Freshman high school varsity teams often don't win much, but that wasn't the case during the fall season for the upstart Bishop O'Connell Knights girls' varsity ice hockey team.
The 21-player high school team participated in two leagues and finished with an overall record of 12 wins and 4 losses, as well as finishing runner-up in each postseason tournament. The leagues were her A division of the Mid-Atlantic Women's Soccer League and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.
The Knights lost 4-3 in overtime to Holton Arms in the Mid-Atlantic Tournament finals and lost 6-1 to St. John's in the WCAC title game.
“It was a magical season with great player participation and a lot of wealth for us,” O'Connell coach Jeff Rickson said.
He said the Knights were able to improve quickly because they had talented and experienced players and a strong defense led by two excellent goaltenders. Many players had participated in youth leagues in the past. These players helped inexperienced players improve more quickly.
“Our players had energy and enthusiasm all season,” Rickson said. “They were so happy to have the opportunity and team to play ice hockey in high school. They really wanted to do their best and had great chemistry.”
O'Connell's top athletes were seniors Campbell Thompson, Kamryn Sidhu and Scarlett Harrar, juniors Emily Wiese and Isabella Gorkowski, sophomore Bridget Loftus and freshman Lucy Jorjani. All seven were his All WCAC selections.
O'Connell Sadie Mossop, Holly Mott, Anna Seavey, Bertie Mason, Tatiana Saliba, Jordan Hardenbergh, Arianna Conway, Aoibh Cooney, Anne van Dyk, Isa Vaseva, Maggie Pace, Other players include Sidney Miller, Maddie Trump, and Lauren Arzadon.
The goalkeepers were Gorkowski and Arzadon.
Rickson said there have been several attempts over the past few years to start an O'Connell varsity team. Nothing happened until a year ago when the O'Connell club team was formed and many players learned the game. Rickson has coached that club team and was asked to continue as national coach last season.
Rixon is a social studies teacher at the school and a longtime ice hockey player in a regional recreational league.
