And it makes sense; they are an easy target. We feel like we know them. After all—we see them all the time. They are the most known and followed group of individuals on campus…on the ice.

But this obsession with the campus’ most popular group leaves students and faculty to view the team with both adoration and animosity. Why? Envy perhaps. Fear another. But more likely, it is just ignorance.

As fans, we sadly tend to focus on what we can see and make up the rest. We witness the valiant effort of these young men during brutal hockey games, but without their pads and jerseys we forget who they are.

So we pigeonhole them. We assume they don’t care who we are or what we think. We assume they are dense. We assume they breeze through school on an athletic scholarship. We assume they don’t care if we exist at all.

Again, it makes sense. They are jocks.

However, nothing could be further from the truth for this talented squad of 28, who don’t just break these stereotypes—they shatter them.

Twenty-six of 28 players on last year’s squad made the Dean’s List in their respective schools. And while some would argue that just one of the 28 is an engineer let me ask you this.

Have you ever tried getting up at 7 am to work out, then attended several hours of classes before heading back to the gym for another three hour practice, before finally returning home to dig into three course loads of homework while your body aches and your head pounds?

These men do it everyday, for themselves and for us.

They love to play hockey and they love the thrill of playing in the charged atmosphere of the Houston Field House. Of course that is when enough students actually tear themselves away from their computers and show up.

So the next time you get a chance to meet one of the men’s hockey players, do it. Introduce yourself, strike up a conversation. You might just be a bit surprised. They already amaze us on the ice. Let’s give them the opportunity to off the ice as well.