Blue and White Return to Busy Weekends

Northwood players had a chance to meet Clarkson coach (and Olympian) Megan Duggan along with the rest of the Golden Knights

A week off is a long time in the hockey world. It’s enough time for your hands to turn to lead and your legs to lose their spring. Thanksgiving vacation is tough; The players need to the rest, but too much rest will make it harder to return to action. This year, the Huskies seemed to strike a good balance. Players returning from vacation were rejuvenated, but it was clear most of them had completed the off-ice training program as well. In their weekend competitions, they were as fast and strong as they’ve been all year.

Northwood Blue traveled to Burlington, VT to face off against the Eastern teams from the McMaster division. They started the weekend with another grudge match against the home team, Rice Memorial. The face-paced game saw both teams trade chances. The Huskies converted off a beautiful 4v2 rush when Madison Gneo picked up a rebound from a Natalie Giglio shot. Goalie Ashley Davis, came up big in net with 23 saves for the shut-out and win.

In the second game of the weekend, the Huskies met their East Coast nemesis, the King’s Edgehill School. In their last meeting, the Huskies outplayed KES but couldn’t finish the deal and lost in the end. This time, the Huskies got down early when KES scored on a breakaway. Nikki Kendrick evened it out and scored on the rebound after a nice flurry started by Sierra Benjamin. The two teams played an even second period, but KES took the lead when they beat one of the Huskiy defenders out of the corner and beat Kim Mongrain above her shoulders.

Northwood took on Rothesay-Netherwood School (RNS) in the late game on Saturday night. In their last meeting, RNS had dominated most of the play, but in this outing, the Huskies looked sharper. They had control of the game, but an unlucky bounce on the power play gave the Riverhawks a breakaway and they went up 1-0. The Huskies continued to fight hard, with quality chances coming from Syd Collins, Nikki Kendrick, and Moe Tsukimoto. Half way through the second, Kylie Kroes found the back of the net on a rebound, but after initially calling it a goal the referee eventually disallowed it because the net had become dislodged in the process. RNS scored shortly after, deflating the Huskies a bit. They managed to kill off a two minute 5v3 though, and that gave them some momentum. Moe Tsukimoto eventually scored after a beautiful pass from Tatum Gietl gave her breakaway, but it wasn’t enough for the Huskies and they lost 3-1. Ashley Davis had another stellar game in net turning away 33 shots.

In the last game of the weekend, the Huskies had to meet Stanstead College. In their last game in Quebec, Stanstead completely outplayed and outscored the weiry Huskies. This time, the team was determined to prove themselves and play to their full potential. The game started off dead even, with both teams getting chances. However, a few bad turnovers led to two quick Stanstead goals and the Huskies found themselves down 2-0 after the first. The second period was mostly even, but Stanstead scored another to go up three. The Huskies answered back with a goal of their own when Moe Tsukimoto beat the Spartan goalie low. In the third period, Stanstead was able to extend their lead and the Huskies walked away from the weekend 1-3.

Northwood White traveled to Potsdam, NY to face the 19U St. Lawrence Thunder at Clarkson University’s Cheel Arena.  The Thunder came out strong, but stellar goaltending from Hanna Markel kept the game close through the opening period.  Northwood took an early penalty and St. Lawrence cashed in on their PP opportunity to make it 1-0 after the first.  The second period proved to be an even bigger challenge for Markel, who rose to the occasion and allowed only one goal on 26 attempts.  The Thunder found the back of the net three more times in the final period for a final score of 5-0.  Markel made 53 saves for the Huskies.

On Saturday afternoon, the White Team rebounded well from the previous night as they returned to EJEPL action hosting the Troy-Albany Ice Cats.  Hanna Markel, once again, came up huge for the Huskies and denied all 25 shots to keep the game at 0-0 through regulation time. White held the Ice Cats scoreless through the majority of the 4v4 overtime, until Troy-Albany hammered in a rebound with just 10 seconds left on the clock.  Hanna Markel stopped 27 of 28 shots and helped the Huskies kill 4 of 4 penalties successfully.

Luckily, the Huskies had another shot at the Ice Cats just hours after their first overtime defeat.  Northwood got off to a slow start, falling behind 2 goals in the first 10 minutes of the game.  Late in the first period, Sierra Benjamin took matters into her own hands, beat the Ice-Cats defenders and snapped the puck under the crossbar to make it a one goal game.  The Huskies made the next period their best of the weekend, scoring twice on 8 shots to gain the one goal lead heading into the third.  White played a smart and disciplined game to hold onto the lead and earn the comeback victory.  Justine Dufresne and Zoe Vande Kieft each added goals for White.  Issy Ren, Mika Welch and Sierra Benjamin each added an assist apiece.

With the four points earned in this weekend’s series, Northwood White secured the top spot in the EJEPL and will have the first seed for the inaugural season playoffs.

