Established in 1930 by Tom Lieb, LMU Ice Hockey enjoyed a rich 11 year history. Lieb came to LMU from Faribault, Minnesota in 1930 to coach the Football team. It started out as a program to keep the football players in shape, but soon became a full fledged sport at LMU, and sported a roster of Minnesotans, all of which were hockey players. The program grew and turned into a league including USC, Occidental, and a few club teams. LMU won the league title many times, including a four year stretch from 1935 to 1938. The team would have continued to grow had the Lieb not been fired due to poor performance by the Football team. After his tenure was over, the hockey team took a downfall. In 1942 LMU Ice Hockey played its final games.
In 1994, two female students (Sara Ross and Melanie Werner) set out to recreate an Ice Hockey team at LMU. Using an email blast, they gathered enough students to create a team, and joined the PCHA hockey conference under the banner, Ice Hockey Club at Loyola Marymount. The team played 12 games a season, over two seasons from 1995-1997. The team played at Culver Ice Arena and practiced at Skating Edge Ice Arena (the same arena’s the current team has used) After those two seasons, the team did not continue.
In 2005, Chris Miller had a dream of playing college hockey, and for four years he tried to get a team started. Finally in 2006 his dream came true. The great tradition was reborn fully on March 30, 2006 when the LMU Lions beat USC 2-0 in the first Inter-Collegiate victory in 65 years. Instead of looking at pictures of LMU Ice Hockey beating USC in Uhall, you can come enjoy them for real. See you at the Rink!
The Tradition continues with the LMU Ice Hockey Annual awards given out at the conclusion of each season. The awards that are given are the “Coaches” Award, for the player that the coach feels gives the most to the team. The “Most Improved” Award, given to the player whose teammates consider to have improved their game the most to help the team. The “Most Valuable Player” Award given to the player that the team feels was the most important to its on ice success. Finally the “Old Man Miller” Award, named for Chris Miller who re-started the team in 2006. It is given to the player who is voted to have given the most to the on/off ice success of the LMU Hockey Program. The yearly award winners can be seen on the previous stat pages for each season, HERE.
LMU Hockey Hall of Fame
- 2023 Inductees: “Players” – Taylor Spesak (’15), Trevor Tracy (’16), Kyle Martins (’16)
- 2022 Inductees: “Players” – Jack Hyman (’15)
- 2020 Inductees: “Players” – Hunter Costin (’14)
- 2019 Inductees: “Founders” -Robb Gilligan (’08), Jeremy Birenbaum (’10). “Players” – Dylan Milo (’12)
- 2018 Inductee: “Players” – Nick Cruz (’11)
- 2017 Inductees: “Founders” – Dean Georgopoulos (Coach). “Players” – Tim Chiappetta (’08)
- 2016 Inductees: “Founders” – Tom Lieb (’30), Chris Miller (’11), Tyler Goeckner-Zoeller (’08), Al Tipon (’81). “Players” – Phil Higgins (’08), Jim McDonald (’13)
LMU Ice Hockey – Team Awards
- 2024 – ACHA Regionals (6th), Best Club Sport at LMU (6th), Male Athlete of the Year (Matisse Hawthorne)
- 2023 – Best Club Sport at LMU (5th)
- 2022 – WCHC Champions, ACHA Regionals (14th), Best Club Sport at LMU (4th), Male Athlete of the Year (Austin Billings)
- 2020 – Best Club Sport at LMU (3rd), Male Athlete of the Year (Austin Billings)
- 2019 – Best Club Sport at LMU (2nd)
- 2018 – Male Athlete of the Year (Matthew Boente)
- 2015 – ACHA Regionals (10th) – Best Club Sport at LMU (1st) – Top Club Advisor (Al Tipon)
- 2014 – ACHA Regionals (9th) – Top Club Advisor (Al Tipon)
- 2013 – Male Athlete of the Year (Jim McDonald)
- 2012 – Male Athlete of the Year (Jim McDonald), Top Club Advisor (Al Tipon)
- 2011 – Male Athlete of the Year (Nick Cruz) and Top Club Advisor (Al Tipon)
- 2009 – Best LMU Social Event (Home Opener) – Top Club Advisor (Al Tipon)
- 2008- Best Student Organization at LMU – Best LMU Social Event (Home Opener)
- 2006- Best new Club