Eastside Stars is a local hockey team that consists of players from five different schools: Okemos, East Lansing, Haslett, Owosso and Charlotte. Despite the fast-paced high-energy atmosphere at the games, members of the team feel they lack recognition as it is not affiliated with the high school. This is only one of the factors that contribute to the differing environment in a co-op team.
Beckett Fast (11) a member of the Eastside Stars, has been playing hockey since he was five. He enjoys the environment of this hockey team, as they all feel much more connected than in a school-affiliated sport.
“I think it’s a great environment,” Fast said. “All the guys really like each other, and everyone is super nice to each other”.
Fast feels his teammates are more like his brothers.
Thomson Fort (10), has been playing hockey since he was three. He decided to try out for the team this year and already noticed the lack of crowds at their games.
“I think it’s the most underrated sport,” Fort said “I’ve loved it. No one goes to the hockey games, but when they do they say it is an amazing sport”
Because this team includes five schools, its fan base strays from that of a sport that is affiliated with a high school. It is also different as practices and games are held in one central location and not at ELHS.
Donald Harley IV (10), played on the Eastside Stars split-season team last year and is anticipating a spot on the team. He shares his opinions on the difference between travel for school-affiliated and non-school-affiliated sports.
“You travel a lot farther for just one game since not everybody has a high school hockey team,” Harley said “It can be a little annoying but it is fun. I like the quality time with the boys”
Harley feels that the travel that comes with Eastside stars is much greater compared to what he has experienced when playing a high school sport.
After playing hockey for nine years, William Shubitowski (10) decided to try out for the team, noticing differences between the try-out process compared to high school athletics.
“In other high school sports, the tryouts are stretched out like a week and then you get evaluated, whereas hockey is pretty much a day,” Shubitowski said. “You find out whether or not you’re on the team quickly.”
One-day tryouts can be more physically exerting but they also reduce the anxiety of a longer tryout period.
Tryouts for Eastside took place on October 28 and 29 at the East Lansing Ice Cube, previously known as Suburban Ice. All the boys are excited to begin the 2024-25 season and look forward to the unique and fun aspect of hockey.
