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[madisonhentosh]

For the Love of the Game

Ever since I stepped on the ice at the young, innocent age of 3; I fell in love with hockey. I was hooked. There are some things that I will never forget when it comes to the game of hockey.

The friends and the unbreakable bonds we created.

From club teams to tournament teams to highschool and to college.

The early mornings and late nights.

The box of Munchkins and pajama wearing kids flying through the rink while others our age slept comfortably in bed.

Winning the championship game at Lake Placid on the same ice where the USA beat the Soviets.

“USA, USA, USA” chants echoed the rink as we beat Montreal.

The feeling of defeat and complete disappointment after playing my last game as a highschool senior.

A sour defeat as my own hometown team ended my own career.

Winning the 2019-2020 CHC Championship my Freshman year of college as an Endicott gull.

The cheers, the gloves and sticks flying in the air, and the smile that could not be taken off my face.

But why does this all matter? Why hockey you may wonder? What is so special about hockey from my own perspective?

It's the little things. It's the strategic placement of water bottles, sticks, and bags in the trunk of your car. It’s the blocked shots when the game is on the line. It’s the ringing of the goal post echoed by gasps in the crowd.

It's the big picture things. It’s the unbreakable bonds with your teammates. It’s the second family. It’s the life lessons that can help navigate you through the rest of your life.

Being exposed and highly involved in the sport has made me realize that life isn’t fair. It’s almost like being on a penalty kill; you're outnumbered, at a disadvantage, and the odds are stacked against you. But, against all odds, you can score a shorthanded goal. In the real-world, just because you’re at an advantage, doesn’t always mean you’ll get the reward. Ones who are at a disadvantage and work hard will likely be more successful.

Success isn’t the result of just one person. Whether it's the teamwork and communication behind the scenes, such as the communication between my parents, or the teamwork visible on the ice, the end goal would not be achieved if there was no presence of that. As cliche as it may be, teamwork makes the dream work.

Discipline. Showing up and on-time to practices, games, lifts, and film sessions, fully immersed in what is going on has prepared me for being on-time and engaged for interviews, events, and meetings.

Hockey taught me that it isn’t all about how many goals you scored, how many assists you got, or how many times your name appeared in the media. In the end, no one is going to remember you for your statistics, they are going to remember you for the type of person and teammate you were.

Good leaders are humble; they acknowledge that they have done good work, but realize the need for improvement. Good leaders do not boast about their accomplishments; they instead use their success for the greater good of their team.

It’s reaching your goals. Not the one on the scoresheet but rather both team goals and individual goals. Being goal-oriented is a valuable personal quality that can produce positive results in your career, personal life, and other aspects. I’ve learned to be driven by focus and determination to complete the tasks at hand because when the buzzer sounds, you are not guaranteed another goal to reach.

The lessons learned have, and will continue to resonate with me for the rest of my life. For the love of a game, a game that I could not live without.

[madisonhentosh]

A Day In The Life Of An Endicott Student-Athlete

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a student athlete at Endicott College? I caught up with Catherine Miles, a member of the women’s ice hockey team, this past week to get a glimpse into her busy schedule.

Miles is a 20 year old Sophomore on the Beverly campus hailing from Northfield, Vermont, home also to Norwich University. Although the town of Northfield and its people are considered her family, Miles has found, and been welcomed into, a new family on the Endicott campus.

The Northfield Pharmacy is the only pharmacy in town. It is in the center of the downtown area which only consists of a handful of stores adding to the homey feel of Northfield.

With hopes of being a physicians assistant when she graduates, Miles is currently studying Exercise Science. A popular major among athletes, she finds herself in classes surrounded by other athletes from various sports teams.

Miles checks her class Canvas page prior to the start of class.

After waking up and preparing herself for the day, a typical Wednesday morning involves Miles walking from Stoneridge Hall all the way to the Arts Center, or better known as the VPAC. From 9:00-9:50a.m. she sits attentively in a class labeled philosophy and sport. As the clock strikes ten to the hour, the rose gold Mac laptop gets placed back in her backpack and she prepares to walk back to her dorm as her next class begins.

