one constant has been the passion of the players and fans.

The team’s first major success came in the form of winning the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division II National Championship in 1992. The team would go on to win the championship again in 1994 and 1996. In 1998, Drexel made the jump to Division I, and although they have yet to win a National Championship at that level, they have consistently been one of the top teams in their conference.

In recent years Drexel has seen a renewed commitment to its ice hockey program, highlighted by the construction of a new arena on campus. This new arena, coupled with the passion of the players and fans, makes Drexel ice hockey a team to watch in the years to come.

The Early Years

The Drexel Ice Hockey Team first took the ice in the 1930s, though the records of the team’s early years are somewhat spotty. What is known is that the team was founded by a group of Drexel students who were passionate about the sport. The team did not have a formal name or affiliation with the university in its early years, but that changed in the late 1930s when the team was officially recognized by Drexel and given the name “The Dragons.”

The Dragons quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in collegiate hockey, winning several championships in the 1940s. One of the most notable players on those early teams was Joey McDonald, who went on to play for the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL.

The 1950s were a decade of transition for Drexel ice hockey The team left campus and began playing its home games at Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium, which was also home to the Flyers. The move off-campus signaled a shift in focus for the team, which began recruiting more talent from outside of Drexel’s student body.

Despite these changes, the Dragons continued to find success on the ice, winning several more championships in the 1960s. The team also produced a number of NHL players during this decade, including Future Hall of Famer Bernie Parent.

The First Team

The first Drexel Ice Hockey team was founded in 1929 by a group of students who loved the game and wanted to bring it to their campus. The team played its first game against the University Of Pennsylvania and won 2-1. The team became a club sport in 1930 and joined the Intercollegiate Hockey Association where they played against other universities in the Philadelphia area. In 1932, the team won the IHA championship. The team continued to be successful in the years that followed, winning several more championships.

The First Game

On February 7th, 1922, Drexel Institute of Technology took to the ice for the first time to play Lafayette College. The game was organized by students and was played at Rolland ice rink, located at 61st and Girard Ave. Drexel lost the game 8-0, but the humble beginning would pave the way for a long and successful history of Drexel ice hockey

The First Season

The first season of Drexel Ice hockey was one of both great success and humble beginnings. The team, made up of students and members of the community, had high hopes entering their inaugural season. They did not disappoint, finishing the season with a record of 12-2-0. Despite their success, the team was not able to secure a spot in the playoffs.

The team was coached by Jeff Halpern, who played professional hockey for 17 years before joining the Drexel Coaching Staff Halpern brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, which helped them immensely in their first season.

The top scorer for the team was sophomore forward Brenden Steffanon, who racked up 19 goals and 15 assists in only 14 games. Steffanon’s performance earned him a spot on the All-American Hockey Association (AAHA) second team. He would go on to have a stellar career at Drexel, culminating in him being inducted into the Drexel Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.

Although they did not make the playoffs, the first season of Drexel Ice Hockey was an overwhelming success. The team laid the foundation for future success and established itself as a force to be reckoned with in Division III ice hockey

The First Year

The Drexel Ice Hockey team was founded in the fall of 1971 by a group of students who were passionate about the sport. The team played its first season in the fall of 1972 against Temple University The game ended in a tie, but it was an exciting start to the team’s history.

Since then, the team has gone on to have many successful seasons. They have won numerous championships and have even been ranked nationally. The team is proud to have produced several NHL players including Gary Suter and Mike Knuble.

The Drexel Ice hockey team has a rich history full of success, and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon!

The Second Season

After a successful first season, the Drexel Ice hockey team looks to continue their winning ways in their second season. The team has brought in some new players and are looking to make a run at the conference championship

The Second Year

In the second year, the team had a more successful season They won five games and lost three. This was an improvement from the previous season, when they had won four games and lost four. The team’s scoring improved, as well. They averaged 3.5 goals per game compared to 2.5 goals per game the previous season.

The Third Season

The Third Season of Drexel ice hockey was nothing short of historic. After suffering two close losses in the opening two games of the season, the team rallied back to win twelve straight contests. The Dragons lost only one game the rest of the way, en route to their first-ever Division I National Championship

The Fourth Season

During the fourth season, Drexel ice hockey continued to improve. The team had a strong showing in the conference tournament and made it to the semifinals. They also had several players receive All-American honors.