Phoenix, Arizona – March 11, 2026 – Two pursuits, united by leaders dedicated to their teams. 
 
Grand Canyon University Men's Ice Hockey captain Owen Hanson and Grand Canyon University A Cappella music director Elyse Reed followed drastically different paths in their journeys at GCU. Their leadership and commitment to their teams, however, made them standout selections as GCU Club Sports February Student-Athletes of the Month.
 
Owen Hanson: Men's Hockey
 
For some, sports start almost as soon as they can walk.

Growing up in Minot, North Dakota, Owen Hanson doesn't remember a time when he wasn't playing hockey. Now a sophomore, he captains his GCU Men's Hockey Division 1 team while pursuing a challenging exercise science degree (with an emphasis in sports performance).

"I started playing hockey at two years old," said Hanson. "According to my parents, I had skates on as soon as they could remember."

Hanson was raised in a family of athletes. His father and sister both played college hockey and his mother was a multisport collegiate athlete. Competition and support were constants in the Hanson household, shaping both Owen's love for the sport and his relationship with his family.

"My family has been my teammates my entire life," said Hanson. "They've supported me in whatever I wanted to do. They've always had my back through my highest highs and my lowest lows."

Unfortunately, wanting to play hockey at a high level meant spending long stretches away from them. After leaving his small town at 15, Hanson found himself living in some of hockey's most popular locations, ranging from Minnesota to Alaska and even Canada at one point.

Though the moves were necessary for his athletic career, leaving home was hard on both Hanson and his family. Even with his family more than 1,500 miles away, they remain the backbone of Hanson's life and hockey career.

"Being away from them has definitely been the toughest part, but I know they're letting me pursue my dreams," said Hanson.

When he travelled to Arizona to tour GCU – the polar opposite of the cold places he had been living – Hanson quickly knew where he wanted to spend his next four years. He was eager to continue playing hockey while finally getting back into a traditional school routine after previously completing classes online to focus on the sport. Now as he winds down his sophomore season, by balancing authority with camaraderie – a trait he learned growing up in a supportive family - Hanson has helped foster trust and respect among his team.

"It's a brotherhood - inside and outside the locker room," said Hanson. "When we're at the rink, it's all about business, but away from the rink, we're just kids having fun."

While playing hockey, Hanson also manages a demanding academic schedule. His major is challenging - especially for a student-athlete who spent high school learning online.

"A lot of hockey players recommended not doing it because it's a pretty rigorous workload," said Hanson. "But healthcare has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember."

Hanson is already weighing whether professional hockey is in his future or if he will take the healthcare route, which could include a career in surgical sales or attending school to become a physician assistant. For now, his focus remains on finishing the season strong as the Lopes push toward a national championship while continuing to pursue both passions.

And still focus on the family.

"My parents come down a few times a year, so I'm very fortunate," said Hanson. "Even if they make it to just one game during the season, though, I'm beyond pumped. It's a blessing to have their support through it all."

Elyse Reed: A Cappella
 
For junior Elyse Reed, music has always been a part of life that she loved – but it wasn't until coming to Grand Canyon University that she discovered a new way to share it.
 
The music education major from Orange County, California, grew up singing in choir and taking piano lessons - thanks to an artistic family that emphasized its importance, but had never tried a cappella. That changed when she met former team president Jackie Paul in a choir class and was encouraged to give the club a shot.
 
"I always enjoyed the Pitch Perfect movies growing up, and Jackie was a great influence in showing that it could actually be a lot of fun," Reed said.
 
Although practicing a cappella is different than the singing she does for her degree, Reed enjoys the change of pace.
 
"A cappella is very different than other styles of music training," said Reed. "I take vocal lessons here and it's very classical, but with a cappella, you can sing whatever you want. There's more freedom in that."
 
And now? Just a few years removed from discovering collegiate a cappella, Reed has stepped into one of the program's most important leadership roles as the team's music director - handling nearly everything related to the group's sound. She writes and teaches vocal arrangements, helps plan rehearsals, and works closely with the rest of the leadership team to prepare the group for upcoming performances. In addition to her team responsibilities, Reed is also a GCU Club Sports student leader, participating in leadership development classes alongside athletes from other club teams.
 
"I like the leadership class a lot," Reed said. "It's helpful hearing different perspectives and leadership methods. There are similarities between that and my music education major, like learning how to best teach and inspire the people around you."
 
Reed's leadership has paid off as the team recently achieved a major milestone, breaking through and placing 2^nd at the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella Quarterfinals in Scottsdale – advancing them to ICCA Semifinals for the first time in program history.
 
"It's been a long time coming," Reed said. "I started one of our arrangements way back in May of last year, so it's been incredible to see it come to life. Breaking through that ceiling was a huge goal for us."
 
While the musical accomplishments have been exciting, Reed says the friendships within the group are what have made the biggest impact on her college experience and credits the rest of the leadership team for helping the club continue to grow.
 
"Our team president, Enrique Urbina, has been super helpful because he's brought more structure to the club and allowed me to focus on what I love, which is the music."
 
Reed's experience leading the team factors into her future plans. She hopes to become a choir teacher after graduating and eventually lead an a cappella group at whatever school she lands at.
 
And thanks to her time spent currently completing classroom observations at elementary, middle, and high school levels, Reed already knows where she feels most at home.
 
"My hope is to end up at the high school level - either back home and close to family in Orange County or here in Phoenix," said Reed.
 
The music education piece is what ties it all together for Reed. Although a GCU Discover trip prompted her to think about Phoenix, it was the school's curriculum that sealed the deal.
 
"Many schools offer a music degree with an education minor, but GCU offered me the full Music Education degree and that was meaningful," said Reed. "I've also been able to tutor piano and music theory in the College of Arts and Media, which has been great."
 
At the end of the day, the path moving forward for Elyse Reed is simple: keep creating music, keep building community, and one day help the next generation of young singers learn to love their voices.