After a rough start to last season, the Norwood girls’ hockey team gained momentum and finished off strong. With senior captains Olivia Tucker, Isla Wilson, Kaitlin Malley, and junior captain Daniela Parese leading the team this year, the team is looking forward to an even more competitive and exciting season.
Senior captain Olivia Tucker reflected on the ups and downs of last season.
“As we progressed through the season, we picked it up, and we had a pretty big winning streak going on for a really long time,” said Tucker.
Tucker emphasizes that positivity will be key for the team this season.
“Based off of last year’s performance, and the team this year. I think we really need positivity. Positivity is a really big thing for us. We worked a lot on positivity last year and having a positive mindset,” she said.
With this, senior captain Isla Wilson mirrors Tucker’s thoughts on positivity and the team’s culture.
Wilson said, “Maintaining a positive attitude and having an environment people want to come into is very important.”
While reflecting on last season, she remarks how they didn’t start the season off well, but were able to gain strong bonds among each other.
“I think we were more than a team, we were a family. And it was a huge part of why the season was so fun, and it showed on the ice,” she said.
Both captains highlight the importance of leadership and growth for the upcoming season.
Tucker explained, “I have one really big goal, and it is to be someone for the girls to look up to and not be afraid to talk to. When I was a freshman, I was oh so nervous, and having these girls to be comfortable talking with is a really big part of why I’m still on the team today.”
Wilson added, “With being captain, I have more responsibility, so just maintaining a sense of leadership is super important.”
Early signs are promising for a good season, as Wilson noted, “Based off of the first week of the season, we are playing, like, more together as a team than we did last season.”
To the players, Coach Tim Coskren emphasizes the mindset he believes will shape the team the most this season.
“Be a good teammate, that’s probably the most important… Leave the negatives out of the equation,” he said, stressing that attitude matters just as much as the skill someone should bring to the ice.
He also noted standout performances early on, explaining that “a few defensemen look really great,” highlighting Maddison Bartucca, Kate Doyel, and Abigail Penza for exceeding expectations in the defensive line.
With everything else, his message is clear to all his players: “Always be on time, always be positive, and be a good teammate to everyone.”
