The Ice Hockey Club has a 2-4 record after defeating Herndon 7-5 Dec. 7. The team is scheduled to play Madison tonight at Reston SkateQuest.

“I think we will be able to win against Madison this weekend,” junior leading scorer Logan Nasr said. “We’re doing pretty well for a new sport.”

The club, not recognized as a sport by the Virginia High School League, is a self-sponsored program that was initiated in 2008 by Amy Rubin, whose son Noah Rubin is now a senior on the team. 

“At first it was a very limited interest,” club sponsor John Issigonis said. “But it’s certainly taken off. We’ve been improving steadily every year as a growing program.”

Contrary to the lockout of the NHL, ice hockey participation has grown exponentially across the nation. According to USAHockey.com there were 4,077 registered players in 1999 in Virginia. As of 2010 there were 7,251 players.

“It’s not as popular as football or basketball, but more and more people are becoming interested,” Nasr said. “Players have grown and gotten better because for most it is the only sport they play.”

Ice hockey is traditionally viewed to be dominated by males, but is now grabbing attention among females. Junior Tasha Adams and freshman Dylann Nasr are both females on the roster for SLIHC.

“It’s not bad being a girl on the team because the guys make sure I don’t get hurt,” Adams said. “They always stand up for me if I get hit.”

Though perceived as a violent sport, the members involved insist the danger is overrated.

“It’s no more dangerous than anything else,” Issigonis said. “If anything will have an impact on its ability to get recognized as a sport it would be the abysmal behavior of the fans.”

Issigonis is referring to the fight in which bottles of urine were thrown between South Lakes and Herndon students after the game Dec. 7.

“Students don’t normally act like that but when a few students think it’s cool to act like that, the behavior escalates,” Issigonis said.

However, a few players express a different take on their fellow Seahawk.

“I think the whole Herndon-South Lakes fight is kind of a tradition,” Nasr said. “The fans cheer us on and make it worth it.”

Whether or not the current behavior will continue to be a strong presence, players believe that the program has a bright future.

“It’s been going spectacular,” junior player Carter Shultz said. “We have a lot of talented seniors that will be missed but there is rising talent from the underclassmen.”