The Georgia Southern Women’s Hockey Club closed their season on Feb. 15 with a dominant 14-0 victory over Kennesaw State. For Lena Whitwell, founder and team president, the win was more than just a strong finish—it was a statement for the future of women’s hockey at Georgia Southern.
Whitwell, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, had always been drawn to the ice but saw a lack of opportunities for women’s hockey at Georgia Southern. Determined to change that, she founded the team early last year, taking on responsibilities such as scheduling games, organizing practices, and securing jerseys.
Many of the players on the team had never played hockey before or even been on the ice before joining. One of the club’s biggest challenges was teaching players the fundamentals of skating and the game itself. Despite a slow start, the team showed significant improvement throughout the season, gaining experience in games against teams from Tampa, Miami, and Auburn.
The 14-0 shutout against Kennesaw State marked a major milestone for the program, as it was the team’s first victory by such a large margin. Beyond competition, the team has fostered a strong sense of camaraderie and sisterhood, creating a culture that has not been widely recognized before at Georgia Southern.
“The biggest rewards I’ve gained from leading this team are the networking connections and event contacts in the NHL,” Whitwell said.
The league is divided into three divisions—SEC, Sunshine, and Atlantic. Currently, Georgia Southern is the only school representing the Atlantic Division. Whitwell hopes to see the program continue to grow and eventually gain recognition as an official sport at Georgia Southern.
“I want GSU to have a really big hockey program with a rink and 5,000 seats in the middle of campus,” Whitwell said. “And for every single game, whether it’s men’s or women’s, the arena is packed.”
Even for starting goalie Sierra Neudorfer, who has played both ice and roller hockey internationally, playing for Georgia Southern has been both a fun and competitive experience. As a goalie, she has faced physical challenges such as height differences compared to male players, but she has found the adaptation to the sport’s physicality to be both demanding and rewarding.
“I don’t really say no, because every time I step on the ice, it’s just like practice to me,” Neudorfer said.
With a dominant win to close the season and two players, including Whitwell, making an appearance at College Hockey South All-Star Weekend, the Georgia Southern Women’s Hockey Club continues to grow. Whitwell and her teammates hope to expand the program and work toward official recognition as a varsity sport at Georgia Southern.
