Spirits are high and optimistic for this year’s Boys’ Varsity Hockey team. The team, having had its best season in almost 3 decades last year, is prepared to continue moving on an upwards trajectory and will battle adversity throughout the season. Although they have not yet begun formal practices, captains’ practices have been held after school, multiple times a week, in the Drake Arena.

Senior captain Mick Sullivan foresees a challenge in maintaining a positive state of mind throughout the season; however, he feels the team’s tight knit, brotherly dynamic will counteract the chagrin of his teammates in the upcoming season. “Our strengths are definitely in our relationships with each other. I can’t think of a team that gets along better and wants to spend time as much time as we do together. It’s a pretty special bond,” Sullivan said. The Boys’ Varsity Hockey team clearly has its social bases covered and it appears to have its skill bases covered, too.

Every year, St.Paul Academy and Summit School recruits new hockey players and this year’s newest recruits have plenty of experience playing hockey. Team manager senior Claire Foussard believe this season year is going to be “one of the strongest years in a while” due to the team’s newest recruits.

Sullivan agrees. “It’s just one less thing to worry about for the start of our season,” he said with regard to the team’s especially high skill level this year.