The American Club Hockey Association is one of the coolest leagues in all of sports. Club hockey is indeed college hockey. Most college hockey teams fall in the ACHA. Hockey is superbly competitive and there is no shortage of real talent. Dustin Penner started his college career in the ACHA and made it to the show, becoming a Stanley Cup champ with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings along the way.
I got the chance to speak with a great hockey player and better friend, Virginia Tech’s own Stephen Gerke. Stephen has been around the game as long as he’s been able to walk. He’s collected eight goals and 11 assists through in only eight games so far. Looks like #ACHAtoTheShow is definitely on the horizon. Tech has started 6-4-1 this year, but they’ll definitely get it going as the season picks up.
My name is Stephen Gerke and I am a center on the club ice hockey team at Virginia Tech. I am currently studying business here in my sophomore year. I grew up playing youth hockey in Northern Virginia followed by three years of Junior Hockey, including one year living and playing up in New Hampshire.
Q: What got you in to hockey and when did you start playing?
Although he never played himself, my Dad is who got me interested in hockey at a very young age, although it turned into more of an obsession. Every day I got home from pre-school and threw on the street wheels for hours. I started ice hockey when I was four years old and haven’t stopped since.
Q: Who was your favorite team growing up? Favorite player?
My favorite team growing up and still to this day is the Washington Capitals. Growing up right outside of DC it was pretty awesome to see how much hockey has grown in our area. My favorite player of all time is former Caps’ Captain Adam Oates.
Q: Describe your path to VT, where were you before?
Before VT, I was playing juniors for a couple years, with hopes of an NCAA opportunity. My last year of juniors I lived with a billet (host) family up in the town of Exeter, New Hampshire. It was an awesome experience, but I couldn’t be happier here at Tech now.
Q: What position do you play? What situations are you used in? PP? Defensive specialist?
I currently play center for Tech and am a two-way forward. I am on the PP unit, but also on the penalty kill, because we all know defense wins championships. Along with my lineys Mason and Flip, I try my best to produce to the best of my abilities offensively and always maintain a strong defensive core. Scoring goals is sick, but you got to love when a guy lays down for the boys and blocks a shot, really gets everybody going.
Q: What is your best road trip memory?
My best road trip memory is probably probably going up to play against Maryland because the boys came out with an huge Dub and a lot of my family and friends came to see me play, which is always great.
Q: Who is the toughest team you’ve played against?
The toughest team I have played against in my college experience is definitely Liberty University; they recruit really well and have a great program/facility.
The fact that NCAA hockey is expanding is huge for the ACHA. With teams already popping up all over the club hockey world, the growing popularity of NCAA college hockey will have a great positive impact in the growth of the ACHA.
Despite being out most of the year with a separated shoulder, my rookie year was definitely one to remember. The guys on the team make you feel like family and supported me throughout my whole injury, which made things a lot easier to deal with. My fondest memory was probably our rookie event at the beginning of the year welcoming us to the team, a unique experience to say the least.
Is this the Caps year? Don’t even get me started. Being as loyal a Caps fan as they come, all I ‘ll say is that something needs to change. You can’t keep trying the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome.
