The UW-Platteville Hockey Club recently had to deal with some changes to their program. John Clark resigned as head coach for the club at the end of October.

The resignation came as no surprise as there was an undisclosed conflict between Clark and the club.

“He resigned because the team wanted to go in a different direction than he was leading us,” according to a statement from the club. “It was basically a difference in philosophies.”

Jon Clark was replaced by Ken Mika, a senior hockey player and president of the club.

The decision for Mika to become coach was decided through the team constitution. In the event that the coach resigns or is fired, the president of the Hockey Club takes over as interim coach until a new coach is hired.

“As of right now, I am adjusting to the new role I have,” Mika said. “I haven’t coached in hockey before but I have played the sport for 19 years. I have always thought about coaching after my playing days so this will give me more of an idea if I want to coach after college.”

The team thinks that the new coach is a good thing.

“Our team is unified in the direction it is going and our practices are more productive,” according to a statement from the club.

“I think Ken is working out great,” Logan Johnson, senior forward, said. “He has brought a new sense of energy and excitement to the team.”

Mika believes he has a different impact on the team than the previous coach did.

“I handle game situations, players and the lines differently,” Mika said.

“We are working on more complex drills that will help us in our upcoming games,” Johnson said.

“Going from a player to coach is a big change on and off the ice. I just need to learn how to balance being a coach, president and student at the same time,” Mika said.

The hockey club is trying to finish the rest of their season strong so they can qualify for the Conference Playoffs in February.

More information about the UW-P Hockey Club is available at uwplatt.edu/org/uwphockey/.