Ironically enough, it began with an ice breaker.

It was day one of a Loyola University Maryland writing class & the professor asked a room full of freshman to share something interesting about themselves.

Taylor Hadley told the class that she was an ice hockey player.  What she didn't mention was that she was a player without a team.

"Ever since I started college, when people would ask where I played, I would always take a deep breath & say, 'Well, nowhere exactly.'  I knew I was going to miss playing on a team once I graduated high school, but I had no idea how much until I didn't have one anymore."

Taylor wasn't alone.  When asked to identify something unique about herself, Amanda Ghysel stood and said that she too was an ice hockey player.

"From there, the partnership began," remembers Amanda.

One of those emails was sent to the DVCHC.  "Our goal is simply to get on the ice," Amanda wrote. "Even if that means just practicing and scrimmaging a few teams... ideally, we would love to join."

Our league offered support but their road ahead had its share of closed doors.  "Apparently trying to start a team in one of the most expensive sports out there, from scratch, raises a lot of red flags."

On campus, the efforts of the young leaders were initially advised by the Director of Student Engagement, Geoff Norbert & ultimately had Asst Director of Rec Sports, Taylor Tully work things through with the university.  The two offered invaluable encouragement & patience.

Things began falling into place.  "By May... we had a solid group of committed players, Loyola was finally behind us," and on June 9th the young team was unaimously voted into the DVCHC D1.

Taylor and Amanada had done it.  Loyola had a team.

This hockey season the Greyhounds will host neighbors (Towson, Maryland, Naval Academy), face nearby rivals (Rutgers, UPENN, Villanova), send players to the All-Star game on pro ice, compete for the Spikes Cup & treat fans to 1st goals, 1st saves, & so much more.

The journey that began between two strangers in a freshman class, will finally culminate with two senior friends, skating onto the ice in Loyola green and white.

Taylor is ready for that day.  "As a senior, it is incredibly bittersweet that I will only get to play one season with Loyola, but it's also the greatest feeling in the world to see something I have dreamed of for 3 years now actually exist.  When Amanda and I leave, this will be something that we leave behind and hope will grow exponentially in the years to come."

Amanda agrees.  "This is, to be completely cliche, a dream come true for both of us.  I couldn't be more excited to be playing hockey for Loyola this year, especially in a league as fantastic as the DVCHC.  My winters have felt incomplete without hockey. I can't wait to put on a Loyola jersey for the first time."