Being a college student during a pandemic means hybrid learning, and today, Miles’ 10 o'clock class, exercise physiology, happened to be occurring on Zoom. She did admit that, “keeping up with when, where, and what days you are actually in the classroom seems to be the hardest part of hybrid learning.”

Welcome to Zoom University! Miles completes her last two classes of the day in the comfort of her own room.

The academic day comes to an end with sport and exercise nutrition from 11:00-11:50a.m., also on Zoom. But, with the academic day coming to an end, the athletics part of the day is just beginning.

All teams on campus participate in strength and conditioning with Coach Dustin. The women’s hockey team mostly all lift on Monday and Wednesday mid morning to afternoon. Miles was placed in the 12:30pm lift group with a few other members of the team along with a couple members of the women’s lacrosse team.

The Endicott facilities are second to none. It is a rare occasion to see this gym empty of athletes and their hardworking, get-better, attitudes.

Due to the pandemic, regulations and precautions allow for 10 people in a lift group at a time, so team lifts are off the table. Team lifts were always a good way to build team chemistry and build a positive atmosphere as your teammates attempted max weights on exercises such as back squats, hang cleans, and bench presses. Miles stated that, “[a]s long as everyone does what they need to do in the weight room, time usually spent together at lift can be made up in other ways.”

As lift concludes, Miles now finally has the time to eat lunch. When asked about Callahan or the new market in the Wax, she responded with a smile, “I think the new options in the Wax could be one of the better things to happen on campus.”

The Callahan Dining Hall is usually the most popular choice for meals on campus. Other options include Einstein’s, the Lodge, and the new market located within the Wax Academic Center.

With the academics and lift now complete, Miles now has some two hours of down time as practice starts at 3:40p.m.

We happened to catch Miles on a good day, well good day to be a reporter, as the women’s ice hockey team happened to be having their team media day. As the team picked time slots to go and take pictures, Miles picked the 2:00 slot, and we can understand why with her busy day leading up to this point.

Photographer David Le, who runs all of the media days for the athletic teams, was at the Raymond J. Bourque Ice Arena on campus from 11:00-3:00p.m. snapping shots of the 35 members of the team. Miles got herself dolled up and headed over to the rink for both her headshot and on ice posed photos. She completes her temperature check and CoVerified check at the door and gets cleared to enter.

Miles awaits practice as media day concludes. The pre-game practice fuel of choice is a handful of Baked Lays chips with an Honest iced tea.

Now that the fun and games of media day had wrapped up, it was time for business as the team is preparing for their two upcoming games against Nichols College. “Practice is valued just as much as games this year because in reality, there is no guarantee our games will go as planned this weekend”, Miles added. COVID has made athletes everywhere value their sport even more than usual because one positive test can impact the whole, shortened season.

Quarantine took away the opportunity to step on the ice everyday. It took away the opportunity for fans to hear the ringing of the post, blades cutting into the ice, and the cheers of temmarts when a goal was scored. Miles added, “... having hockey taken away made me realize how big of a blessing hockey has been for me in my life. Each time I step on the ice now it’s a breath of fresh air, an escape from the outside chaos of the world.”

Ever since a young age playing for the Northfield Stars, Miles fell in love with the game of hockey unaware of how big of a role it would play in her later years.

Miles, a center, is a tenacious, hard-working player that might go unnoticed. Today’s practice at the Raymond J. Bourque Arena was defensive and neutral zone focused featuring a lot of regrouping and down low coverage. Being put in the center position of recent, Miles can be seen on the ice asking questions not only to the coach, but to upperclassmen who excel in the same position. Having played defense before and having experience, Miles understands the importance of staying low and supporting the puck on the breakout, which she is applauded for on many occasions by Coach McPhee.

As a freshman, Miles only logged minutes in 2 out of the 26 games played. But now, as a sophomore, she has 3 points in the past 3 games with a +4 rating, scoring her first goal in the Nichols series.

Miles (#28) looks to angle a Suffolk defender through transition.

“Every year is a tryout and an opportunity to prove yourself, and to others, that you deserve a spot on the lineup”, she explained. With 35 members on the team, practice is high-tempo and competitive as Coach McPhee looks to reward the hardest workers. Miles’ offseason efforts in the gym and on the ice, training with ELEV 802 in Vermont has seemed to pay off this year. There is always something to work on and when asked what that was, she quickly responded, “faceoffs, no doubt”, with a laugh.

