Cornerstone’s unofficial hockey team has started a potentially monstrous wave of attention. Each week a faithful fan base of roughly 30 to 40 cornerstone students go to Patterson Ice Center to watch as the Cornerstone Golden Eagle hockey team dominates on the ice. And even though the team is 100 percent fresh, they most certainly do not lack great potential as they are ranked the number one team in their hockey league.

David Murdoch helped put together a team of athletes which consists almost completely of Cornerstone affiliated individuals. When they are out on the ice it is Cornerstone that they are representing. The hockey league is made up of various teams put together and sponsored by surrounding area companies. This makes the Golden Eagles unique as they are the only college hockey team in the league.

The team only gets more unique as you take a closer look at the players. For instance, freshman student at Cornerstone and Golden Eagle hockey member, Benjamin Vanbiesbrouck is the son of the retired NHL hall of fame hockey player, John Vanbiesbrouck. After 20 years of playing in the NHL Vanbiesbrouck retired and became known as one of the best U.S born goalies of all time.

Ben Vanbiesbrouck stopped playing hockey when he was about 12. It was right around the same time his father retired from the NHL. “Now that I’ve started to play hockey again I love it,” Vanbiesbrouck said, “and it feels like it’s where I should be—on the ice.”

The members are serious about trying to get an official club hockey team started here at Cornerstone. Team member Daniel Tinkle has been busy trying to make it happen. “I talked to Murdoch and said: we should get a team going, what should we do?”

Tinkle has tossed the idea around with CUSG and has even spoken with Cornerstone’s athletic director, David Grube. According to Tinkle Grube has said that Cornerstone has no plans for the creation of a hockey team.

Tinkle has said that he wants to give Calvin and Hope a visit since both schools have a club hockey team of their own and they might just be of help in heading Tinkle in the right direction. He doesn’t see why it shouldn’t happen here at Cornerstone.

“If we make it a club sport it won’t affect the school budget because club members pay for all the equipment, game time on the ice, and referees themselves,” Tinkle said. “The members could even hold fundraisers.”

Are there really no plans for the creation of a hockey team? The unofficial Golden Eagle hockey team and its fan base seem to believe differently.

There were a couple of games when no one came but in the second or third game that the Eagle’s played the crowd erupted when Tinkle scored a goal. Some fans have gone as far as showing up in body paint in support of the team.

“They get excited because it’s different,” said Tinkle. “It’s not like football, basketball, or soccer.”

“It gives us who want a hockey team here hope because people are supporting us,” team member Brandon Sabin said.

“The crowds have been huge and people love it and come back every week,” Vanbiesbrouck said. “People call me and want to know when the next game is. Nobody else has a crowd. They’re jealous, they’re honestly jealous. I think it’s nice to have a home crowd every time, its motivation!”

John Vanbiesbrouck has said that he would help out if a club hockey team were actually started at Cornerstone. “I don’t know if he meant financially, or coaching, or what but he said he’d help out,” Ben Vanbiesbrouck said.

Every Thursday the Eagles are on the ice at either 10 PM or 11:15 PM. Van Osdel Hall’s resident director Ryan Davis extends the curfew for any freshman students who desire to go out and support the hockey team. He has even attended a couple of the games himself and found it enjoyable. Why not? Admission is free.

Vanbiesbrouck has even gone as far as to say: “I think a hockey team would increase student admission.” And while there is a big daunting process that must be carried out before the team can actually exist many individuals at Cornerstone are extremely hopeful and supportive.

“I’m not saying that there will be a hockey team next year or the year after that but it definitely could happen in the future,” Brandon Sabin said.