Both teams had the chance to watch some great college hockey over the weekend. Blue caught a Northeastern dominated game against UVM at the Gutterson Fieldhouse and White watched the home team Clarkson beat up on Cornell at the Cheel Arena.

The girls spotted Headmaster, Mike Maher’s, name on a the wall of UVM captains while catching a Catamount game

Trustee Jeff Bartell joined the Northwood team and coaches at Cheel

Huskies Face Stiff Opponents on Busy Weekend

The North American Prep Hockey Association (NAPHA) consists of nine prep teams, spanning from Nova Scotia to Ohio. This weekend, the east teams, the McMaster Division, met in Stanstead, QC for opening weekend. Teams are always geared up for this weekend, as the points earned help overall standing and eventually playoff match-ups.

Northwood Blue opened the weekend against Rothesay Netherwood School (RNS) from New Brunswick. RNS is historically a tough team and the Huskies split with them last year. In this match-up, the Riverhawks took control of the game off the bat. They outshot the Huskies in the first period and scored a goal early on by capitalizing on a Northwood turnover. The Riverhawks scored again late in the first period to go into the 1^st period intermission up two. Another turnover put RNS up three early in the 2^nd period and then miscommunication on a faceoff put them up four. The Huskies didn’t quit though, and Moe Tsukimoto spoiled the RNS goalie’s shut-out by scoring a nice wrap around goal late in the second period. The two teams traded chances in the third, but neither could convert.

In the second match up of the weekend, the Huskies met the Rice Knights and a classic Rice vs. Northwood game ensued. It’s always tight against these two, and this meeting was no difference. Both team traded chances, but only the Huskies could convert in the second period when Madison Gneo scored on a rebound. Northwood hung on in the third, making good decisions and playing more offense than defense. Ashley Davis turned away all twenty shots for the shut-out and Bridgit Sullivan sealed the deal with an empty net goal for the 2-0 win.

After the game, the team headed to the Stanstead Rec Centre and had some competitive bowling. The team of Natalie, Moe, and Sara won the highest average while Nikki won the overall high and Ashley “won” the low score category.

Northwood had to take on the home team, Stanstead College on Saturday evening. Judging from the Spartans previous scores, the Huskies knew they were in for a challenge but they were up for it. The girls worked hard defensively, holding off the sharp shooting Spartans 2-0 after the first. Two more goals followed in the second and then three more to finish the third.

The last game of the weekend paired King’s Edgehill School (KES) with the Huskies. Northwood was able to get on the board first when Sierra Benjamin walked out of the corner and beat the KES goalie short side. The two teams traded goals, back-and-forth for the rest of the game until half was through the third when KES was able to score two in a row to take the lead. The Huskies pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and had some chances, but then took a penalty that put them down a player. Bridgit Sullivan and Moe Tsukimoto had the additional goals.

The Huskies finished the weekend a disappointing 1-3, but will regroup for the first weekend back from Thanksgiving vacation where they will have a chance to see the same teams again.

Back in Lake Placid, Northwood White dropped their fourth game of the season on Sunday afternoon with a 4-0 loss to the VT Shamrocks.  The Shamrocks opened up the scoring with a rebound goal mid-way through the 1st period.  White was unable to respond on the scoreboard but Kira Collins had a few great scoring chances in her season debut.

The Shamrocks found the back of the net twice more in the 2nd period, although one of the goals was controversial as both a crease violaiton and a kick-in.

The White team held the Shamrocks scoreless in the third period up until a partial- breakaway was allowed with just 10 seconds remaining.

The Huskies return to action after Thanksgiving Break, traveling to Clarkson University to face the St. Lawrence Thunder on December 5.

Fire on Ice Cools Down Hot Huskies

The Fire on Ice Tournament in Rochester, NY is a big event: over 160 girls teams ranging from ages 10-19, 17 different rinks, and dozens of college coaches. This year was the first for Northwood to enter two teams into the tournament, and both teams represented the school well with respectable showings. The Blue Team competed in the 19U division and the White Team competed in the 17U division.

On Friday morning, Northwood White started the tournament off on a high note, shutting out the NJ Rockets with a final score of 2-0.  The Huskies extended their unbeaten streak to 9 games. Hannah Markel came up huge for the Huskies, and played a crucial role in the victory.  Kiannah Thomas scored White’s first goal with help from Abby Hatcher. Zoe Vande Kieft scored the second goal late in the third period to secure the White team win.

