The Abington Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey team has been off to a great start so far. Their last game was a great success, with a 5-2 win against Monomoy. A current record of 6-3-3 shows they have unmatched potential to accomplish great things this season. The team has been showing incredible grit, facing any challenges that come their way. Hockey is most certainly a physical sport, and being a younger team, the Abington players must learn to hold their own against bigger teams.
“This season was more challenging because we had to find our identity after graduating many seniors last year. Our team is younger and many players are still getting used to the varsity level,” says senior captain Johnny McGrath. Even though the loss of the graduated seniors is immense, the younger players have been stepping up to the challenge. Players who have never played at the varsity level have certainly been proving that they belong at this high level of play. The underclassmen are a great benefit to the Abington hockey program.
The juniors and seniors on the team are also a critical part of the dynamic. “Every year our goal is win a state championship and we feel this team has an opportunity to make a run, the heart in this team is incredible. We never quit and we are lucky to have great teammates in the locker room,” says McGrath. Hopefully, the close-knit dynamic of the team will impact their ability to succeed this season. In the past years, Abington has been fortunate enough to compete in the postseason tournament. However, they have not gotten as far as the final round. Perhaps this year will be the year the team will make it all the way.
When asked about how the support of the school impacts the team, McGrath said, “Our student sections and fans show up no matter who the opponent is and stay till the end regardless of the outcome. It really benefits us knowing that our fans have full confidence and trust in us to succeed no matter what.” With the support of the school and the town, the Abington Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey team is sure to go far this season. The team has been off to a solid start, and with the support of the community they will only continue to improve. The boys’ hockey team is a prime example of how hard work and dedication always pay off. Great things are to come for the Abington boys’ hockey program, so stay tuned and make sure to attend some games.
