East Carolina University

Challenging programs, small classes, and personal attention from caring faculty set East Carolina University apart from other institutions of our size. With more than 100 undergraduate degree programs from which to choose, a degree from ECU allows you to combine the essential skills of a liberal arts education with outstanding professional preparation.

ECU is located in the eastern part of North Carolina in Greenville, which is about 80 miles east of the State capitol of Raleigh, and 80 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of more than 60,000, Greenville is the business, cultural, educational, and medical hub in eastern North Carolina. The city is accessible by highway and by airports in Greenville, Kinston, New Bern, and Raleigh.

With a Fall 2008 enrollment of 27,947 students, ECU is the fastest-growing campus in the University of North Carolina system third-largest university in North Carolina. Additionally, it was ranked one of the “Best Value Colleges” by The Princeton Review in 2008 and is home to the Brody School of Medicine, which was ranked 17th in the country for primary care physician preparation and 6th in the rural medicine specialty in the 2009 edition of U.S. News & World Report.

Outside of the classroom you will enjoy a campus with a lively arts scene, big-time athletics, top-quality housing, dining, and recreation. The Student Recreation Center, located on the main campus, includes indoor and outdoor pools, a climbing wall, six basketball courts, tons of free weights, over ten-thousand square feet of space housing various weight and cardio machines; a walking/ running/ pushing track, and more. Add to the mix nationally-ranked football and baseball teams, an amazing downtown, and one of the best off-campus social scenes in the country you can be sure that you will never be bored at ECU.

Helpful Information
· ECU Office of Undergraduate Admissions: www.ecu.edu/admissions, admis@ecu.edu, or by phone at 252-328-6640
· ECU Student Financial Aid: www.ecu.edu/financial, faques@ecu.edu, or by phone at 252-737-6610
· ECU Athletics: www.ecupirates.com
· City of Greenville: www.greenvillenc.gov

ECU Ice Hockey, a Tradition of Excellence
In just three short years the ECU Ice Hockey Club has experienced unbridled growth and has quickly become one of the most popular sports on campus. With a roster made up of players from New Jersey to South Florida, the level of talent that has come through Greenville has been immense. Graduating 18 players in the span of three seasons, ECU has been able to develop a solid core of returning players that has translated into great success since the team’s inaugural season in 2005. The Pirates have been ranked in the ACHA South Top 10 in 16 of the past 17 rankings, including all five in 2007-08.

The ECU Ice Hockey Club has truly come a long way in a short period of time and is committed to continued growth and even greater success in the future. Below you will find some more information on the finer points of the program:

Game Day
All games, with the exception of the Regional and National Tournament, are scheduled on weekends as to minimize the amount of school missed by players. All home games and practices are held at Bladez on Ice, located just two miles from campus. For away games the team travels in university provided vans or charter buses.

ECU is proud to have one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in the ACHA. The Pirates routinely draw between 400-700 fans per game, which makes it one of the best places to play in the nation. Our players meet with fans after ever game taking pictures and signing autographs for Pirate fans of all ages.

Media Coverage
The ECU Ice Hockey Club is one of the most highly publicized sports in all of Greenville. It is the only non-varsity sport to have a writer assigned to the team for the entirety of the season at the student newspaper, The East Carolinian. Local TV stations are regular fixtures at ECU Ice Hockey games especially during a rivalry game such as NC State or Duke. Pirate Ice Hockey has partnered with Pirate Radio 1250&930AM, a locally owned and operated sports radio station which broadcasts within a 100 mile radius of Greenville and also live on their website (www.pirateradio1250.com). Pirate Radio routinely hosts Pirate hockey players on their primetime “Live at Five” show and has done live broadcasts of seven home games in the past two seasons.

Current Roster
Our current roster is made up of players from teams such as:
· Philadelphia Jr Flyers U18 AAA
· Philadelphia Little Flyers (MJHL)
· Hartford Jr Wolfpack (AJHL)
· New Hampshire Jr Monarchs (EJHL)
· Hudson Valley Eagles (MJHL)
· East Coast Eagles (MJHL)
· Team Carolina (MJHL)
· Kimball Union Academy
· NJ All-State First Team
League Affiliation

The ECU Ice Hockey Club is a member in good standing of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. The ACHA is the governing body of all club hockey programs in the United States. There are three major divisions within the ACHA – Division I, Division II and Division III. The Pirates are part of the ACHA Division II’s South Region and play teams from all over the East Coast – including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida.

Equipment
Each player is provided with the following equipment:
· Game Jerseys
· Practice Jerseys/Socks
· Equipment Bags,
· Warm-up Suits
· Pant Shells
· Helmet Decals

Game jerseys must be returned to the team at the conclusion of the season. All players must have a black helmet and black and white gloves by the first game.

Practice Information
The Pirates practice two to three times per week on-ice and once per week hold off-ice conditioning. Players have full access to the Student Recreation Center in which we hold our off-ice strength and conditioning practices. Tryouts are held the last weekend of August and the first practices take place the first weekend of September (a transfer tryout is offered in January if necessary). Practice schedules are provided to all players at the first team meeting shortly after tryouts.

Dues
Since ECU provides the team with limited funding, each player must pay dues of $1000 per season. Dues can either be paid each semester or in full at the beginning of the season. In certain cases a payment plan can also be arranged. Fees will not be pro-rated, players accept team invitations understanding it is the coaching staff’s prerogative to determine playing time for each individual player. Players are also strongly encouraged to seek out sponsorships, which may help to reduce or alleviate that individual’s dues.

Visit Us
We hope that the above information has been helpful to you. We feel that ECU provides a great environment to not only obtain a great education but also take your hockey career to the next level. If you are interested in visiting the East Carolina University campus and skating with team we urge you to contact us. We can organize a personalized tour of the campus with current players as well as on or off-campus accommodations if necessary.

Contact
General Manager: Mike Markham pioneerman98@gmail.com
President: TBD
Head Coach: Dr. Paul Hinrichs puckdoctor@nc.rr.com
Assistant Coach: Kelley Smith Kelley.Smith73@gmail.com
Assistant Coach: Ben Campau b_campau@hotmail.com
Club Sports Director: Gray Hodges Hodgesg@ecu.edu 252.328.6387
General Inquiries: ECUIceHockey@yahoo.com

Quick Facts
· Established 2004, first game October 10, 2005, 3-1 Win at Virginia Commonwealth Univ.
· In first three seasons of existence the team has compiled an overall record of 44-18-0
· Overall conference record after two seasons in the BRHC of 23-5
· ACHA DIII South Top-10 Rankings: 16 times (out of 17 ranking periods)
· Regional Tournament qualifier 2007
· Average season attendance: approximately 450
· Live play-by-play provided by Pirate Radio 1250AM for seven home games
· Booster Club founded by Terry Fleitz, membership total of over 250
· Full line of ECU Ice Hockey merchandise sold at University Book Exchange (www.piratewear.com)
Most highly publicized club sport at ECU !