After the game, Kylie Kroes and Zoe VandeKieft had a quick bite to eat and rest, as they would be doing double duty and dressing for the Blue team in their game against the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals at 1:20pm. The Huskies came out flat against Admirals, getting down early in the first period. They picked up the pace and started to play their game and use their speed. Kim Mongrain made some big saves to keep it close and then Tatum Gietl got Northwood on the board with a shot from the point on the power play. Nikki Kendrick added her own power play goal off of a tip from Moe Tsukimoto to make it close, 3-2 with a few minutes to go. The Huskies pulled their goalie to go for the win, but the Admirals tied found the empty net twice in the next minute and sealed the deal with a final score of 5-2.

Saara Keranen keeps her eye on the puck 

On Friday night, White tasted defeat for the first time in 10 games. After the first period ended tied at 0, the Buffalo Regals scored 4 unanswered goals in the second period and 1 more in the third for a final score of 5-0. The girls showed a lot of heart, battled hard and never gave up.

Later that night, Northwood Blue travelled to Thomas Creek Arena for a match-up against Belle Tire. This time, the Huskies came out with with the mission to control the game right away, and they did. They scored early in the first period when Moe had a nice goal, assisted by Sierra Benjamin. Kiana Watson added another goal later in the period to give the Huskies a two-goal lead. The Huskies held the lead, with Ashley Davis turning away every shot in net, for the rest of the game. With three minutes to go, Syd Collins got the puck out of the Huskies defensive zone and found the empty net for the finishing touches and a 3-0 victory.

Ashley Davis tracks the puck for a save

After a tough loss the night before, Northwood white got off to a slow start again on Saturday morning and fell to the Seattle Admirals 4-1.  Each period, however, White made noticeable progress.  The first period proved to be the worst, falling behind 3-1.  Camilla Ketola sparked the momentum shift with a hard-earned last minute goal with help from Sabryna Strack.  Sabryna battled hard on a backcheck to strip the Admirals defender of the puck and transition back into the offensive zone.  Sabryna got the puck to Camilla, who buried her first career goal and sparked a noticeable change in momentum for White.  The second period was a big improvement from the opening act, but the Admirals were able to score one last goal.  Between the pipes for White, Olivia Skriloff played the first half and Ashley Davis finished the game strong.

Sabryna Strack forechecks

The Huskies took on the Boston Lady Bandits on Saturday afternoon, hoping to pick up a few more points to add to their chances of making it through to the quarterfinals. This time it was the Bandits who scored two in the first period, taking the lead. The Huskies controlled most of the second period and had chances, but couldn’t convert until half way through the third period, when Moe Tsukimoto scored on a deke. She scored again on the power play to tie it up. A flurry of chances late in the game proved fruitless, and the Huskies had to do with a 2-2 tie.

Moe Tsukimoto takes a draw

Northwood White finished the weekend stronger than when they arrived.  The bench was light all weekend and we relied heavily on each of the girls to play tough for each other every shift.  The Monclair Blues faces a great version of Northwood White on Saturday night, as the team came together and worked tirelessly to earn the win in our final test of the weekend.

Kendal Dubin and Zoe Vande Kieft each scored twice for the Huskies and goaltenders Ashley Davis and Olivia Skriloff combined stellar play in net for the victory.

Another late game, another rink…this time Blue travelled to SUNY Brockport to meet the Ottawa Lady 67’s. The game was fast paced, physical, and intense. The 67’s scored half way through the first, but the Huskies continued to battle to stay in the game. Hanna Markel made some big saves to give the Huskies a chance, especially when they found themselves in some penalty trouble. A power play produced good scoring opportunities, but the 67’s goalie kept the door shut and the Huskies lost, 2-, finishing their weekend at 1-2-1.

Blue will travel to Stanstead, QC next for their first NAPHA league weekend, while White hosts the VT Shamrocks for one game on Sunday.

(All photo credits go to Zoe’s mom, Karen VandeKieft, VK Photo-Sports. Thanks Mrs. VandeKieft!)

Northwood White Works Their Way into First Place in the EJEPL

A Pre-Game Huddle (VK Photos)

Northwood White got off to a slow start in their latest EJEPL weekend, but ended up getting the job done. They relied heavily on goaltender Olivia Skrillof to make some key saves to keep the game within reach early in the first game against Brewster Bulldogs.  Brewster cashed in on a breakaway opportunity late in the opening period to take a 1-0 lead.

As the game progressed, so did the White team’s play.  In the second period, Hannah Davis scored her first career goal to tie the game at 1.

The game stayed close until the very end.  With just 1:36 left on the clock and 30 seconds into White’s frst powerplay of the night, Abby Hatcher scored her second game-winning-goals in as many games.

Brewster attempted to force the game into overtime by pulling their goalie and playing with an extra attacker, but found no success and took another penalty with just 28 seconds left in the game.  Kylie Kroes won the draw, earning her first assist with the White team as Sierra Benjamin lit the lamp with a low, heavy shot from the blue line.

White successfully killed 2 penalties and converted on two of two powerplays.  The Lady Bulldogs outshot the Huskies 29-21.

