This season, Sacred Heart Greenwich elevated the hockey team from a club to a varsity sport. In 2021, Isabel Lehrman ’22, Erin Griffin ’23, and Charlotte Gannon ’24 begun the ice hockey team. In their first season at the varsity level, the team qualified for the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA) and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) tournaments, two highly competitive brackets. Captains, seniors Emma Mulcahy and Ainsley Clough worked on incorporating many team bonding activities to grow the chemistry on and off the ice.
This past Wednesday, the team faced Greenwich Country Day in an NEPSAC playoff game but ultimately lost 6-1. Freshman Lindsay Schwind scored their one goal. Overall, they finished the FAA season 3-13. Athletic Director Laurie Rousseau was an advocate for establishing hockey as a varsity team, as she grew up playing the sport and furthered her academic and athletic career by playing at Yale University. Mrs. Rousseau spoke on the positive development of the team she has seen this year since switching to a varsity team.
“I am so proud of how far this program has come in a few short years,” Mrs. Rousseau said. “The girls have played a competitive schedule this season and done very well! The team is made up of a very athletic group of girls, ranging from 8th to 12th grade. They have had some really good games against both NEPSAC and FAA opponents, including two trips to Massachusetts. It is exciting to see the growth of the ice hockey program as it has progressed from a club program to a full varsity program with 15 games plus an FAA Tournament this season.”
Emma and Ainsley joined the team in their freshman year. With their seniority and prior experience, they bring leadership and expertise to the team. As Emma and Ainsley are both three-sport athletes, they also are able to apply their experience from other sports to enhance the team’s level of play. As they approach the end of their high school careers, they remain focused on finishing the hockey season strong and setting up the team for future success. Ainsley commented on her role as a captain.
“Being a captain this year for the first varsity team has been an honor,” Ainsley said. “As a leader, I work hard to keep my teammates motivated throughout the season. I want to spread positivity and help my teammates grow into better players and people. I think that finding a balance between fun and competition is a great way to keep our team motivated on and off the ice. ”
Their early morning practice and adjusting to being a varsity team have pushed the team to work hard. Ainsley spoke about how their team’s overnight trip provided a good outlet to bond with her teammates.
“I think that everyone on the team bonded well together, and our chemistry continued to grow throughout the season. Our overnight trip to Boston helped our team get closer, especially since we have a lot of underclassmen.”
Featured Image by Elin Eaton ’27
