The South County Storm ladies hockey group has been on the cusp of massive success the previous two seasons.
With a lot of the identical core in place from two semifinal appearances, the aim is to succeed in the following stage this winter.
“I believe now we have a very good 12 months forward of us,” senior Melanie Morrison stated.
The Storm misplaced in three video games to East Bay within the 2021 semifinals. They have been again once more in 2022 and fell to Burillville/Ponaganset/Bay View in an exhilarating three-game set. The entire matchups have been determined by one aim, with BPB profitable the decisive third recreation 4-3. BPB went on to upset top-seeded La Salle for the state title.
Not a single participant graduated from final 12 months’s squad, and many of the nucleus has been on the ice for a number of years. The Storm has welcomed in massive and gifted freshman lessons a number of instances in recent times.
“A whole lot of them have been enjoying collectively for 2, three, 4 years,” new head coach Tom McCarthy stated. “I watched as a fan final 12 months and you’ll inform it’s simply an especially gifted group of gamers right here. One of many issues I’ve been most impressed by is there’s loads of hockey gamers who can skate properly, shoot properly, go properly. What makes the distinction in having an incredible group is that they skate as six gamers collectively on the ice.”
McCarthy is taking up as head coach for Sydney Collins, who was an assistant beforehand after which the pinnacle coach for the final three years. McCarthy performed hockey at Bishop Hendricken and West Level and has coached within the faculty ranks at Salve Regina and Roger Williams. His daughter, Mackenzie, performs for the Storm, so he’s been watching from the stands the previous few years. When the job got here open, he jumped at it.
“This chance got here up and I used to be excited to be part of the group,” he stated.
The group McCarthy inherits appears rather a lot just like the one he watched from the bleachers final 12 months. Seniors Amelie Gregoire, Jade Shabo and Morrison are serving as captains. Senior goalie Veronica Sabatino has been the starter in internet since her freshman 12 months.
The junior class contains Julianna and Michaela Bucci, and Ginger Osgood, all of whom have been seeing massive minutes since day one. The sophomore class had a number of gamers who made a direct impression as freshmen final 12 months, together with Sammie Haun, who was an all-stater as a freshman, plus Mia Moffitt, Eva Bouard and Josie Dinonsie.
There ought to be some depth, too, with loads of others able to chip in, together with one other sturdy freshman class.
“We had a few gamers who have been comparatively new to the sport so their development curve was nearly straight up,” McCarthy stated. “And now we have fairly just a few very gifted sophomores and a few new freshmen. It’s only a matter of getting them on board with the tradition.”
The deep connections between the gamers – though they hail from three totally different faculties – definitely helps the trigger.
“We’ve been enjoying collectively for a very long time,” Shabo stated. “It actually helps with our bonding. It’s not a recent begin prefer it was our freshman and sophomore 12 months.”
McCarthy has put an emphasis on low season work and coaching away from the ice.
“I believe our off-ices are actually serving to with staying in form,” Shabo stated. “There’s solely a lot you are able to do on the ice when you’ve restricted follow time. We’re attempting to get most of our conditioning achieved off the ice so we are able to actually concentrate on the puck work and performs once we’re on the ice.”
Women hockey in South County is buzzing alongside, with Southern Rhode Island Youth Hockey’s Sirens program producing alternatives for youthful gamers.
“A whole lot of the teachings I take advantage of on daily basis have been realized on a sheet of ice someplace,” McCarthy stated. “To have the ability to domesticate that Sirens program is de facto thrilling. After we’re coming off the ice and study to skate is approaching, these ladies are rock stars to these youngsters.”
Early outcomes match with the excessive hopes. The Storm rolled to an Damage Fund win then posted blowout wins over Warwick and Mount St. Charles/Cumberland/Lincoln on opening weekend.
“It was essential to start out off sturdy,” Gregoire stated. “I believe the final word aim is to win.”