Formal and en-UK Rewrite:
The University of Michigan has been the home of the women’s ice hockey club for almost three decades. Although the club receives partial funding from the institution, students are required to make payments in order to participate. Despite the success of the Wolverines men’s team, the women’s ice hockey program has never obtained recognition as a varsity sport and is not affiliated with the NCAA.
Denise Illitch, a long-standing member of the board of regents at Michigan, has been advocating for the inclusion of women’s ice hockey for an extended period of time. She conveyed her frustration at the lack of recognition for women in the sport. The call for a feasibility study to consider establishing a women’s varsity hockey program at Michigan was made in March, and it has garnered the attention of proponents of the initiative.
According to Jenna Trubiano, head coach of the Michigan women’s club hockey team, there is a significant scarcity of female role models in the state, as players often leave Michigan to continue their careers at other universities. This has resulted in a disconnect in the development of women’s hockey in the region.
The University of Michigan has expressed its intention to review comments and conduct due diligence in response to the feasibility study. Kurt Svoboda, Associate Athletic Director at Michigan, stressed that the study would serve as the initial step in considering the potential sponsorship of the women’s ice hockey program.
The feasibility study, which will be evaluated by the National Hockey League, will assess various factors such as cost, resources, and facilities. Although Denise Illitch acknowledges that existing biases may impact the process, she remains optimistic and has been pleasantly surprised by the support received, both financially and otherwise.
Despite Detroit being known as “Hockeytown,” Michigan falls behind other states in terms of women’s ice hockey programs. New York has ten women’s varsity programs, Massachusetts has eight, and Minnesota has six, while Michigan has none.
Emma Johns, a freshman at Michigan, expressed her disappointment at the absence of a varsity women’s ice hockey program at the university. Having played hockey her whole life, she recognises the potential for Michigan to provide more opportunities for female athletes and hopes to see the sport being given the recognition it deserves.
The addition of a varsity women’s ice hockey program at the University of Michigan would not only provide young girls with more opportunities to pursue their passion for the sport but also create a more inclusive and representative environment. It would be a significant step forward in addressing the existing disparities in the recognition of women’s ice hockey and the development of female athletes in the state.