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