5:10p.m.: Practice is wrapped up and Miles heads for the shower.

Following a shower, Miles, along with her teammates, head to the Callahan Dining Hall. On the menu tonight was a grilled chicken taco bowl, roasted vegetables, and of course, the Miles classic, a blue Powerade. “There’s just something about a blue Powerade from the Callahan. It’s almost like a Sprite from McDonald’s”, she discussed.

Surrounded by teammates, Miles finishes her meal at the Callahan before getting ready to head to work.

Although you may be expecting a typical end of the night with homework and Netflix in bed, our star of the show had other plans.

From 6:30-10:00p.m. Miles can be found working at the Post Center checking people into the gym, cleaning gym equipment, and monitoring open rec. Here she can work on homework, which she usually gets most of it done, watch Netflix, and today she even got the chance to watch her boyfriend play in his season opener soccer game for Elmira College.

7:05p.m.: Miles watches the Elmira men’s soccer game as she awaits the next gym cleaning.

At this point in the day, rest is much needed. Miles can go to bed knowing that she successfully made it through another day as a student-athlete on the Endicott campus.

As the clock strikes 11:00p.m., Miles finally hits the sheets and prepares to do the same thing the following day.

“I wouldn't want it any other way”, Miles concluded.

[madisonhentosh]

Goal Oriented

Early mornings, late nights, long drives, lack of sleep, heartbreaking defeats; Lifelong friendships, a second family, tear jerking championship wins, and unforgettable memories. What do these all have in common? Made up of all the good, the bad, the worst, and the best, hockey.

Growing up, I had no choice but to lace up my skates. I happened to be born into a hockey loving family who was highly involved in the hockey community.

Two weeks out of the hospital, wrapped in a fuzzy, pink blanket, my mother pushed my small, delicate body into the frigid, cold air of a hockey rink in my matte black stroller. My dad happened to be coaching for Amesbury High at the time and my mother could not miss another game. Following his reign at Amesbury, the Cape Ann Coach of the Year also logged some many years behind the bench for the no longer standing Salem High Witches. Currently, my dad has held the title of Assistant Coach at nearby St. John’s Prep in Danvers, a powerhouse in the Massachusetts hockey world, for almost 15 years.

Kyle, my 22 year old brother, started his early days participating in Learn to Skate in Amesbury before playing mite hockey for the Peabody Tanners. For his highschool years, he spent 4 of them in Danvers at St. John’s Prep, even winning a Division 1A State Championship along the way. Following graduation, he decided to take a post grad year at notable Phillips Andover in preparation for college. Kye currently holds the position of Assistant Captain at UMass Amherst where he plays for the ACHA team.

Although my mother had never learned to skate, she has spent countless years as an avid fan and hockey loving spouse and mother. Her lack of experience on the ice is made up for by her unwilling support in the stands.

A typical Saturday morning back in the day was quite chaotic for the Hentosh family. Dunkin’ Donuts was the breakfast meal of choice as us kids were able to snack on pre-game Munchkins, fighting for the last chocolate donut hole, while our parents got their fuel for the day through the liquid gold in the famous white styrofoam cup. Each parent knew what kid needed to be at what rink and at what time due to the color coded calendar that hung on the fridge. Kyle had to be in Woburn at 8 a.m. while I had to be in Peabody at 6 a.m., for example. My mother always got stuck with the surprisingly smelly 7 year old little girl, who would be me, as my dad actually served as the coach for my brother’s team. Morning games were likely followed by an afternoon matinee or even a late night matchup before we could all finally reconvene together for dinner.

High school seemed to be a little less chaotic but also really divided my family. As mentioned previously, my dad happened to be the coach of my brother’s high school team at St. John’s Prep. Conflicts on top of conflicts started to build up forcing my mother to choose between having two parents at my brother's game or no family support at my own games while playing for St. Mary’s. Each of our games were looked at in the same manner as on game days, my dad was not dad, he was Coach Hentosh.

My brother and I had to realize that it was not a case of favorites when our mom had to choose between the both of us. The decisions were made more on a rotating schedule basis rather than anything else.

