Fans watch the Mountaineers take on UNC Charlotte during The Outdoor Classic on Nov. 17, 2023. The team is 3-0 against Charlotte this season.

PHOTO GALLERY: The rise of the App State Hockey Club

Emily Simpson, Associate Photo Editor • 888 Views

December 5, 2023

News, Politics

App State’s Ice Hockey Club is on its way to becoming a go-to sporting event for the Mountaineers of Boone. App State Hockey has achieved one of the highest Instagram following of Division II club hockey teams in North Carolina with 3,717 followers as of Nov. 4, 2023.

Their attendance has also been steadily growing game to game, despite the lack of a rink in Boone. On Nov. 17, 4,200 fans gathered to watch the Mountaineers face off with UNC-Charlotte at the Truist Baseball Field in Charlotte, North Carolina in the Outdoor Classic game. The Mountaineers would win the game 6-5 in overtime.

The crowd was shining with App State gold from students, families and friends in jerseys and App State gear. Alumni of the hockey team continue to show their support by attending and playing in the club’s annual Alumni game.

Every year, App State Hockey hosts a game inviting alumni to come back and play against the current team. Not only has the team grabbed the attention of hockey-loving fans in the mountains, but also popular college hockey podcasters.

Mackenzie Murphy and Tim Kalinowski, from “The Hockey House” podcast, attended the Outdoor Classic, as they continue their journey of covering what they call, “The best of the American Collegiate Hockey Association and Amateur Athletic Union College Hockey.”

With the growing fan base, limited edition game jerseys are selling out fast and becoming a staple in closets across the United States. As the App State Ice Hockey Club grows, so are the fans.

The Mountaineers are 6-5-1 this season. See them in action, or support from home through their livestream on YouTube, for their second outdoor game on Dec. 9, 2023 at Spring Mountain Resort, Schwenksville, Pennsilvania against Kutztown University in the Spring Mountain Outdoor Classic.

Outdoor Classic:

Fans & Hockey House Podcast:

Game action:

Donate to The Appalachian

$6435

$10000

Contributed

Our Goal

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in October 2024!

We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions — is dependent upon advertising revenue and donations. We cannot exist without the financial and educational support of our fellow departments on campus, our local and regional businesses, and donations of money and time from alumni, parents, subscribers and friends.

Our journalism is produced to serve the public interest, both on campus and within the community. From anywhere in the world, readers can access our paywall-free journalism, through our website, through our email newsletter, and through our social media channels. Our supporters help to keep us editorially independent, user-friendly, and accessible to everyone.

If you can, please consider supporting us with a financial gift from $10. We appreciate your consideration and support of student journalism at Appalachian State University. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, or if you would prefer to make a recurring monthly gift, please give to The Appalachian Student News Fund through the university here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1727/cg20/form.aspx?sid=1727&gid=2&pgid=392&cid=1011&dids=418.15&bledit=1&sort=1.