A new chapter has begun for University of Jamestown athletics. The university now has a hockey team, and we congratulate UJ for offering another athletic program.

Jamestown is a hockey town, with a thriving youth hockey league and girls' and boys' high school hockey teams. It is a natural fit for the university to have a hockey team in a town where the word "hockey" generates excitement.

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Matt Stockert, head coach for the Blue Jays boys' hockey team for more than 15 years, said having a hockey team at the university could attract more families to the youth league in Jamestown. He said, "It (having a UJ hockey team) is a good thing."

The inaugural season of Jimmie men's hockey got underway last weekend, and residents can get their first look this weekend at John L. Wilson Arena with exhibition games tonight and Saturday.

The Jimmies opened the season with back-to-back losses to the University of Manitoba, which UJ head coach Dean Stork described as a powerhouse in Canadian Interuniversity Sport hockey.

The Jimmies are one of 61 Division I men's hockey teams with the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Stork assembled a roster of 33 players, including four juniors, four sophomores and 25 freshmen. Although the team looks young on paper, many of the players are already in their 20s.

Stork said the identity of the Jimmies will be a "fast-checking hockey club, which will lead to offense."

UJ hockey will be a great addition for the community, and residents should come out and support the team.

Editorials are the opinion of Jamestown Sun management and the newspaper's editorial board.