Hannah Davis looks to attack the net (VK Photos)

Northwood White extended their winning streak to five and picked up three more league points to maintain the top spot in the EJEPL against the Connecticut Ice Cats.

Sierra Benjamin opened up the scoring early in the first period, unassisted.

Kendall Dubin scored her first career goal and played her best two-way game yet.  Zoe Vande Kieft earned two points in the matchup (one goal, one assist) and Lauren Sherer picked up two assists.  Mika Welch earned her first career assist and Kiannah Thomas picked up a hard-earned goal after a great backcheck to seal the deal for the Huskies.

Hannah Markel played a great game in net, making 19 saves in her first career shutout.

Zoe chasing after a loose puck (VK Photos)

Northwood White closed out the weekend with a 2-2 tie against a tenacious Brewster team.  Brewster, out for revenge after Friday night’s loss to Northwood, came out strong and battled hard to tie the game up with less than a minute remaining.

Northwood’s goals were scored by Sierra Benjamin and Kylie Kroes.

Northwood White now firmly stands atop the EJEPL standings, with just three regular season games to go.

The Huskies look to preserve an 8 game unbeaten streak heading into the Fire on Ice tournament next weekend in Rochester, NY.

Blue Team Has Their Moments at Fall Foliage

Northwood Husky – First Place in the Carving Contest!

The annual Fall Foliage Classic in Burlington, VT seems like the official start to the season. In the last three years, the Huskies have won the tournament, lost in the finals, and missed the finals by .5 point. The round robin format with period points always makes the tournament interesting, and this year was no different.

Northwood Blue dug themselves a little hole by losing the first game against the Boston Shamrocks on Friday afternoon. The Huskies had some bus legs during the first half and didn’t have much jump in their steps. They got down early 2-0, but battled back to tie it up. Natalie Giglio ’16 scored the first goal on a nice play in tight on the goalie and Moe Tsukimoto ’18 scored the second on a beautiful end-to-end rush. The teams traded chances throughout the rest of the game, with Northwood coming close but not being able to seal the deal. Late in the second half, a rough turnover led to another goal against and there wasn’t enough time left to even it out.

Despite not getting the win, the girls knew they could still make the finals with some hard work, so the mood was optimistic, especially since Mrs. Boyer brought some delicious cake and cupcakes from North Carolina to celebrate Brooke’s 18^th birthday. After the sweet treats, the Huskies set out to carve their pumpkin for the tournament contest. Kim Mongrain ‘16 chose a lopsided one so the carving could have more surface area. Sierra Benjamin ’18 and her mom had spoken about designs, and she shared the ideas with the team. From there, Madison Gneo ’17 took over and printed off a Husky as a template. Now, it was up to Kiana Watson ’16 to carve. With precision and patience, Kiana slowly transformed the lopsided gourd to a work of art. The team effort paid off as the pumpkin won first place and the girls were rewarded with a pizza party.

Saturday was a test for Northwood Blue as it would be the first day that they’d play two games. The morning game was against the Cornwall Typhoons, a midget AAA team just north of the border. The game started out a little slow, but Northwood was able to get on the board first on a beautiful power play give-and-go between Moe and Bridgit Sullivan ’16. An unlucky bounce allowed the Typhoons to tie up, but the Huskies answered back when Kylie Kroes ’18 buried a rebound goal after Sierra’s shot. Winning the first half 2-1 gave the Huskies a point and some confidence going into the second. Cornwall tied it up on a rebound goal in the second half when the Huskies couldn’t clear the net front, but Syd Collins ’17 answered back quickly with a nice snap shot goal. Natalie and Sierra finished off the scoring to give the Huskies some buffer and take 4 points fort he win. Kim Mongrain ‘16 picked up the win in net, turning away 15 shots.

In the second game of the day, the Huskies met the Vermont Shamrocks, a wrap-around team. Northwood’s systems and discipline made it tough for the Shamrocks to get anything going throughout the game, and the Huskies dominated most of the play. Natalie led the scoring with two goals, while Moe, Issy Ren’ 17, and Syd scored the rest for the definitive win. Hanna Markel ’17 made 12 saves for the win.

On Sunday morning, the girls had to get 2 of the 4 points possible to move into the final game. They started off down, when the first shot from the Syracuse Nationals beat Hanna. The girls kept it tight and worked to get something going, but pucks seemed to be bouncing the wrong way for the Huskies. The Nationals scored again, to go up two and the Huskies couldn’t find a way to get on the board.

The 2-2 weekend put Northwood Blue record at 3-4. They have next weekend off to regroup before the Fire on Ice tournament in Rochester, NY.

