A record of 2-6 does not begin to define the girl’s hockey team. They have dealt with many COVID cancellations not to mention a relatively new team but led by head coach Ryan Bailey they have dealt with it all.

When asked about these challenges, freshman defense Emma Wirth said, “The biggest challenge this season has probably been how Covid has canceled some of our games. There was probably a month where we played one or no games at all due to how many were being canceled.”

Junior forward Shayne Carfano also said, “A big challenge this season has been playing against teams that have been a program for longer and have more experience than our team.”

That being said, the girls have let nothing stop them from being a great team. Sophomore forward Mia McSherry said, “The highlight of the season has probably been how much the team has improved from the beginning of the season.  With this being said we have won some games and look forward to more wins this season.” 

Other highlights from the season include beating Westfield 6-3 on December 17th and then Chatham 7-4 on January 21st. Wirth recalls their win against Chatham, “We had a losing streak and we really had to work hard to pull off the win.” 

It’s not just the girls that are dedicated to the team, although there is no denying that they are. When asked, Carfano said, “I love how we work together instead of against each other, and our coach is a huge part of making this team a great environment. He has worked hard to get us where we are now because we are a newer program and are still working. He keeps us motivated and somehow makes every practice, game, event, et cetera exciting and fun. The environment that is formed is like no other sport I have done, especially in high school.”

In the team’s third season being a program, 36 girls are on the roster and the number is expected to grow again next year. “It’s exciting to see how much interest there is in joining the girl’s ice hockey team,” said McSherry.

The girls look to finish their season by playing Summit, Princeton Day, Kent Place, Newark, and Morristown Beard, on February 4th, 11th, 18th, 19th, and 22nd respectively. The games will be played at Rock-Ice, Lisa McGraw Rink, Bridgewater Sports Arena, and Twin Oaks.