Taking Their Shot
When Andrew Lacksonen ’26 and Justin Addante ’26 arrived on campus, they had no idea that their shared interest in hockey would lead them to work together to launch a hockey club that would help them connect classroom learning with real-world experience.
Left to right: Elmhurst Club Hockey players Robert “Rock” Smith ’26, Justin Addante ’26 and Andrew Lacksonen ’26
Lacksonen, a Columbus, Ohio, native and Bluejay lacrosse player who is majoring in both international business and finance, says it was an unexpected email that led him to Elmhurst. “Until Elmhurst Head Coach Mark Morrell emailed me about the school and lacrosse program, I had never heard of Elmhurst,” he says. He knew Elmhurst was the right fit after learning about the team culture, the Chicago location and the business program.
Making connections at Elmhurst was especially important to Lacksonen. “Being from out of state, I’ve truly enjoyed the community and culture at Elmhurst,” he says. “As a student-athlete on the men’s lacrosse team, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many great people, not just through athletics but also through classes, campus events and everyday interactions. Elmhurst offers a unique balance in that it’s small enough to feel personal and focused, where you can really invest in what matters to you, and it’s close enough to Chicago to provide endless opportunities beyond campus.”
Addante, an exercise science major from Addison, Illinois, has played hockey for more than 14 years, including three years at the AA level. He chose Elmhurst because the exercise science program appealed to his passion for athletics, training and performance.
Finding a Shared Interest
The original iteration of the hockey club was started in 2024 by Elmhurst alumnus Michael Breslin ’25. Lacksonen and Addante met through their participation and decided to team up and build upon what Breslin started.
With Elmhurst Club Hockey, the two have helped turn a loose group of players into a growing team with real momentum. “When we got word that a club hockey team was being created, we both joined right away,” Addante says. “We both love the game and wanted to continue to play, so we decided to keep the brand-new club going.”
Putting Academics into Practice
Lacksonen says his academic work has shaped his role in the club more than he expected. “Dr. (Siaw-Peng) Wan definitely gave me the skills in Excel for helping me keep track and manage everything that comes with building a new program,” he says. He also points to the everyday habits college reinforces, such as time management and building connections, which now translate directly into managing a club sport.
Those skills became essential as he navigated the logistics of a team that doesn’t receive athletic department funding. Lacksonen met with Glen Brittich, director of athletics, and Coach Morrell for support, and leaned on the Student Financial Services staff as he figured out how to run the club responsibly. “The finance staff, especially Gina Patten, have been extremely helpful through this new process for me,” he says.
Addante has also contributed to the club’s development by assisting the team in transitioning from unstructured ice time to a more formal schedule The team expanded to roughly 17 players this year and was able to secure a better practice slot at Center Ice of DuPage. “The problem-solving skills I gained in the classroom have allowed me to keep things under control when it comes to running a club team,” he says.
Building Community
The club has also helped forge connections between Elmhurst student-athletes and other sports-minded students. Baseball, golf and lacrosse players skate alongside lifelong hockey players and students involved in other campus organizations and academic programs, creating a team based on diverse strengths and common interests.
As word about the hockey team spreads, students have shown strong interest in the team’s progress, generating community engagement. According to Lacksonen, the reactions are consistently positive. “When we tell people we have a club hockey team, the overwhelming majority get excited and are interested in learning more and attending a game,” he says.
Other Bluejay athletes have become especially loyal supporters. Players often mention how meaningful it feels to see friends and fellow athletes show up at games, creating a shared spirit that doesn’t always exist among different sports. That support has helped unite students who might not otherwise cross paths, adding to the sense of community the club hopes to strengthen.
A Path to Future Success
Lacksonen already sees how these responsibilities connect to his future. “My plan is to work towards my CFP certification and get into financial planning,” he says.
Running the hockey club has shown him how planning, communication and initiative fit into real-world leadership. “It’s shown me that, with the right work ethic and building a culture up the right way, people will notice and naturally want to help out,” Lacksonen says.
Addante says that working with the team has honed his time-management skills, which will prove helpful as he pursues a career in firefighting.
Lacksonen and Addante are both focused on finishing the program strong as they get ready to graduate. Lacksonen hopes the club will be a permanent fixture on campus. “Our main objective is to establish this as a long-term club program that contributes to the development of an even more intimate community and culture that Elmhurst offers,” he says.
Lacksonen and Addante’s experience of founding Elmhurst Club Hockey reflects what can happen when students take ownership of their experience and decide to build something themselves. They have helped spark the club’s growth, and their work is setting up future students to take it even further. And the lessons of effective communication and teamwork that they learned while forming the club, paired with their work in the classroom, are setting up both of them to thrive as adaptive leaders.
Go Far. Do Well. Visit elmhurst.edu/Admission to take the first step toward your future.