The Rollins Hockey Club drew an unprecedented crowd on January 25. However, the historic night was overshadowed by an unfortunate event that led Saturday’s game to a halt.
The Tars took to the ice in front of a packed house of approximately 300 fans including students, alumni, and supporters. This level of attendance was an unusual moment for Rollins club-level sports as the hockey players noted it was the largest turnout their team had ever seen. Traditionally, Rollins Athletics has struggled to draw large in-person student crowds, making this event particularly significant. Players attributed the strong attendance to the team’s energy and overall success on the ice during their season playing at the Division III-level.
“The atmosphere was electric,” said club founder Cash Volpe (‘26). “Having the crowd, friends, and family watching me play brought me back to some of my fondest memories of high school hockey and the sense of school spirit.”
Despite the excitement, the game was interrupted by a situation in the stands, prompting arena officials to intervene. Bill Kroll, the hockey club’s faculty advisor, said, “Some Tars supporters were overly engaged in what can be described as raucous, disorderly, and inappropriate behavior.” While the exact cause remains unclear, the interruption resulted in students being removed from the venue.
Kroll acknowledged the issue but stressed the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with the arena as it is the team’s only available rink. He noted that players simply want to compete in front of a supportive crowd. With another home game approaching, Kroll said the team is implementing new precautions due to the disruption.
“The team is taking measures to help mitigate any incidents such as additional security, limited access to the arena, and checks to ensure that no outside food or drink is brought into the Ice Den,” Kroll said.
“Nate Arrowsmith, Director of Club Sports, now attends each home game. He has hired off-duty police officers to help with crowd control,” said Phil Chinnery, Director of Athletic Communications.
This season is a pivotal one for the club as it competes under trial status, allowing the team to play as many games as it chooses while assessing the budget. The ultimate goal is to gain official recognition and enter Division III competition next year. The club’s growth has been driven by Cash Volpe, who played a key role in establishing the team and expanding its presence at Rollins.
Volpe said that freshman year was difficult for him since he grew up playing hockey, so he took the initiative to start a club. In fall of 2023, the club had its first season as the bottom-seeded team in the men’s league but ultimately won the league championship. Every semester since, three to four new members have joined the club across various organizations including fraternities, men’s lacrosse, baseball and men’s waterski.
In spring of 2024, the team met with the commissioner of College Hockey South to discuss moving from the men’s league to Division III. With such high engagement from the student body, the team hopes to use this moment as a steppingstone for further growth.
“We are hoping to make the full transition into the CHS,” said Volpe. The long-term goal is to have a full roster and having students come to Rollins for hockey.”
“We are excited about the future of Rollins Hockey and hope that our fans will turn out and join us in making Rollins proud,” said Kroll.
The team’s next matchup was against Florida Tech on Saturday, February 8 at 9 p.m. The game was peaceful.
This article was edited on February 10 to clarify that the Rollins Hockey Club is a club, not a Rollins Athletics team, but plays at the Division III-level.
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