Photo courtesy of Rachel Henderson
The ice hockey team posing after their win against Dartmouth.
BY GIGI PICARD ’22 AND SHLOKA GIDWANI ’22
The Mount Holyoke ice hockey team plays in the Adirondack-West Division of the Independent Women’s Club Hockey League. Coached by Rachel Henderson, the team has approximately 25 members and is open to everyone, regardless of experience. Ice Hockey practices three days a week at the Fitzpatrick Arena in Holyoke, Massachusetts and at the Mount Holyoke Kendall Sports and Dance Complex.
After the club team won its first game in seven years against Dartmouth College on Nov. 3, they lost matches against Smith, Union, Paul Smith’s and Springfield Colleges in the following weeks. Despite the losses, Ice Hockey emphasized the improvement they have made over the seasons.
“Last season was fun, but I think this has been the best season to date,” Henderson said. “The team is so focused on learning and working together.”
“I think we have done better this season if you look at the scores, the effort that people have put in and how much they care,” Emily Gitlin ’22 said.
Chairperson and Captain Nora Sackett ’20 said, “We are already a much better team than we were when we played the first game of the season.”
The game against Smith College on Nov. 9 attest- ed to the development of the team. This year, Smith beat Mount Holyoke 5-1, whereas last season, on Dec. 1, 2018 and Jan. 26, 2019, they beat Mount Holyoke 8-1 and 8-0. “We had a close game versus Smith and I am continuing to see positive aspects to our game,” Henderson said.
The team members look forward to upcoming events in the season.
Sackett said, “I am looking forward to growing as a team and playing Dartmouth again.”
“I’m looking forward to the team continuing to improve and have fun,” Assistant Captain Audrey Put- man ’21 added.
Henderson commented on upcoming matches. “We certainly expect more wins in the second half of the season,” she said.
The Lyons club team will play against Springfield College on Nov. 24 at Fitzpatrick Arena, Holyoke, MA.
Editor’s note: Yasmin Andrews ’22 and Sophie Soloway ’23 are current members of Mount Holyoke News.