For the girls varsity ice hockey team, 2024 couldn’t be off to a better start. The team has won every single game in January so far and is on a nine-game win streak dating back to the start of the Patsy K. Odden Invitational in December.
 
It is clear the team has found its identity and will undoubtedly look to continue its dominance in the back half of the season.

A defining characteristic of this team is togetherness. The players understand their teammates, have developed connections with each other, and have built team chemistry — key elements of a successful team.
 
“I love the people. We are all really close, and my best friends are on this team. We spend so much time together, and those are the best parts of my day,” said senior captain Emma Hannah.
 
Head coach Liz Leyden adds, “we are a hard-working team where every member of the group adds value. Everyone matters, cares, and supports one another.” Players are at their best when they feel comfortable and supported by those around them, and for Loomis girls hockey that has translated into the team’s longest win streak in over four years.
 
While togetherness is important, the team also has a wealth of skill, with scoring threats all over the ice and a defense that is coming off back-to-back shutouts against Hotchkiss and Kent.
 
“In the ice we are fast and skilled. We like to be pushed and challenged, and this trait allows us to come together in hard moments and against the toughest competition,” Coach Leyden said. In the team’s nine-game win streak, six wins have been by two or fewer goals, which is a testament to the team’s ability to thrive when facing challenges.
 
After the Pelicans started the season with a record of 1-3, the Patsy K. Odden Invitational hockey tournament in December was a turning point for the team. Winning their first three games of the tournament, the team earned a chance to compete in the championship game. In that game, with a high-pressure, championship atmosphere, the girls played one of their best games of the season and haven’t taken their foot off the gas ever since.
 
“The commitment, focus, and belief in one another was incredible,” Coach Leyden said, describing what the PKO championship did for her team. “The game was a true team effort. We have been able to continue building off this so far in January. We still have half of the season left, and I am so excited to see how the group continues to bond and grow together.”
 
Even though it is exciting to see this team playing at such a high level, the job is far from finished, and the girls look to continue improving every day.
 
The Pelicans take on Tabor Academy on Saturday, January 20, at 2:30 p.m. in Savage/Johnson Rink, where they will look to extend their win streak to 10 games.