When people think of hockey, their minds are surged with images of the 1980 Miracle on Ice, Wayne Gretzky, Disney’s “The Mighty Ducks” and, of course, the Stanley Cup. They don’t think about Kansas.

For some reason, wheat fields and cold steel on ice don’t mesh. Perhaps it’s because at the end of the day this is a basketball state, or maybe it’s the lack of an NHL team. One thing is for sure: when it comes to hockey, Kansas is left off the map.

In fact, there are only seven ice rinks in the entire state. Tucked away in Overland Park rests one of these elusive facilities, the Pepsi Ice Midwest, where a different breed of Jayhawks makes its nest. These birds, born with skates on their feet and ice in their veins, patrol the rink, and any team who enters better be prepared to face off.

Led by coach Tom Prendergast, the Kansas Men’s Hockey Club kicks off its season tonight against Purdue University. The game will mark the start of the 23rd campaign of the club’s existence, and no one is more optimistic about the year than Prendergast, who deems that with a more experienced team returning to the ice, Kansas is sure to be heading up in the standings.

“We had a relatively young team last year. The fact that the guys are another year older, I think that will help,” Prendergast said.

Kansas is looking to bounce back from a year in which the team’s goals against total was 100 more than the amount of goals Kansas scored. For Prendergast and the rest of the team, the upside is that next year is finally here, and as of now, every team is undefeated. The books have closed on last season, and a new chapter in Kansas hockey is about to be written.

The chapter starts with the new players. This season, upwards of seven new prospects join the team, and all are looking to be the standout that impresses Prendergast. Playing at the college level, rookies need to understand what the opponent is bringing to the table.

“They are bigger, faster and stronger,” Prendergast said. “You could be a really good high school player, but that doesn’t make you a good college player.”

Another area that Prendergast looks at is hitting.

“At this level kids know how to hit, they have more physical mass and have learned the art of the hip-check,” he said.

The ongoing tryouts will culminate after the first two games of the season against Purdue. This first road trip is crucial for the squad’s rookies. Prendergast is leaving two lines of veterans at home in an attempt to see what the rookies are made of, and cuts will be made after he can get a better idea of who fits with the program. As with any newcomer, walking into a new locker room is tough. Teammates likely already have chemistry built and understand each other.

The Jayhawks are no different, except that they waste no time in renovating their bonds.

“We like to get together for the football games,” winger Josh Delesha said.

Prendergast leaves bonding up to his veterans. Along with football viewing parties, Grant Worden, team president and defenseman, said that road trips bring the team together.

“Being in a hotel room with the other guys, you kinda get a feel for everybody,” he said.

Delesha and Worden said last year was disheartening and hard to take, but now they are hopeful and anticipating a great season.

“It was a whole team letdown,” Delesha said, “You work real hard to get a goal and they come back two seconds later and throw two in the net. It’s hard to work hard after you’ve been put down 4-1 in the first period.”

For Prendergast, working hard doesn’t just involve practices and games. When it comes to his team, Prendergast has a clear stance on his players’ educations.

“Academics is the reason they’re all here,” he said. “So that has to be number one.”

Prendergast wants dedication to Kansas to come in forms other than on-ice production. He is looking for success in life after college hockey, with or without the game.

On the rink, however, the group hopes that some home cooking will help out this year. But with home games in Overland Park it can be hard to draw a big crowd. Prendergast said he thinks Kansas students should support the team more.

“Hockey is a great sport to watch, it’s one of the best spectator sports you can get.” said Prendergast, “On a Saturday afternoon its a great way to get out and show some team spirit.”

With the advancement of hitting and scoring at the college level, those who are new to the sport will surely be satisfied. It is the team’s expectation that having a strong and supportive environment at home will give it an advantage this season.

Using last year as fuel, the Jayhawks look to prove to the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association that the University of Kansas is here to play. In past years Kansas has been the underdog. 2010 looks to be the year that the status quo changes.

“We are much more positive.” Prendergast said.

This is a playoff-or-bust team, and with the squad that Kansas has now, it looks to be an achievable goal. The Kansas Men’s Hockey Club is here to welcome Kansas to the world of Hockey.

— Edited by Alex Tretbar