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EXCERPT FROM
DAILY NEWS TRANSCRIPT (Link to
Daily Transcript)
New
Bears on the block: Ursuline girls hockey takes a step up to the varsity level
By Brendan Liam O'Donnell
Wednesday, December
15, 2004
There
is a new team on the block this winter sports season. After an introductory year
at the junior varsity level, Ursuline Academy will field a varsity hockey team.
The
program started innocently enough as the girls at the school asked athletic
director Patricia Gonzalez if they could have hockey at the all-girls Dedham
school. The students thought it would be a fun and exciting sport to play, not
to mention that many other schools had already started girls hockey programs.
Gonzales decided that it would be a good idea, so the marketing of the team
began.
The plan
was to have a junior varsity team for the first season, just so the players
could hone their skills and learn the rules of the game. The second season the
team would be able to compete at the varsity level. In the spring of 2003,
fliers were hung up around the school to try to get girls to come out. After 23
girls signed up for the team, then it was time to get everyone on the ice. About
15 of the players were starting from scratch.
"Most of
the girls had never even played hockey before," said Ursuline coach John Enright.
"We were just basically teaching them the rules of the game and how to skate,
never mind puck-handling skills."
"The first
year was a great introduction to the sport," said Ursuline junior co-captain
Brienna Naughton of Norwood. "Everyone got involved and interested, it was a
really good way to start the team."
"Our
coaches were very patient with us and really dedicated," said freshman
co-captain Shannon Kelleher of Dedham. "Everyone tried to get better and we all
just helped each other out to try to improve."
One tough
aspect of starting a new program was trying to find ice time for practice,
especially with seniority being granted to teams that have been around longer.
The Bears had to settle for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 a.m. at Iorio Rink in
Walpole. Everyone carpools to practice and back to school, where parents take
turns driving the girls.
"It was
difficult at to get used to at first, but once you get into the swing of things
it's not so bad," said Kelleher, who admits to waking up at five in the morning
for practices. "You just have to get to bed real early."
At
practice, Enright would split the team up with girls who played hockey
previously and those who had never before been involved with the sports.
"Our main
goal here is to get better every game," said Enright. "We're a young program, so
we are not expected to play in the state (tournament). All we want to do is be
competitive. We'll be going up against some good teams, so it may be tough to
come up with some (wins)."
The Bears
will play in the Catholic Conference, which features the likes of Fontbonne,
Notre Dame, Mount St. Joseph's, Austin Prep, Archbishop Williams, St. Bernard's,
and Matignon. While last year's junior varsity squad played only nine games,
this year the work load will increase to 19 contests, including tough non-league
battles against Dedham and St. Mary's of Lynn.
Ursuline's
key player to watch is eighth-grade defenseman Kaitlyn McInnis. McInnis has
experience in the Rob Barletta hockey school and the Northeast Elite hockey
select team. Enright calls the eighth-grader "a great competitor, who has speed,
a good shot, and excellent puck-handling skills." McInnis potted a pair of goals
in the Bears opening-game loss to Notre Dame Academy, a 5-2 decision that gave
her the distinction of scoring the first points for the Ursuline varsity.
The Bears
also have a pair of Boston University Junior Terriers on the squad with Kelleher
and freshman goalie Christine Mazza of Dedham. Enright says Naughton, sophomore
forward Allison Bailey, and freshman forwards Katie Leney and Kim Lee have all
greatly improved from last season and should be ready to make big contributions
to this year's team.
Hockey has
really brought the Ursuline community closer together, bringing out a lot of
school spirit.
"Teachers
in the hallway are always saying 'go hockey team,' the support at Ursuline is
crazy," said Naughton. "All the other sports teams at the school are rooting for
us to do well. It's just a great environment to be in. There are so many girls
from so many different towns, having this team brings us closer together, so
it's just great."
The team
even had a secret Santa the week before the season started. Everyone on the team
randomly picked a name out of an envelop, and then had the assignment of buying
that player a gift. Naughton said the secret Santa boosted the team spirit, and
it was a great chance to get to know everyone else on the team.
"We want a
sense of unity on this team," said Naughton. "We want everyone to try their best
and have fun at the same time."
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