Boot Hockey, Brotherhood, and Legacy On Ice
The Record | Volume #144 – Issue #1 – Spring 2025
By Holcombe Rolader (Louisiana State ’20)
By the time February arrives in Madison, Wisconsin, the city has transformed into a winter wonderland. Lake Mendota freezes solid, students bundle up in layers of red and white, and the anticipation mounts over at the Wisconsin Alpha Chapter house. For the past decade, SAE at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has proudly hosted Lily’s Classic—a boot hockey tournament that brings hundreds onto the ice each winter, all for a cause close to their hearts.
Ten years ago, Lily’s Classic began as a modest fundraiser in honor of Lily Giroux, a young woman with epilepsy. Her story resonated deeply within the chapter and the undergraduate population at University of Wisconsin, and it propelled people to act. An active brother at the time stepped up to honor her, organizing a small fundraiser to support Lily’s Fund, her family’s charity supporting epilepsy research at UW-Madison.
Today, Lily’s Classic is more than just another SAE event—it’s become part of Madison’s cultural fabric. Each year, hundreds of students and community members gather behind SAE’s iconic lakeside house for an unforgettable afternoon of boot hockey and philanthropy, and one which exemplifies the power of brotherhood and the mission of SAE perfectly.
Boot Hockey: A Crash Course
Boot hockey isn’t your typical ice sport. Forget skates or pucks—participants play in boots with tennis balls instead, leveling the playing field so anyone can join in.
“It allows people that have never touched a hockey stick to be able to play and have fun,” explained Chapter President Ben Huie.
The atmosphere is electric; music blasts through speakers while spectators cheer loudly from snowbanks lining each rink.
SAE converts their backyard beach into two full-sized hockey rinks enclosed by chain-link fencing extending nearly 100 yards out onto frozen Lake Mendota. The atmosphere is electric; music blasts through speakers while spectators cheer loudly from snowbanks lining each rink. Teams from within the Chapter and other Greek organizations eagerly compete for bragging rights while raising money for a great cause.
Setting the Stage for the Classic
Months before the first tennis ball drops onto the ice, SAE brothers are already hard at work. Planning begins each summer as brothers work collaboratively with the university to ensure compliance to all health and safety guidelines. The brothers must also secure sponsors, vendors, merchandise, and donations from local businesses to fund the event. Younger fraternity members referee games on event day, while Chapter Leadership coordinates security logistics and vendor interactions—ensuring everything runs smoothly.
After last year’s disappointing cancellation due to unsafe ice conditions, anticipation for Lily’s Classic 2025 was at an all-time high. Philanthropy Chair Alex Orman admitted that missing last year was “a pretty big damper,” affecting both morale and fundraising efforts significantly. But this year’s triumphant return marked a welcome comeback.
Getting back to Tradition: Lily’s Classic 2025
The event drew nearly 850 attendees inside SAE’s fenced-in rink area alone—with hundreds more sprawling across frozen Lake Mendota beyond their property line. Through player fees from boot hockey teams, merchandise sales, sponsorships from local brands like Bubbler beverages, and generous GoFundMe contributions, Wisconsin Alpha raised more than $12,000—a remarkable achievement by any measure. While the final tally on donations is still being determined, providing a five-figure donation to such a good cause fulfills the spirit of the event and demonstrates the benefit it brings to the UW Community.
It’s not just another Greek life event; it’s become an integral part of campus culture.
Beyond fundraising numbers, there is something even more meaningful about this event: Lily’s Classic has become woven into Madison’s culture. It’s not just another Greek-life event; it’s become an integral part of campus culture—a tradition students look forward to each winter as much as football Saturdays or spring break trips.
“I can’t name that many universities who can have a party on a lake for a good cause,” said Philanthropy Chair Alex Orman.
Its widespread adoration may seem surprising to some, but not to the brothers of Wisconsin Alpha. For them, this is a tradition that combines the best aspects of fraternity life: Giving back to the community and having a great time with the brothers. Orman believes this dual-purpose approach motivates students across campus: “A lot of people are motivated to do something fun and give back to the community at the same time.”
Preserving a Tradition: Lily’s Classic Going forward
Looking ahead, the next phase for Lily’s Classic will focus on maximizing fundraising potential while ensuring the event doesn’t negatively impact UW or Madison at large. This partnership between fraternity, university, and the city of Madison is something the chapter remains committed to preserving. While the current system in Madison is working, Orman dreams ambitiously about collaborating with other SAE chapters across Midwestern campuses: “It would be amazing if we could spread it out all over—maybe collaborate with other SAE chapters like Minnesota or elsewhere—each putting their own unique twist on Lily’s Classic.”
This ambition underscores what makes Lily’s Classic special: blending philanthropy seamlessly into social traditions unique to Wisconsin—and doing so in honor of someone whose legacy continues inspiring positive change.
Ultimately though—as Orman sums up perfectly—the real victory isn’t measured solely by dollars raised or tournament standings:
“SAE wins no matter who competes—and Lily is always a winner for a good cause.”
