Hockey has been bringing Lions to the ice to compete since some of the very early days at LMU. In 1930, an ice hockey team got its start by recruiting LMU football players to play during their off-season. The program was on and off for several years until 2006 when Chris Miller and a few other students, including Tyler Goeckner-Zoeller ’08, started the team.
Tyler Goeckner-Zoeller ’08
Major: Film
Minor: Business
Now in its 15th season, the Club Sports Ice Hockey team has 29 players taking on major success in the region and continues to help Lions to live a life of purpose both on and off the ice. Goeckner-Zoeller has been with the team since the start and now leads them as a coach with the unique opportunity to help continue to grow the team and teach his players what it means to live a life of purpose and make lasting connections.
When he’s not coaching the Lions on the ice, you will find him pursuing his passions behind the camera as a digital imaging technician on television shows. “I recently got to work on a pilot called “Black Excellence,” and it’s something I am really excited to see when it gets released on Netflix,” said Goeckner-Zoeller. “My advice to other students interested in going into the film industry is to have an idea of what you want to do. One of the things I learned very quickly about the industry was that not everyone is going to be a director. There are lots of opportunities to find what you love, and people in the industry are very willing to help each other move up and grow.”
As a student, when he was not working on student films or playing hockey, he was working on campus and playing lacrosse. He really loved the social atmosphere and the size of the campus. “I never felt out of place, and some of my fondest memories on the bluff are one’s where I connected with people, some of whom I am still connected with today,” said Goeckner-Zoeller. “It’s something I advertise to the students on the team and encourage them to take part in making their own connections.”
Building connections is one of the central themes of the ice hockey program as they grow their network of over 80 alumni who have played for two years or more. The local alums still come out to games to cheer on the team, and the team hosts an alumni game every year.
Goeckner-Zoeller’s advice to students to get outside of your room and meet people. “You never know who’s going to help you with work or still deal with that were people I met randomly on campus, this is a great time in college to put yourself out there and meet the rest of your life,” said Goeckner-Zoeller. It’s advice that he also teaches to the Lions on the ice hockey team by helping them to understand that, “you will get out of your LMU student experience what you put into it. If you are willing to put time and effort into, you are going to have a much better result.”
Want to cheer on the LMU Club Sports Ice Hockey team this season? Come cheer on the Lions during their home games at The Skating Edge Ice Arena in Harbor City, CA. For more information on upcoming games or to follow the team website here or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.