After more than a yearlong hiatus, the Southeast Missouri State roller hockey team is seeking return to its former roots after a new group of students united to bring it back.

According to Derek Lemen, a senior at Southeast and the unofficial organizer of the hockey team reestablishment said he's excited to preserve the team's legacy.

"It was a prominent club in the past. It's been active for a long time until it recently fell apart," Lemen said. "Now we're trying to restart it to keep the spirit of Southeast having a hockey team alive."

The biggest challenge for the team lies in the first step. In order to get reinstated, the team must be able to pay off equipment and past dues.

"Without being registered with the campus, we cannot use logos or anything like that. We are starting from scratch," Lemen said. "Our first goal is to obtain $2,200 in fundraising. That's going to take time."

Fundraising will be done through crowdfunding campaign website gofundme.com. Jacob Dunn, a freshman at Southeast, said this is to provide visitors of the page easy access to make a donation as well as attract other students who may be unaware of the team.

"The gofundme page is just serving as an easy point for fundraising," Dunn said. "Online giving is much easier for families and relatives to donate."

The small group of students involved in bringing the roller hockey team back are no strangers to the sport itself. Everyone involved has familiarity with sport and is eager to get back to playing. For Lemen, the return to competition is the biggest thrill.

"I played hockey as a kid with off-brand leagues and stuff like that," Lemen said. "It's something I want to get involved with. Everyone who has gotten involved with this so far all want to start a team, seeing as how this campus doesn't have one anymore. I personally can't wait to start playing against other universities"

To others involved, the opportunity to make a positive impact on Southeast's intramurals is what's more rewarding.

"It's just one of those things when your friends have great ideas and you want to help out with that idea." Wade Steve, a freshman at Southeast, said. "I hopped on board when I realized I could get involved and make an impact on something that could be permanent in Southeast's future."

After the initial setup of bringing together the required amount of money, the team will need to get reinstated by the campus.

If approved, the club will compete seasonally against other campuses like the University of Missouri and Lindenwood University.

"Once fall comes, as far as I know we'll fill out the officer paperwork and student government either approves or denies us," Lemen said. "It's an actual league, other universities will be involved. The previous team never got taken away, it just fell apart, so we're in the process of building new connections and getting it re established through the campus."

Those interested in getting involved with reestablishing the team can visit the donation page at gofundme.com/semorollerhockey.