Academics or athletics? Most top
student athletes don’t need to choose
between the two. But, for freshman
women’s club hockey player Julia
Lindahl, her journey started with that
choice.
“Honestly, I ultimately decided
on Michigan because of the academics,”
Lindahl said. “I never really looked into
the hockey program in depth or con-
tacted the coaching staff until getting
accepted.”
Lindahl chose Michigan because
of its academic opportunities and the
women’s hockey team was an added bo-
nus. She considered attending Gustavus
in Minnesota to continue her hockey ca-
reer as a Division III varsity player, but
she ultimately chose Michigan.
The Michigan women’s club
hockey team has consistently shown its
strength against top ranked programs,
and this season was no exception.
Lindahl played an important role in this
success, earning first team All-Rookie
status in the CCWHA and a place as one
of the league’s top scorers.
Playing in each of the Wolverines’
28 games this season, Lindahl finished
with 19 goals and eight assists, a stat line
that solidified her position as one of the
team’s top performers. Her success has
only continued to grow since her high
school career, hinting at the potential
she has for the rest of her career.
The club hockey program has
proven to be a great way for Lindahl to
continue her career. But, it’s important
to consider how such decisions might
change if Michigan had a varsity wom-
en’s hockey program. The school’s
absence in the growing landscape of
women’s college hockey is becoming
more notable.
“Coming from Minnesota, a state
with six D-I women’s programs and
10 D-III women’s programs, I was sur-
prised when I first found out that not
only does Michigan not have a varsity
team, but there are also no NCAA D-I
women’s teams in the state,” Lindahl
said.
The university isn’t an anomaly in
the state of Michigan, as Lindahl noted.
Around the country though, its absence
— along with those of other schools in
the state — is becoming more apparent.
The decision athletes have to make in
choosing a school is beginning to in-
clude even more factors.
“The biggest surprise of the situa-
tion is that Michigan is one of the biggest
hockey states in the country,” Lindahl
said. “Most girls have to make the tough
decision between staying close to home
and playing club, or leaving the state for
an NCAA opportunity.”
Lindahl’s decision came down to
academic opportunities, but it likely
would’ve included a clearer perk with a
varsity women’s hockey team at Mich-
igan. The creation of a varsity program
would take time but would result in in-
creased athletic opportunities for wom-
en at the university.
The hockey talent on the women’s
club team clearly shows the availability of
skill at Michigan, and this would only in-
crease with the start of a varsity program.
Lindahl explained that a varsity women’s
team would, most likely, not lead to an
eradication of the club program.
Instead, it would continue to help
hockey involvement grow and help ath-
letes avoid choosing between continu-
ing varsity athletics or pursuing presti-
gious academic programs.
“I think that the idea of a varsity
team at Michigan should definitely be
the end goal,” Lindahl said. “If the uni-
versity were to start a varsity program, it
most likely would not be the club team
transitioning to varsity status, but in-
stead a varsity team being added in addi-
tion to the current club team.”
Increasing the opportunities on
campus for women who play hockey
should be reason enough to add a varsity
program. With a varsity and club team,
women would have more opportunities
to continue playing hockey, and this
would also increase visibility in women’s
hockey around the country.
Michigan remains behind other
Big Ten schools with women’s varsity
hockey programs, including 2022 na-
tional champion Ohio State and 2023
national champion Wisconsin.
Questions remain about why the
process has continued with little prog-
ress, but with the club team’s continued
success, the opportunity for another var-
sity women’s program at Michigan could
become clearer.
The women’s club team has con-
tinued to show increasing success
throughout recent seasons, but such
success could be showcased at the var-
sity level. The Wolverines already com-
pete against some varsity programs and
often win these matchups.
But where the team differs from
varsity programs is in their funding
outlets. Lindahl explained that apparel,
equipment and training are all funded by
team fees, dues and fundraising efforts.
“The extra funds help us take trips
to play competitive teams that we other-
wise wouldn’t be able to play,” Lindahl
said.
Such funds allow them to travel to
play teams like Arizona State and Grand
Canyon University, two programs the
Wolverines beat early in the season.
Ultimately, Lindahl decided on the
University of Michigan because of the
academic opportunities the school has
to offer.
But, the university could prioritize
resources for a varsity women’s hockey
program, and the combination of such
academic opportunities and a varsity
program could help athletes like Lindahl
make an easier decision.
Varsity athletics or Michigan academics:
Julia Lindahl’s hockey journey
6 — Women’s Month /
/ Wednesday, March 29, 2023
MALLORY MOORE
Daily Sports Writer
EMMA MATI/Daily