Underwater Hockey. Hockey, underwater. Yes, you're reading that correctly – and there is way more than meets the eye when covering one of UW's newest clubs; one that is an essential to try out through the course of your undergrad.
Formed only this past January, club president Allison Kempton took what was a dream and turned it into reality by bringing the game to the PAC pool.
"I started the club because I've been playing for a while, and I just thought UW would probably have a lot of people who'd like to play. I've played underwater hockey myself for the past 7 years."
– Allison Kempton, third-year Computer Science student.
The game, although puzzling from the naked eye, ultimately becomes one you immediately want to master and keep playing. Intriguing would be an understatement.
What differentiates hockey played underwater and that of the traditional game; lies in its mechanics, equipment, and play style. With a metal puck placed on the pool's floor, both teams will line up on opposing walls of the pool until the game begins. From there, it's all about speed, strategy, and stamina. Maneuvering a curved wooden stick, you glide the puck down the pool towards a goal post, all while your opponents swarm around you (watch out for flippers!!!)
A major component of the sport is breath control, and according to assistant coach Sascha Tortosa, a fourth-year Biology student, it's all about timing it properly. "Ideally, you move the puck before coming up for air, and it's mainly a turn-based idea. You're on the puck; you have to hold for as long as you can, you move the puck; you're free to breathe. You want to time it with the play," Tortosa mentions.
After partaking in a free Try-It session, you'll see how underwater hockey is an incredible workout for endurance, cardiovascular and lung health. "It's a very tight-knit community, Kempton says. New players, they always have said, 'Oh my goodness, this is amazing. We love this.' I'm seeing more and more new players turn out, and also those who continue to come back, which is very exciting for us."
The UW Underwater Hockey Club meets Mondays and Fridays from 9:00-10:00 PM, you can find them on Instagram @wloo_underwaterhockey, and contact them via email at underwaterhockey@uwaterloo.ca.
