Denise Ilitch, a passionate advocate for women’s hockey at the University of Michigan, refused to take no for an answer. As a regent at the University and the daughter of hockey royalty Marian and the late Mike Ilitch, she was determined to bring women’s Division I hockey to a school known for its men’s hockey prowess. With nine national championships under their belt, Michigan seemed like the perfect place for a women’s team to flourish.
Despite facing obstacles and being repeatedly told it couldn’t be done due to cost concerns, Ilitch stood her ground. “I had not heard a good enough reason on why we couldn’t have women’s hockey DI at Michigan,” she shared with The Athletic. “There is a demand for women’s hockey at (Michigan). Women belong on the same ice as men. The University of Michigan must show that on our ice, we support varsity women’s hockey.”
The athletic department finally launched a study in May to explore the feasibility of adding women’s hockey to the program. This move signifies a major step toward the potential establishment of elite women’s hockey at one of the most prestigious schools in college athletics. It’s an opportunity to embrace the growing popularity of women’s hockey in a time when the sport is gaining more attention than ever before.
Jenna Trubiano, the club team’s head coach, expressed optimism about the initiative, calling it a “perfect storm” for women’s hockey at Michigan. She acknowledged that while the addition of women’s DI hockey should have happened years ago, there is still a chance to focus on the future and make it a reality.
Looking back at previous attempts to bring women’s hockey to Michigan, there have been obstacles along the way. Plans were in motion in 1998 to add women’s hockey and men’s soccer as varsity sports, but the focus eventually shifted to men’s soccer and women’s water polo instead.
With the current study underway, there is hope that this time around, the University of Michigan will take a significant step towards supporting varsity women’s hockey. The challenge now lies in addressing past failures and working towards a future where women can thrive on the ice alongside their male counterparts. As Ilitch aptly put it, “Hockey is for everyone, and we are ‘HockeyTown.’”
