PEABODY — Despite all of the obstacles last year’s winter season had in store, the Peabody/Lynnfield girls hockey team persevered. After dealing with injuries, a brutally tough schedule and even an 11-day COVID shutdown in the middle of the year, the Tanners still rebounded to finish 12-1-0 and win their third consecutive Northeastern Hockey League title.
Now, as the 2021-22 season gets close to its start this coming weekend, Peabody/Lynnfield is aiming to get back to the mountain top again.
“Last year threw a lot at us,” said Peabody/Lynnfield coach Michelle Roach, who was named the 2020-21 MIAA Coach of the Year. “I think the biggest takeaway from everything that happened was that we have to be ready and able to overcome adversity whenever it’s thrown at us.”
The Tanners are losing several key players from last year’s league champs, including three of their top five scorers — Paige Thibedeau, Jen Flynn and Chloe Shapleigh.
“It’s obviously going to be tough losing all of that production, as those girls were a huge part of our program over the past few years,” said Roach. “But at the same time, we’re really excited about the talented group of girls we have coming back this year.”
And that talent comes in a lot of forms. Whether you’re talking about senior captains Kaila Griffin and Catherine Sweeney, junior Jenna DiNapoli — who is the team’s leading returning scorer after netting 14 points last year — senior Audrey Buckley — who is back starting in net for the Tanners — or the group of talented freshmen that will see time on the ice this year, Roach is excited for what Peabody/Lynnfield is going to bring to the table.
Since practice started a little over a week ago, the Tanners have been hitting the ice hard and have already gotten in scrimmages against Woburn and Reading. With another season-long battle through their tough NEHL and non-league schedules on the horizon, Roach knows the team needs to get every last bit of work in during the preseason.
“We have to hit the ground running,” said Roach. “We’ve been practicing hard and things have been going well so far, but we know that we’re going to have to bring our best every night with the schedule we have.”
That tough schedule starts from the very first game, as the Tanners will take on Gloucester, Beverly/Danvers and Catholic Central League champ, St. Mary’s, in their first three games.
“Our league schedule is always super tough and we play tough non-league teams like St. Mary’s as well, but we’re ready to attack the season head-on,” said Roach. “There’s a ton of excitement from the girls to get started and I see a lot of potential for this team, so we’re ready to get it going.”
Puck drop for the season opener against Gloucester is set for Friday evening (5:15) against Gloucester at McVann-O’Keefe Memorial Rink.
