Hockey continues tradition, success

pranav SRIRAMAN

Every season, around Christmas time when hockey season is in full gear, senior varsity players cut the hair of freshmen and newly inducted varsity players following a tradition created by a former coach that dates back over 10 years ago.

This is a tradition that has become a way for the team to grow their chemistry with one another.

Alex Kaber, freshman, received a haircut that left his hair patterned like a checkerboard, with squares of hair separated by squares of bald patches.

Kaber said the haircut is basically a free for all, and that seniors who are cutting get to decide how they style the hair rather than following a strict procedure.

Regular season stats

• Went 10-91 in regular season Scored 58 goals

• Gave up 37 goals

• Had a 21-point goal differential

Won the Silver Skate

“It’s basically just for fun and a team bonding experience,” Kaber said.

In order to receive the benefits that come with getting the haircut, Nathan Suftko-Odman, freshman, said there is one specific rule that the players must follow.

“You have to keep it for at least one day with no hat,” Suftko-Odman said. “Then you could shave it all off.”

The incentive behind receiving the haircut is that freshmen get exempt from doing team chores such as picking up pucks and those who receive a haircut as an underclassmen are rewarded with the privilege of giving out haircuts when they are seniors to the next group of underclassmen.

Chase Stultz, sophomore, received his haircut from Jake Johnson, senior, upon joining varsity.

“I don't regret anything,” Stultz said. “I kind of wanted to see what it looked like anyway so it was fun. People who do it, do it. People who don’t, don’t.”

Jake Johnson, senior, said that compared to the time he received the haircut as an underclassman, he had a lot more fun giving the haircut and had a greater sense of its significance.

“It’s just a sign of brotherhood,” Johnson said. “You’re playing the sport that brings us closer together. You realize you’re one of the boys now so once you get to that point in time where you cut the hair, it’s a lot of fun.”

Additional reporting by Key Woods.

Trent Lewis, junior, watches the puck skip across the ice against Kirkwood. MHS lost to Kirkwood in all three games they played against each other this year. Bradley Odman, junior, looks for an open teammate as he’s ready to pass the puck. Odman has had two goals and one assist as of Wednesday, Feb. 8. Every season, senior varsity hockey players who had received an unorthodox haircut when they were underclassmen get to give haircuts to volunteering underclassmen in order to pass down the team tradition.