Graduate student still has it

Gariepy adds experience to men’s club hockey team

For varsity athletics at the collegiate level, there is limited time an athlete can compete — four years.

For sports at the club level, there is no such limit. As long as an athlete is still enrolled at the university, they can compete at the club level. So it isn’t uncommon for graduate or law students to play club sports along with the underclassmen on the team.

Nathan Romans | Argonaut Defender Erik Miller moves down the ice during Idaho's 6-5 loss against Western Washington Friday at Palouse Ice Rink in Moscow

Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Defender Erik Miller moves down the ice during Idaho’s 6-5 loss against Western Washington Friday at Palouse Ice Rink in Moscow

This is the case with the Vandal men’s hockey club as second-year law student Danny Gariepy is a key member on the team. He is the only graduate student on the roster, which makes him the butt of some jokes from some of the other players, he said, but it is all in good fun.

“I probably am given the hardest time of all of the guys,” Gariepy said. “They got a nickname for me about being old and it’s fun.”

Having a player with as much experience as a law student would have, both on the ice and in the classroom, is huge, especially for Idaho coach Chris Storhok, who has only been with the team as a coach for two seasons. But Storhok has known the eldest player on the team for years, he said.

Despite his age, Gariepy has only been with the club for three seasons. Before that, he hadn’t played for several years, but once he started playing again it was like he never stopped, Gariepy said.

Before his break from the sport, Gariepy said he played hockey most of his life. He first started the sport when he was 5 years old.

Nathan Romans | Argonaut Forward Daniel Gariepy follows the action during Idaho's 6-5 loss against Western Washington Friday at Palouse Ice Rink in Moscow. Gariepy, a graduate and law student, is one of the oldest and most expierenced players on the team.

Nathan Romans | Argonaut
Forward Daniel Gariepy follows the action during Idaho’s 6-5 loss against Western Washington Friday at Palouse Ice
Rink in Moscow. Gariepy, a graduate and law student, is one of the oldest and most expierenced players on the team.

Gariepy said he always tried to emulate former NHL player Brian Leetch, a U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer, because he was always a great leader both on and off the ice.

He didn’t stop studying the game even during his break from the game. He has always watched hockey, including his favorite NHL team, the San Jose Sharks.

He said the experience he had both as a player on the ice and a spectator off the ice has helped him take on a role as a leader and captain on the team as well as someone for Storhok to bounce ideas off of.

“We are always trading ideas back and forth … I mean he has been with the team longer than me,” Storhok said. “Every once in a while he will see something that I don’t, which is always good.”

Being one of the captains on the team adds one more dimension to his responsibilities besides leadership — he also is given the chance to talk to the referees during games.

Nathan Romans |Argonaut Idaho players celebrate their second goal of the game during Idaho's 6-5 loss against Western Washington Friday at Palouse Ice Rink in Moscow.

Nathan Romans |Argonaut
Idaho players celebrate their second goal of the game during Idaho’s 6-5 loss against Western Washington Friday at Palouse Ice Rink in Moscow.

“There is a lot of arguing that goes on and they only want to talk to a coach or the captains,” Gariepy said. “So I would say law school has helped me prepare my arguments better so that helps.”

The leadership and fire Gariepy brings to the team is unmatched and his attitude and tenacity can rub off on some of the other players, Storhok said.

There have been a number of occasions when his persuasiveness can definitely come in handy at times when the referees make some questionable decisions in the game, his background in law definitely helps, Storhok said. He will definitely have a long future in law, he said.

Joshua Gamez can be reached at [email protected]

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