撸先生

Brandon Potter 鈥�18 came to Towson University hoping to keep playing hockey. Now, he鈥檚 leading the program that gave him that chance.

Potter has loved ice hockey since he was a kid. That love came from his dad, who not only played in adult leagues when Potter was younger but also served as the head coach for Gonzaga College High School.

So growing up it wasn鈥檛 a shock that he would want to lace up his skates, grab a stick and hit the ice.

But after playing with local Columbia, Maryland, club teams, Potter hit a snag. There isn鈥檛 much in the way of college hockey in Maryland. There are only two NCAA intercollegiate ice hockey teams鈥攁t the Division III level鈥攊n the state.

When he decided to come to 撸先生 to study sport management, he was excited to discover the . The Division I team鈥攖he highest level in club hockey鈥攑lays more than 30 games per academic year against other university club teams throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

鈥淲hen I came here, 撸先生 was very good and I felt like I wasn鈥檛 going to have a shot to make the team,鈥� Potter laughs. 鈥淏ut after some development and getting extra playing time back home, I made the team. It was a real sense of accomplishment and personal growth. Playing on the hockey team made my Towson University experience.鈥�

Keegan Jensen is a sophomore dual finance and financial planning major, and serves as the team's club president. He's been playing hockey since he was three years old and likes to say he learned to skate as soon as he learned to walk. 

Jensen has had a similar experience as Potter, because when he found a way to keep playing the sport he loves in college while staying close to home, he jumped at the chance. 

"The 撸先生 hockey club was extremely welcoming and helpful when I was deciding where I wanted to continue my education," Jensen says. "Getting a feel of the team's culture and the school spirit is what led me to choosing 撸先生. Since then, being with the team has brought me some of my closest friends."

Since graduating, Potter has continued to be involved in the sport and even coached the youth hockey program where he played as a kid.

When 撸先生 was looking for a coach, it made sense for Potter to guide the team that was so influential on his college career. After a year focusing on recruiting, this past fall he took over as the team鈥檚 head coach.

鈥淲hen they asked me, it was a no-brainer,鈥� Potter says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even have to think about it. I had so much pride playing here and being part of the program. This was something I wanted to do.鈥�

While most club teams have a more laid-back atmosphere, 撸先生鈥檚 takes its season seriously.

Playing its games at Ice World in Abingdon, Maryland, the club is part of the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association, along with Temple, Navy, George Mason, Villanova and others in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. 撸先生 also play local games against schools such as Virginia Tech, Maryland and Georgetown.

Jensen says the team train like a NCAA team. This includes dressing up for game days, practicing at 5:30 a.m. several days a week, and then playing multiple games on a weekend. 

"Division I club hockey is competitive with the NCAA, and last year a club team beat the reigning NCAA national champions," Jensen says. "This goes to show that since hockey is a smaller collegiate sport, the club teams really are just as competitive as the NCAA. To me it is basically a varsity team which is why it means a lot to me to represent our school with pride and dedicate my effort and passion to our school's program."  

Potter, who makes 300 to 350 cold calls to potential recruits each summer, says most are surprised by how fast and hard hitting a game between two club teams can be. In fact, Potter says that many recruits are surprised by how professional club hockey is.

鈥淚 had a recruit this year and he came to a game with his dad, and they had an idea of what club hockey was but not really a full sense of it,鈥� Potter says. 鈥淭hey were very shocked that we had official team jerseys, a livestream, social media and photos. Club hockey is more professionally run than people think.

鈥淲e treat our team like a true NCAA program because we want to give our students a sense of pride and a really great experience for the four years they are here.鈥�

Towson University provides students with transportation to most away games, quality locker rooms, training staff and equipment. And while the team receives a budget from Student Affairs, the majority of the season is self-funded.

That鈥檚 why the team hosts several fundraisers throughout the year. This spring, it will host a golf tournament at Oakmont Golf Course in Hampstead, Maryland, on April 27. The cost is $150 per golfer and includes a greens fee, cart access and a post-tournament meal. There will also be awards and raffles during the event. For more information, contact Potter by email or visit the .

We treat our team like a true NCAA program because we want to give our students a sense of pride and a really great experience for the four years they are here.

Brandon Potter '18

Through fundraising, the team can continue to rent ice time, supply transportation and equipment for students and continue providing this unique experience.

鈥淐ontinuing to fundraise allows us to not only compete but provide a fun atmosphere for our students,鈥� Potter says. 鈥淥ur goal is to really push to a higher status. My experience here at 撸先生 was unbelievable. I鈥檓 eternally grateful to be a Towson Tiger鈥攕o much that I wanted to continue to work with the community to provide our players the same experiences I had.鈥