Northwood White Turns Heads on Long Island

Northwood White rings the victory bell after going undefeated on the weekend

Saturday 10/24        11:50am                    vs. Buffalo Stars      2-2      T (2 OT)

The White Team earned their first set of EJEPL points on Saturday afternoon with a 2-2 tie against the Buffalo Stars. White battled hard and came back strong after falling behind 0-2 after the first period. Early into the second period, Justine Dufresne scored first for the Huskies with help from Hannah Davis on the assist. Hannah Davis earned her second assist of the game halfway through the third period, as Kiannah Thomas redirected her shot from the high slot to tie up the game 2-2. After two five-minute overtime periods, 4v4 then 3v3, the game concluded with a tie. Olivia Skriloff was credited with 39 saves.

Saturday 10/24        7:00pm                      vs. CT Ice Cats          3-1      W

The White Team found even more success in their second game on Saturday, defeating the CT Ice Cats 3-1. Mia Wright earned her second goal of the season midway through the first period with another assist from Hannah Davis. The Ice Cats erased the lead shortly thereafter, to tie the period at 1 goal apiece. White cashed in on two powerplay opportunities, once in the second period and again in the third to earn 3 league points on the win. Goals were scored by Justine Dufresne and Zoe Vande Kieft. Ashley Davis secured the win with 26 saves.

Sunday 10/25           7:50am                      vs. NJ ROCKETS        4-0      W

Northwood White put on their best performance of the weekend on Sunday morning, defeating the New Jersey Rockets with a gritty, hard-earned 4-0 win. Ashley Davis secured the shutout with 24 saves and Justine Dufresne led the team’s offense with two goals. Hannah Davis earned her fourth assist of the weekend, Kiannah Thomas chipped in a goal and an assist, and Sabryna Strack earned her first goal of the season as well. It was a great team effort overall, and a true test for the White penalty kill as they successfully shut down all seven Rocket powerplays.

Sunday 10/25           12:10pm                    vs. Lady Islanders   3-2      W        (2 OT)

In their second taste of 3v3 double-overtime in as many days, the Huskies came out on top with a 3-2 win over the Lady Islanders. Nikki Kendrick supplemented her stellar defensive play with a power play goal to spark the momentum for White.   Zoe Vande Kieft followed suit and found the net in the 2^nd period to give White a two goal lead. The Lady Islanders scored with just one minute remaining in the 2^nd period, eerily foreshadowing their eventual game-tying goal with 45 seconds left in the 3^rd. The first 5:00 4v4 overtime was not enough time to settle the score, so Abby Hatcher took matters into her own hands and notched the game-winner with help from Zoe Vande Kieft. Vande Kieft contributed on all three Husky goals with a goal and two assists. Olivia Skriloff made 24 saves for the win.

The Numbers

White finished the weekend with the power play firing at an impressive 36% and a perfect (and thoroughly tested) penalty kill, leaving their opponents empty-handed after 19 attempts with an extra attacker. Seven different Huskies scored this weekend and three different players are averaging at least one point per game after the weekend. The goalies combined for an impressive .968 save percentage.

First Weekend Bodes Well For Future of Program

The Northwood Girls’ Hockey Program had a solid start to its inaugural season fielding two teams with a combined 3-3 record.

On Friday night, the Blue Team kicked off the weekend with a definitive win against the Lake Placid Rockets, a local 19U team. The Huskies controlled play for most of the game, only allowing a dozen shots. Leading returning scorer, Moe Tsukimto ’18 showed her stuff by scoring two goals while newcomer Natalie Giglio ’16 scored her first and second Northwood goals. Kiana Watson ’16, Zoe VandeKieft ’18, Tatum Gietl ’16, and Brooke Boyer ’16 also chipped in goals to contribute to the win. The White Team also picked up a win in the second game of the double header against the Rockets. Goaltenders Hanna Markel ’17 and Olivia Skriloff ’18 combined to shut out the Lake Placid Rockets, making a statement in the White Team’s program debut.   Sierra Benjamin ’18 scored early in the first period to set the tempo, followed by Mia Wright ’19, who opened up her Northwood Hockey career with a gritty rebound goal in her very first game.  Northwood White beat the Rockets with a final score of 2-0.

On Saturday, the Blue Team travelled to Stowe, VT to meet CEGEP St. Laurent. The Huskies knew they were in for a challenge against a more seasoned and experienced team, but they managed to hang with the Stars for the first two periods, allowing three goals. It was evident that Northwood wasn’t in game shape in the third, as the Stars chipped in four goals to secure the win. Ashley Davis ’17 played great in net, making 50 saves for the night.

Saturday night, the White Team faced off against St. Lawrence Thunder in Lake Placid.  It was a great test, and a successful battle in many ways despite the final score of 4-0 in the Thunder’s favor.   Olivia Skriloff ’18 played the full game for Northwood and Hannah Markel ’17 filled in on the other end for the opponent’s injured goaltender.