As I look back on how I got to where I am today as a college athlete, different aspects of my success can be credited to each member of my family. Lessons were even learned from my family as a whole.

My dad taught me how to love the game. He was the one who first laced up my skates, put a hockey stick in my hand, and taught me how to play the game. Whether it be a high school game or college game, the first thing I open my phone to following the game is a text message from my dad reliving my best, and worst, plays of that specific game. This is something I would get discouraged by at first, but as time went on, having an eye in the stands is so valuable as the game moves so fast in front of you. His philosophy is tough love, and that philosophy has proven to be successful in not just me and my brother, but many other of his players.

My brother taught me that you don’t have to be the goal scorer or the center of attention in order to be successful. He made me realize that an assist was just as valuable as a goal. Even though he may be one of the best players on his team, he flies under the radar, staying humble and working hard. In the end, no one remembers you for how many points you score, they remember you for the type of person and teammate that you were.

My mother showed me the true meaning of unconditional love. Day in and day out, my mom would voluntarily freeze in a hockey rink if it meant cheering on her kids. She would sacrifice her own sleep in order to drive us where we needed to be no matter the weather. She is the epitome of a hockey mom. She was never the loudest or most obnoxious in the stands, but her presence was, and continues to be, felt even from across the rink, or in these days, through the livestream.

My family revealed the importance of time management. My parents would always be caught saying, “If you’re early, you're on time, if you're on time, you're late”. We were always the first ones at practice, games, and even team dinners. This is not only a lesson that applies to the world of hockey, but to everyday life. It proves dedication, dependability, and leadership. I will forever be early to every significant event in my life as the famous quote is etched in the back of my brain.

Hockey had the power of bringing my family close together and also dividing it at the same time. The challenges we faced as a family as a result of this sport only made us stronger, proving that we could get through anything with the support of one another. In the end, what made our time as a hockey family so successful was the fact that we were grounded on a common goal; we wanted nothing but the best for each other.

[madisonhentosh]

The Legacy on Tremont Street

When thinking of dominant hockey programs, an individual’s mind may drift straight towards Canada or even Minnesota. But, some of the best hockey is played right here in Boston, specifically in the city of Lynn on the North Shore.

The St. Mary’s Spartans have made a legacy, proving their dominance in Massachusetts high school sports, by capturing 24 state championship titles along with 12 consecutive years of championships. One individual responsible for 5 out of 24 of those titles is Frank Pagliuca, head coach of the women’s ice hockey team.

Coach Frank is a caring, selfless individual who likes to win, but winning also isn’t everything. He wants and expects the best out of every player since he knows potential when he sees it. On the ice and on the bench, he is stern, making players aware of their mistakes, but also encouraging, applauding his players for their smart and simple plays.

Pagliuca, a Wakefield native who now resides in Lynnfield, with wife Cara and their 3 daughters, and has taught physical education in Lexington for the past 19 years, played his college hockey at nearby UMass Boston where he was an anchor on the blue line for the Beacons. Since taking over the reign as the women’s hockey coach at the Lynn school in 2005, Pagliuca has produced a career record of 300 wins, 64 losses, and 37 ties up to this point. 100 of those wins came consecutively as his team remained undefeated for almost three full seasons in 2013 before they lost to Hingham. To add to that specific season, MTV even offered the team a reality TV show outlining the girls and their everyday lives as they were one of the most successful teams in the nation. The offer was respectfully declined as winning and player development was the top priority in the mind of Pagliuca.

Pagliuca has been an influential coach to many and has produced many college athletes from his program. Former members of the Spartans have continued to play at such colleges and universities as Providence, St. Anselm, St. Michael’s, Endicott, Salem State, UNE, and Southern Maine.

To gain a better understanding of the changing dynamics of the hockey world and a behind the scenes look as to what coaches look for in players, we sat down with the man in charge to pick his brain.

*********

Interview with St. Mary's Lynn head women’s hockey coach Frank Pagliuca.

Coaching:

How important is it to create well-rounded individuals as compared to just good athletes?

