An unusual event in the life of a Northwood hockey player is a Friday at home with no games. Instead of a practice, the team had fun with a scavenger hunt. Included in the hunt were items such as:
– a branch from a fir, spruce, and pine tree
– a red whiteboard marker
– serenading a faculty member with a disney song
– cheering on five cars that drove down Northwood Rd.
At night, many of the team went to the Toboggan Track where they held on tight!
Returning early from February vacation, the ladies on the Northwood girls’ hockey team gathered in Albany, NY to begin their quest for a league championship. After a practice at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, where current Utica players and alums Jenni Hamel ’10 and Kristen Beckman ’10 showed the girls the ropes, they were on the road towards Port Hope, Ontario.
On Saturday evening, the Huskies showed up to Trinity College, the host school with their game faces on and their desire high. They were to face the Ridley Tigers who had beaten the Huskies in their two previous contests. The Huskies were energized and dynamic, setting the Tigers back and playing a tough, physical game. The girls got on the board first when Erin B. followed her own shot to the net and put home the rebound, but Ridley tied it up on the power play a few minutes later. Northwood dominated the second period, but the Ridley goaltender came up big. Finally, Nicole M. put home a rebound goal on the power play to take the lead. The team was feeling good going into the locker room for the second period ice cut and they started the third very strong. Nicole G. held down the fort in the net. But after a poor defensive zone faceoff, Ridley tied it up. After a 5 minute 4 on 4 overtime period, the score way still tied and the game went in to a shoot-out. Ridley scored first, and the one goal was all they needed as the Huskies failed to find the back of the net three times. It was a heartbreaking loss for the girls because of their solid effort and performance through the 50 minutes of hockey.
On Sunday, Northwood had to face Gilmour Academy in a consolation game. They started out flat and didn’t have the focus that they had brought with them the day before. Gilmour also was playing a trap, so the girls had to adjust their break-out and game plan. Gilmour got up in the first and then scored again in the second. A much better third period led to a rebound goal by Olga R, but it was too little too late.
In the final game of the weekend, Northwood played Wyoming Seminary. Due to injuries, Sem had a short bench, so the Huskies game plan was to wear them out by constantly being on the attack. The plan worked, and the Huskies had possession of the puck in Sem’s zone for a majority of play. However, Sem’s goaltender came up big and the “pack-it-in” dzone worked to keep the puck out of the net until the third period. Jess B. found a lane at the top of the circles in the offensive zone and fired a quick wrist shot that beat the screened goalie. The goal was enough and Lindsay P. and Nicole G. shared the shut-out victory.
After a long four day road trip, it was nice to be back on campus and ring the victory bell, a Northwood tradition.
The Northwood girls felt like they had an easy weekend, with only three games and a short five hour bus trip. The girls travelled south to New Jersey on Friday morning. Later that night, they arrived at Lawrenceville School to play their first of a two game series.
Lawrenceville got on the board first with a power play goal. They scored again, and the Huskies were down by two. After the second period ice cut, the Huskies feet were turning and they tried to get back into it. Jess B. scored off of a quick shot over the Lawrenceville goalies shoulder. They outshot their opponent in the third, but couldn’t manage another goal to tie it up.
The next day, after getting to sleep in and then a brief study hall, the Huskies returned to Lawrenceville for their rematch. This time, they showed up from the first drop of the puck. They out-passed, out-skated, and out-shot their opponent, also out-scoring them 3-0. Goals were scored by Nicole M., Jess B (shorthanded), and Julie D. Nicole G earned the shut out.
After the game, the girls went to Princeton, NJ to grab some food, walk around campus, and watch the Princeton women play the Brown Bears. It was an action-packed game with Princeton out scoring Brown 6-1. The Huskies also got to catch up with alum, Casey K. ’12 who currently plays at Neumann College,
On Sunday, before traveling home, the Huskies faced off against Morristown Beard. MoBeard had a few strong players, but not the depth of the Huskies bench. However, they brought more desire and heart to the rink. The 1-0 loss showed the Huskies that the old adage, “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” is true.
Northwood School Girls Hockey 