Brandon Potter ’18 came to Towson University hoping to keep playing hockey. Now, he’s 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’t 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’t much in the way of college hockey in Maryland. There are only two NCAA intercollegiate ice hockey teams—at the Division III level—in the state.

When he decided to come to TU to study sport management, he was excited to discover the Towson University club ice hockey team. The Division I team—the highest level in club hockey—plays more than 30 games per academic year against other university club teams throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

“When I came here, TU was very good and I felt like I wasn’t going to have a shot to make the team,” Potter laughs. “But 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.”

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 TU 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 TU. Since then, being with the team has brought me some of my closest friends."

A team photo for the TU Club Ice Hockey Team

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 TU 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’s head coach.

“When they asked me, it was a no-brainer,” Potter says. “I didn’t 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.”

While most club teams have a more laid-back atmosphere, TU’s 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. TU 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.

“I 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,” Potter says. “They were very shocked that we had official team jerseys, a livestream, social media and photos. Club hockey is more professionally run than people think.

“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.”

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’s 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 TU Club Ice Hockey team on Instagram.

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.

“Continuing to fundraise allows us to not only compete but provide a fun atmosphere for our students,” Potter says. “Our goal is to really push to a higher status. My experience here at TU was unbelievable. I’m eternally grateful to be a Towson Tiger—so much that I wanted to continue to work with the community to provide our players the same experiences I had.”