Very important. One thing that I stress to my players is the fact that there’s going to come a day where you don’t play your sport anymore, but there won’t come a day where you should stop being a good person. People will not remember you for how many goals you scored or how many career points you had, they will remember you based on the individual that you were. Many qualities of athletes, especially hockey players, make them more attractive to employers. Employers want athletes on their team for their motivation, communication skills, hard-working attributes, and abil;ity to work cohesively on a team.

How would you handle a losing season? Why would you respond in that way?

Losing seasons, as disappointing as they can be, in my eyes, is looked at as a learning experience.Winning consistently is a gradual process. In order to achieve that, a good coach must recognize the mistakes his/her team is making, teach them the right way, and fix mistakes. Lessons are best learned through failure.  

I would choose to respond this way because you cannot dwell. Dwelling on the past and past mistakes only drives you crazy. Nothing can be done about the losses taken, but lessons can be learned in order to make us better.

What basic values do you attempt to teach through coaching?

Team skills such as listening and communication are some basic skills, and values, of the game that should be taught through coaching. Although simple, they hold high importance.

Not only are these values important to the game of hockey,  but they also expand out into the real world along with inside the classroom.

Communication is key. Being able to understand others and the ability to be understood by others is key in developing relationships. These relationships help build chemistry which leads to a team who is comfortable with each other and helps each other out when they need it most.

Listening is important when getting told what to do from a coach or when teammates are communicating with you. Messages are easily misunderstood without the ability to listen effectively. Being able to listen shows you are curious and eager to learn rather than doing whatever you want to do when you feel like it.

What role does positive reinforcement play in your coaching philosophy?

Well, if someone does something well, I am going to tell them. But, I am also going to tell them if they did something wrong. Balancing a reward and punishment philosophy is the route I tend to go. Positive reinforcement is important to prove to players that they are doing the right thing and that you want them to continue to do that. Without punishment, players will never learn and or know their mistakes and will continue to make those same mistakes.

In players:

What are some adjectives that you would use to describe a successful hockey player?

One very important characteristic that I believe makes a good hockey player is fearlessness. If you play with fear, you play timid and not to your full potential. Hockey players cannot be scared to make mistakes, they are inevitable. Being versatile maximizes your talents. Sometimes a player might not want to play a certain position, but it is important for them to be open to that change and able to jump in at any spot. Because this player is able to get more opportunities due to their versatility and being open to change, their value is maximized and more valued.

Resilient people are better able to handle stress and adversity and rebuild their lives after a challenge. Change is inevitable in the game of hockey, and in life, so one must be ready to get back up when they are knocked down.

Hockey IQ is something that separates good hockey players from great hockey players. The game rewards the players that can think fast and execute. Time and space is so valuable in this game that the value of being smart becomes even more important. This includes anticipating passes before they are made, making quick decisions with the puck, and knowing what play to make when you do get the puck.

How has the world of girls hockey changed over the years? Is competition getting better or is it on the decline?

The world of girls hockey has experienced drastic changes over the years. When I first started coaching, there were little to no girls who expressed interest in the sport as compared to now where the interest is through the roofs. For us especially, this year was one of our biggest turnouts at tryouts despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Some of the girls who came out for tryouts this year were new to the game and have never played the game competitively. This shows the growing popularity and interest of girls hockey and further proves that the game is not on the decline.

Competition amongst opponents and individual skill levels of players in general have improved as a result of persistent training and the introduction of new club programs into the business. Players are able to join club teams and expose themselves to other impressive and skilled players along with having the opportunity to sharpen their skills in weekly practices, games, and or off-ice training. This consistent reinforcement of skills has contributed to the increase in individual skill level and competition in general.

One thing that has become more common over the years is prep school, or boarding school. It is a common assumption that prep schools have better competition and more opportunities as compared to the public school realm. In the end, as experienced first hand through some of my players, no matter if you play at a prep school or public school, coaches at the next level will find you. Talent will reward itself.

To conclude:

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the community that we have made here at St. Mary’s. There are many individual and group accomplishments that I could touch on, but the true reward is building an atmosphere that people want to come back to. Former players who have graduated still come back to either skate in practices and even become assistant coaches. It’s not all about the trophies, records, or amount of wins, it's about the people you meet and the relationships you develop.