On Sunday, Northwood Blue faced the home team, NAHA. This game was much closer, with both teams trading chances in the first. In the second, the Huskies found themselves in some penalty trouble and allowed two short-handed goals. Northwood answered back when Bridgit Sullivan ‘16 sniped one past the Winterhawk goalie, but the goal was disallowed. NAHA scored late in the second to go into the locker room up three. The Huskies made some adjustments during the Zamboni break and had their best period of hockey in the third. They thought they were in it when Moe deked the goalie for a goal, but the stars were not aligned, and that goal was also called back. NAHA beat Northwood Blue 4-0 to finish the Huskies weekend, 1-2.

Northwood White finished off their weekend with great momentum and vast improvement from each preceding game, beating the North Country Wild with a final score of 3-1.  Sierra Benjamin ’18 scored twice and Nikki Kendrick ’19 cashed in on one of many great chances to earn her first goal of the season.  Sara Donatello ’17 came up big in our defensive zone with a handful of blocked shots, and also had some great scoring chances in the other end.  Hannah Markel ’17 played the first half of the game and earned a shutout on the weekend, while Olivia Skriloff ’18 finished strong as well to help us earn our second win.

Northwood White will travel to Dix Hills, NY next weekend to open up EJEPL play while Northwood Blue will compete in the Fall Foliage tournament in Burlington, VT.

This Fall at Northwood

A sunny place to study

It has been a whirlwind of activity this September at Northwood School. Before the students even arrived, faculty and staff hustled to prepare dorm rooms, classrooms, and common areas – ensuring they were clean and welcoming for the 175 students from sixteen different countries and nineteen different states. Our new Headmaster, Mike Maher, who started in July, brought a lot of new ideas with him; Students and families noticed the first of these with the reinvented registration process. It is fitting that a big, welcoming tent was installled on the McKenzie field for registration day. Northwood will now welcome students at the beginning of the year in a similar way as we send off our graduates at the end of the year.

Once registration and orientation finished up, it was right to work. Classes were in full swing on Labor Day and fall sports started that afternoon. The first few weeks at a new place can be challenging, but new students relied on faculty advisors and returning student leaders to help them get over the initial pangs of homesickness. By mid-September, everyone had settled into a rhythm and felt more at home then they had ever thought they would.

Kiana at soccer practice

Although hockey has not officially started on campus, the girls’ hockey program has already begun some essential team building. Informally, our players find friends they naturally gravitate to, who most often than not are teammates. They study together, eat meals together, and have fun on the weekends in town. Physical testing day is also another avenue for team building. Only teammates can understand the pressure and pain of this day, and the experience always builds camaraderie. This year’s physical testing day saw some old familiar faces leading the way, but some new faces also proved their metal, too. Kylie led the 1.5 mile run with a time of 9:52, which is fast but still not her personal best. Sara killed the 300 yard shuttles with 1:05 on the first and a 1:08 on the second. Sara also had a personal best on the push-ups with 40, but newcomer Madison G. whipped out 50 military style push-ups to take that crown. Madison also holds the record for pull-ups with 6. Coach Lucy has taken over our pre-season conditioning program, and her high expectations will certainly lead to even better results down the road.

Justine, Kira, and Kylie on their way to class

On the second weekend at Northwood, the Donatello and Richie family invited the entire team to their camp on Upper Saranac Lake. It was a beautiful late summer day and the girls enjoyed boating, swimming, and tubing. After the day at the lake, many of the girls headed right over to the Olympic Oval, where Relay for Life was being hosted. It’s evident how thoughtful this group is when they spend their free time volunteering or attending charity events.

Abby in Spanish class

Although the summer weather is lingering on, the cold nights are a signal that fall is here. Hockey season officially starts the Monday after Parents’ Weekend. This year, we’re excited to be fielding two teams; it is the start of a new Northwood Girls’ Hockey Program. The additional coaching staff, Coach Lucy and Coach Nemec will bring their own specilization and passion to the game. It will certainly be a year full of great experiences and great hockey.

Coach Nemec teaching

Spring Fever Hits Northwood Campus!

After a long and successful season on the ice, most of the Northwood Huskies were ready for some downtime this spring. However, that downtime didn’t last long as these energetic and motivated girls kept busy training, giving back to their community, and buckling down in the classroom.

First up was the annual Faculty vs. Girls game. This tradition is a fun way for the girls to show their skills against some of their favorite teachers, or for teachers to give their students a little more schooling! The faculty ended up winning the game, with Coach Farmer putting home a few goals for the win.

After the grudge match, there wasn’t much time to let the blades dry out as Northwood’s community service organization, Care, hosted Pink the Rink, a breast cancer fundraiser. Many Huskies helped out with the effort by organizing, running, and playing in the 3v3 tournament which eventually raised over $5,000 for the cause.

