When people in the Northwest Indiana area think about Bishop Noll Institute, one of the first things that may come to mind is the prestigious basketball program. The basketball program at Noll has drawn in some of the best athletes in the region to join such a rich tradition of excellence. There is a sport coming back to Noll that may rival this winter sport dynasty. Next year Bishop Noll Institute will add hockey to one of its winter sports. The team will be coached by 2002 Bishop noll hockey coach Rich Sobilo, who is also the new softball coach at BNI this year . The return of Bishop Noll hockey could be one that is groundbreaking for the Bishop Noll community.
The excitement about the new hockey program extends from the players to the new coach. “To provide an opportunity for student-athletes, like me, who would have never had a chance to play hockey if Bishop Noll did not have ice hockey,” Mr Sobilo said, “I have played with, watched and coached many Bishop Noll students with little to no organized hockey experience improve, develop and thrive in high school. I also believe that school sports are important. It is important to have an opportunity like other student-athletes in the school, not on the fringes like many other area high school hockey programs. They were known in the school as hockey players who Wore the Warrior like anyone else.”
The program could provide yet another contending team for Bishop Noll. With another Bishop Noll sport comes high expectations. “Our main goal is to attract enough committed students to be competitive in our first year. Next season, quite honestly, it may be as a Junior Varsity Team, but we hope to grow it from there. Our expectations in terms of wins and losses may not be that high, but we are looking for a chance to compete and improve.”
One of the best things about the new program is the draw of middle school hockey players, and even hockey players from other high schools, to come to Bishop Noll. Mr. Sobilo is optimistic about the interest from new prospective families.
“Our anticipation is that current hockey players, who have played for years, will be drawn to Bishop Noll because of the program,” Sobilo said. “We already have had inquiries from several families. Our program is great because it gives athletes who maybe havent played the game of hockey a chance to learn the game and play. At bigger schools like Munster and Lake Central this may not be possible. It may take time, because it is a big jump to send your experienced players with a new program, but we are confident we can start to draw experienced players as early as next year.”
The new hockey program for Noll is something that distinguishes BNI from the other Catholic schools in the region.
“The Bishop Noll administration is being aggressive about distinguishing themselves from other high schools in the area. Fully supporting this program is only one part of that. We already have top notch teachers and faculty, we need to attract people who may not know that. If it is through extra-curricular programs, then so be it. The main thing is that we are bringing good people into our great school, that’s a mutually beneficial arrangement,” he stated.
The challenge, according to Sobilo, is not the teams we will face, but the practice time they will have. This could potentially present some trouble for such a hard spot. Experience is a key component to the reacquired Noll program. “Right now there are about half a dozen players who have varying experience,” states Mr. Sobilo.
There are some players at Noll that may have the experience to lead the team. Hockey standout, and Bishop Noll Freshman, Raleigh Vis shares his expectations for the Bishop Noll Hockey Team. “I would have to say my expectations for the noll team would be in the early developmental stages with the players learning the sport and the basic fundamentals such and skating, shooting, and stick handling” Vis said. This is a very practical way of thinking, considering a first year hockey program isn’t going to skate out there and be the Chicago Blackhawks.
Raleigh is one of the key pieces for the Warrior hockey team next year. When asked what experience he brings to the new program, he replied, “ I’ll be bringing to the Noll team is 4 years or experience both varsity and JV playing time and hopefully be able to help the kids that are just starting to learn the great sport. Also I’m trying to bring kids over from other schools to play for Bishop Noll.” Vis has played in the Illiana Hockey league where his team was crowned champions in 2013. This is experience that is much needed to start a program in a difficult sport such as hockey. Many people in the Noll community are very excited to bring hockey to Noll. Vis is also very excited as he states, “I would have to say noll getting a hockey team is great. It gives people the chance to learn and be part of the greatest sport out there and be part of a new family. There is nothing like playing hockey, it teaches you life skills that you couldn’t learn from anywhere else.” The Hockey team needs ideally 12-15 according to Mr Sobilo. The last time Bishop Noll had a Hockey team, which was in the 2002 0yt , they had 35 athletes.
The Bishop Noll Hockey Program is set to debut in the Winter of the 2014-2015 school year.