Club hockey prepares for season

The club hockey team begins practice this week and is finalizing its roster after a transitional summer.

With its first games Sept. 18 and 19 in Chicago, the team will begin its season with a new coach and many new players.

After a summer of self-deliberation, Craig Lipar will not return for a second season as head coach. Mike Jakubik — last season’s assistant coach — takes over.

“Mike (Jakubik) played for CMU for four years, so he knows us,” said senior forward Jordan Jakubik, Mike’s cousin. “We’re not too worried about the coaching situation.”

Lipar, who confirmed Mike’s appointment as head coach, said he is not worried about how Mike will handle the transition.

“Mike knows how things go from helping as assistant coach last season,” Lipar said. “I would’ve liked to (coach), but the time involved and traveling to my job after practice would be a lot.”

Lipar said his decision had good and bad sides to it.

“I kind of left it up in the air because I didn’t want to leave them without a coach and I didn’t want to say no,” Lipar said.

CMU finished 15-15 with Lipar last season.

He cited reasons for his decision, including his move to Lansing in May. Lipar works at Capital Steel and Wire, and was forced to take an hour out of his vacation time twice a week to accommodate morning practices. He changed into his work attire and left for work straight from morning practices.

A large turnout

Lipar said he was pleased with the 60-player turnout at tryouts.

“I think it’s a good turnout as compared to the years past,” he said. “Roughly 40 players showed up last year, including the 10-15 players who were returning from the previous year.”

CMU struggled to maintain its roster last season with academic issues, injuries and players quitting.

“You like to roster probably 15 forwards, eight defensemen and a couple goalies,” Lipar said. “So there are a lot of openings at all three positions. We lost some good talent from last year.”

Jordan Jakubik said the team is looking for players who have hockey knowledge to help decrease mental errors in games. He also said the team wants players who will play the entire season.

“We’re looking for role players that won’t complain and will do what’s asked of them,” he said.

Senior Mike Lesnau had surgery July 21 on his left shoulder to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff. He said he hopes to be ready for the second half of the season in January.

Lipar said when considering last year’s strengths and weaknesses and the returning players, the team will need to add players everywhere.

“Honestly, it’s going to have to be all three positions,” he said. “If I had to pick one, it would be defense. Last year we had a hard time playing after giving up goals so I would say the defense and goalie positions.”

Lipar was on hand for the tryouts last Tuesday. He said the strong turnout will help bolster the roster.

The offense returns three prominent scorers.

Jordan Jakubik, Ian Carlson, Mike Lesnau and Marty Lipar — brother of Craig Lipar — collectively scored more than half the points for CMU last season. Jordan Jakubik, who scored 30 goals and had 57 points, Marty Lipar and Lesnau are the returning players.