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SportsWomen’s hockey celebrates 10 years by Don StonerAugsburg College has played a majorrole in the growth of women’shockey, one of the fastest growing sportsin recent years. As the first college oruniversity in the Midwest to sponsor thesport on the varsity level in 1995,Augsburg was a leader in sparking majorinterest and impacting the lives ofthousands of young girls and women.This year Augsburg celebrates its10th season of varsity women’shockey—an achievement that speaksvolumes to the College’s commitment tothe sport’s growth.Over the past decade, 97 youngwomen have donned an Augsburguniform, for a team that has gone131-86-13 entering this season underJill Pohtilla, the only head coach in theprogram’s history.“What I’m most proud of is that,year-in and year-out, the types ofindividuals who play here have greatcharacter and great motivation,” Pohtillasaid. “They work hard, and they care alot about the legacy they are going toleave behind.”When Augsburg announced inFebruary 1995 that it was going to fielda varsity women’s hockey program forthe 1995-96 season, there were only 15varsity teams nationally—all on the EastCoast (members of the EasternCollegiate Athletic Conference) andnone in the Midwest.Girls’ hockey was just starting at thehigh school level in Minnesota—thefirst state to sponsor a girls’ hockey highschool state championship tournament—even before it became an Olympicsport.Both location and funding madeAugsburg’s situation unique. In itsannouncement, Augsburg was believedto be the first collegiate team to fund itswomen’s hockey program on a levelequal with the men’s program, in termsof equipment, uniforms, ice time,training, games, publicity, and awards.Highlights from Augsburg’s first decadeinclude:• 1995-96—Augsburg went 16-5 in itsfirst season against club and women’sadult teams in the Midwest, includingthree games on the East Coast againstvarsity teams.• 1997-98—Augsburg faced the Universityof Minnesota in the Gophers’ firstvarsity contest. The crowd of 6,854 inMariucci Arena remains the largest-evercrowd for a U.S. collegiate women’shockey game.• 1998-99—Augsburg won a share of theMinnesota Intercollegiate AthleticConference (MIAC) title, which was thefirst Division III conference to sponsorthe sport at championship level.• 1999-2000—Augsburg won the MIACplay-off to go to the Division III nationalchampionship, where they lost thenational title series to Middlebury (Vt.).• 2003-04—The playoff semifinal gameagainst the University of St. Thomas,a 6-5 loss, was the longest women’shockey game in conference history,a two-overtime, 96-minute, 9-secondmarathon.• Winter 2003—Members of the teamtraveled to Italy and Austria to play andwin three games against local club teams.A 10th anniversary dinner and programwas held in November. For moreinformation about women’s hockey, go to.Don Stoner is sports information coordinatorin the Office of Public Relations andCommunication.A plaza in front of Augsburg’s Ice Arena wasdedicated as “JC’s Place,” in honor of James“JC” Carey, athletic facilities director for 30years. New seating and memorial plaqueshonor Carey, who died of heart failure in2003 at the age of 54.The 1999-2000 women’s hockey team posed, following the Division III national championship,where they lost to small-college power Middlebury (Vt.).6 Fall 2004