Pink the Pond

Then came one of the most anticipated events of the school year, Winter Carnival. Northwood students were drafted into four teams and they competed in over twenty events as varied as a bake off, lip synch contest, snow soccer, and broom ball. Nicole M. and Rachel R., captains of the team pink, helped lead their team to overall victory. Coach Kilbourne-Hill and Coach Farmer, drafted by the captains, also got the chance to celebrate their first winter carnival wins as faculty.

Winter Carnival Champs – Team Pink

With winter sports over and the ground still covered with snow, the Huskies had a chance to get some skiing and snowboarding in at Whiteface. Many also ice climbed, went snow shoeing, and cross country skied before leaving for spring break.

Upon return, campus was a whirlwind of activity. Another college scholarship signing took place, as Cailey H. signed her National Letter of Intent for the University of Maine. Spring sports started in earnest. Many huskies took to the lacrosse field or  tried their hand at rowing. Some rock climbed, white water rafted, or took part in the Lake Placid experience. We had a beautiful day for prom and a great sports awards banquet. Our last team meal was a fun night at the Donatello’s where the paper plate awards were given out to seniors and the team had one last chance to be together before graduation.

4 year senior – Cailey H – after signing her National Letter of Intent

Team dinner at the Donatellos

Saara, Ashley, Maddie, and Sara at prom

Graduation was a mix of excitement and nostalgia. Seniors were eager to begin the next chapter but anxious about leaving their home-away-from-home. Underclass students were sad to see their friends move on but proud of their accomplishments.

The Huskies were well represented in the awards categories: Nicole M. won the Holt Hockey award, Rachel L. won the Linda Friedlander athletic award, and Maci H. and Nicole M. won the headmaster’s awards. The seniors weren’t the only ones celebrating that weekend though. Coach Farmer also graduated from Columbia University’s Teacher College with her Master’s Degree in English.

Cailey ringing the victory bell at graduation

Coach Farmer at her graduation

Once the seniors departed and the underclass students wiped their eyes, the experiential learning week of spring program began. The offerings were varied this year, but a majority of the hockey players participated in Rockets, Adirondack 101, Inner Peace,  Farming, or Music Production.

Although it was a busy spring of off-ice activities, spring is also the prime time for national team development opportunities. Alyson M. participated in the Canadian U22 training camp while some of the underclass students headed to their home districts to compete for a spot at USA Hockey national camp. Sierra B. was the top ranked defender in her district and was invited to the National Camp. Incoming sophomore Zoe V. will see her out in St. Cloud as she made National Camp out of the Great Plains district. As the girls were testing themselves against others, Coaches Kilbourne-Hill and Farmer traveled around North America evaluating talent to add to the roster. So far, more than a dozen new student athletes will join the program, with the additional development team taking shape nicely.

It was evident during the spring fitness testing that the returning players are already excited for next year. The girls can feel that they are part of something special, and they are determined to improve: for themselves and for their school. We’re looking forward to what the next school year will bring!

Pushups during fitness testing

Class of 2015 Play Last Few Games as Huskies

The 2014-2015 season came to a close this past weekend, wrapping up a successful season for the Northwood girls’ hockey team. With the 1-2 weekend, the team squeaked out a winning record of 24-23-3 over the six month season.

On Friday, the team beat Cegep André Laurendeau in dramatic fashion. Down two with five minutes to go in the third period, the Huskies kicked into high gear and gained momentum off an Alyson slap shot goal. With an empty net, Maci H. evened out the game when she scored from her trademark spot just left of the slot. It didn’t take much time in over time for Maci H to score her second of the game and give the Huskies the win. Lindsay and Katey split the win in net.

On Saturday, the team faced off against league rivals Stanstead College. It was another exciting game of back-and-forth action. After letting a goal in on the first shift and another a few minutes later, the Huskies climbed back into the game when Maci scored on the power play. Lauren B. put in a rebound goal a few minutes later to tie it up, but Stanstead took the lead again. This time, Nicole M. roofed a rebound up top to stay in the game and then scored again to give the lead for the first time to the Huskies. Stanstead tied it back up and then the Huskies found themselves in penalty trouble though, killing of a 5v3 for two minutes due to a 4 minute head contact penalty and an additional trip. The Huskies dug deep and held off the Spartans for a a minute and a half, but the Spartans found a way to score and take the lead again. Once the Huskies finished killing off the penalties, they pulled their goalie in an attempt to tie it up. Despite some good chances, they couldn’t score and Stanstead sealed the deal with an empty net goal.

Sunday’s rematch was more of the same, with the lead changing hands throughout the game. This time, the Spartans put three in net, while Nicole M. and the Huskies could only manage 2. They did try again for the extra attacker, with over 3 minutes left, but couldn’t find a way past the Stanstead goalie to tie it up.

