Boys hockey thrives with new underclassmen

When four players graduated from the varsity boys’ ice hockey team last year, the remaining players were le wondering who their replacements would be and how the team would fare with its new additions. e underclassmen’s response?

One of the best season starts in the team’s history.

is season, the boys’ hockey team needed strong talent to ll those four holes in their roster, and they found that and more in eight underclassmen. Seven freshmen and a sophomore have brought new vitality and synergy to the squad both on the ice and in the locker room. is team chemistry resulted in a seven win streak to start o the season with the three new starters picking up right where their senior predecessors le o , adding their skill and energy to the team.

“ e vibe in the locker room before every game is just so upliing and so upbeat that it’s hard to get them to calm down before games,” said Ross Hyatt, the team’s head coach. “I think the biggest key to a successful team is what they do together o the ice…and this whole team seems to thrive together.”

Another unexpected factor that played into the team’s chemis-

“I usually don’t see very condent underclassmen, which usually inhibits them from playing well, but every single one of this year’s freshmen has con dence in their game,” Hyatt said. “ ey know they belong on the ice with everyone

“A lot of the freshmen and I thought this adjustment would be very tough, and the upperclassmen have helped us ease into (the varsity level) a lot,” freshman center Shane Keller said. “ ey’ve been doing a great job helping us out at practices by running over plays and techniques twice to make sure we fully understand them.”