A History of Hockey
TWU Titans are tenacious on and off the ice
Under the direction of head coach Dwayne Lowdermilk, the TWU Titans hockey team is thriving and calling the new ice at the Langley Events Centre home — but their road wasn’t easy.
For some, news of a TWU hockey team could come as a surprise, but hockey at TWU actually has a long and vibrant history. The Spartans had a varsity hockey program from 1973-1989, but it was disbanded due to financial constraints. The program was then picked up by former head coach and Associate Professor of Psychology, Chuck Macknee, Ph.D., who brought it back as a club team called the Titans. But with tenacious team members and coaches, the Titans were not satisfied with being a club program and set their sights on more.
Today the Titans hockey team is a member of the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) and is rapidly developing a strong following and fan base. This is a significant achievement considering they have only been competing in the BCIHL for three years. The team has also brought in ten new players to the program, and the organization is looking for more top-level players to keep the team’s momentum and success moving forward.
Despite recent success, the Titans find themselves in a tricky spot — while they are a varsity team that has moved well beyond club status, they are still not part of the CIS nor are they officially Spartans. As a result, the Titans are required to fund their own program — something that motivates head coach and entrepreneur Lowdermilk as well as his players. Through donations, fundraising, ticket sales, and innovative events like going head to head on the frozen pond with Vancouver Canucks alumni, the Titans have so far raised the necessary funds to run the program. Fuelled by the enthusiasm of his young players, Lowdermilk continues to move the program forward as the team collectively looks to a bright future. “Someday we hope to proudly wear the Spartan logo on our jerseys as we build a winning team for sport and Christ.”
by Scott Stewart '92
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