Although it was a great weekend of hockey, honoring the seniors on Sunday before the game was bittersweet. This group of seniors helped lead the Huskies to three consecutive winning seasons and have helped build the program by their commitment and dedication. Below are the senior tributes:

Chloe Hobbs #0

First year manager, Chloe Hobbs, played a key role in making our days run smoothly.  Chloe has lived all over the world but now calls Saranac Lake, NY home. Chloe fit right in with the spirit, grit, and determination of this team. She could be seen doing everything from taking meal orders to fixing broken helmets. Families and friends who enjoyed watching our games online via the Cube have Chloe to thank! She has been accepted to SUNY Oswego, SUNY Geneseo, and SUNY Purchase and is interested in studying journalism.

Katey Snyder #1

Katey Snyder, from Saranac Lake, NY, is the ideal student-athlete, working really hard in both venues, but making it look easy. She has a sharp mind and a quick glove; she is known for her cat like reflexes in net. Katey earned multiple shutouts this year, including a 2-0 win over Ridley during league play. Katey’s individuality and independence have helped her make a mark for herself at Northwood. We’re sure she’ll do the same next year as she decides between SUNY Plattsburgh and SUNY Geneseo.

 

Nicole Mensi #7

In everything she does, Nicole Mensi does it right. This Mammaroneck, NY native sees every day as a new chance to improve, on the ice or in the classroom. Nicole’s best characteristic could be debated: diligent worker, strong moral compass, compassionate teammate, or mature leader. Her resiliency on the ice and in the classroom is also admirable. While we will miss her Qs, Nicole will be right up the road at SUNY Plattsburgh, scoring some pretty goals for the Cardinals next year.

Rachel Raffield #11

Rachel Raffield is finishing up her third year at Northwood. Hailing from Colorado, via South Africa, Rachel’s humor and enthusiasm have helped shape the culture of the Northwood girls’ hockey program. Rachel’s life experience is very diverse. She has volunteered at a daycare center in Africa and worked at a recycling center in Costa Rica. Rachel is always up for the next adventure and not afraid of challenges. She has been accepted to SUNY Plattsburgh and Northern Arizona University.

Cailey Hutchison #13

To say that four year senior, Cailey Hutchison is driven may be an understatement. Cailey is an excellent athlete, but it is her grit and intrinsic motivation that have made her excel. This team has relied on Cailey’s hustle and heart to set the tone and help build a culture based on hard work and dedication. Cailey has made the most out of her time here at Northwood, becoming a better student, stronger athlete, and more well-rounded person. She will attend the University of Maine next year, having achieved her goal of playing D1 hockey.

Maci Hoskins #14

Maci Hoskins has come a long way from the Bethany, OK kid We first met four years ago. While she still wears camo and cowboy boots, she has developed her academic and athletic skills and become more confident and poised. Maci’s intensity and loyalty to the team and the mission of the program are unmatched. She blocks shots, digs in the corners, and scores beautiful goals – all in the service of the team. Next year, this assistant captain will attend SUNY Plattsburgh where she will work to earn a few National Championship rings for the Cardinals.

Alyson Matteau #15

Alyson Matteau is an intense a hockey player, but she is surprisingly low-key off the ice. Hailing from Blainsville, QC, Alyson immediately won her teammates over last year with her skills on the ice and her friendliness off of it. She is a powerful skater with a dangerous shot who has represented her Northwood team and Team Canada with pride this year. Alyson will attend the University of Maine next year, where she’ll take on the challenge of becoming National Championship contenders.

Lauren Bautista #19

Lauren Bautista will be finishing her second year at Northwood this spring. The Garland, TX native came to Northwood as a quiet, but composed addition to the school. She has since come out of her shell and is a leader on the team and in the school. She is a member of Northwood’s Judiciary Board, helps keep peace in the dorm, and leads on the ice with her impeccable work ethic. Lauren will be taking her signature snapshot to Trinity College next year.

Rachel Lustenring #23

Rachel Lustenring, from Poughkeepsie, NY, has been at Northwood since her junior year. Her combination of maturity and optimistic enthusiasm help make her an ideal assistant captain of our team and residential assistant in the dorm. On the ice, her hockey sense and unselfish play make her the ultimate utility player. Rachel will attend Endicott College next year, where she will help the first program compete in the ECAC North Atlantic division.

Lindsay Powers #31

Lindsay Powers, from Ottawa, ON, has been at Northwood for three years.  She brings a professionalism and focus to each practice and game. She is a quiet but determined presence on the ice, but she knows how to have fun, too. Lindsay recorded multiple shutouts this year, the biggest being her stonewall of RNS in the semi-final game of our own tournament. She was also named to the All-Tournament team at the Northwood Invitational. Lindsay will attend New England College next year where she will look to make an immediate impact for the Pioneers.