Traditions are essential to the culture of the Harborwomen hockey team of Hingham High School, whether that be awarding MVP after a well-played game, announcing personal goals before warmups, or having a shootout at the end of each practice. However, one of the more prominent and exciting traditions the girls take part in at the beginning of each year is the annual Vermont trip to St. Albans.
St. Albans, Vermont, is a town straight from a Christmas hallmark movie, and the girls’ hockey team is fortunate enough to be in the area when exciting events such as the tractor parade and the holiday flea market are taking place. Consistently staying in a local hotel right in the middle of downtown, the girls who are new to the team and returning players have a chance each year to explore the array of boutiques and cafes that surround their temporary living space. When asked about her experience and opinions of the trip as a whole, Junior and forward player, Helen Concannon joked that, “Exploring the town with my teammates makes the 5-hour drive worth it”.
The drive up and down on the rented coach bus is a big part of the trip’s tradition as well. Concannon also went into detail about how much she enjoys the experience, explaining, “Being with your team on the bus ride is honestly the best part. We have a bunch of fun rest stops like a plant sanctuary, and it’s a great team bonding experience. Our coach cracked out the DVDs and played a bunch of old movies, and it really made it a fun environment. Nothing beats those fun moments with the team and lets us get to know each other aside from hockey”.
A few hours after their arrival in the town of St. Albans came one of the two big games the girls’ hockey team had traveled all the way; their first season game against Bellows Free Academy. Last year, BFA had beaten the Harborowmen in a shootout, so the rivalry was escalated as both teams took to the ice on Friday night. The harborwomen were quick to redeem themselves after last year’s game. Securing two goals in the first period, the girl’s hockey team went on to score two more in the third for a spectacular 4-0 win. This significant addition to their record created excitement for their next game against the Essex Comets the next day.
With only one more game left in Vermont, the Harborwomen hockey team was eager to continue an undefeated season, so that was what they did. Beating the Comets 7-0, the girls not only secured first place in the tournament, but they also fulfilled the expectations set out for the talented team on the ‘Road to the Garden’ (The goal of making it to the state championship). Congratulations to the Harborwomen Hockey team, and the community of Hingham cannot wait to see what more the girls have to offer.