The best part about the program is how close we were as a team. I loved getting the opportunity to play with people I have never played with before and become friends with people I never thought I would be friends with. We had so much fun together on and off the ice. From team sleepovers in the trailer, bus rides to games, laughing at Anna’s clumsiness, dancing at the pep fest, balling at the sport court, winning a ton of games and we even made practices fun.
Being a part of the first ever Delano hockey girl’s hockey team is something that I will never forget and I’m so happy I got the opportunity to be a member of that family. I miss it a ton. I miss going to the rink every day and hanging out with my best friends. I miss the trailer. I miss the games. I miss putting on the Delano jersey. I miss the coaches. I miss being able to eat whatever I wanted without having to worry about gaining weight because I had a sport. I miss all the inside jokes, finger dabbing, and jamming out in the locker room. I think this hockey family is unique because all though we are all different and have a huge age range of players, we all come together as a family during hockey season and become very close. I think everyone on this team is determined to get better and go all the way which really helps.
My advice for the seniors is to enjoy every minute of it. I wish I could have one more season on that team. It flies by and before you know it you’ll be in my position writing this and being really sad and wishing you didn’t have to eat dorm food every day. My advice to the 8th graders is to work hard, one day you’re going to be the leaders of this team. Don’t be scared to talk to the upperclassmen or ask them for rides or anything, they are there to help you! I miss you all so much and I can’t wait to watch you guys during Christmas break! Go farther than last year and always pound Mound!
Coaches-
Thanks so much for everything you do for that team and did for me. You guys helped me love a sport again that I began to hate my sophomore year. You guys put in so much of your free time to make sure that everything is as good as it can be for the team. I also loved how you were coaches but also taught us valuable life lessons and were easy to talk to about things other than hockey. Definitely the best coaching staff I had through my high school sports career, thanks for everything.
Love you all,
Haley #13
