So Hard to Say Goodbye

Every year it’s the same story. Players move on to new challenges: some to new teams, some to new cities and some without hockey in their future for the first time in their lives. It’s a big adjustment and each player handles it in their own way. One thing that this group all shares are the memories of pulling on the Northeastern sweater (and getting to wear those sweet red tarps on occasion), and taking the ice at Historic Matthews Arena in front of some of the best fans in college hockey.

So with that in mind, it’s time to say goodbye to our graduates.

Grad Students Molly Griffin, Lily Yovetich and Katie Davis.

Seniors Taze Thompson, Skylar Irving, Taylor Guarino and Tory Mariano.

I’ve had the opportunity to talk with some of these beauties and it’s been my absolute pleasure to watch them play the last 4+ years. The common thread through them all is how much they all love their teammates and when they say that you “play for the crest on the front of the jersey and not the name on the back” that’s talking about these Huskies. Selfless, hard-working and understanding of the moment of time that they’re in and what that means to the generations of players after them. Just absolute legends, all of them.

Even though they do everything as a team, I’m going to highlight them one at a time. As they say when building a team, I’m going to work from the backend out.

Tory Mariano #4 Defense. A true stand up D and a player that you can rely upon night after night and game after game. The last few years she’s showed an ability to jump up into the play and move into the role of veteran leader as she was tabbed to speak to the media pool on a number of times. Mariano also had the ability to play a skill game and also do the dirty work in the corners and tread that fine line without going over it (only 19 penalties in her career). I’m also going to point out that she’s clearly a good sport as she was the victim of a Jumbotron take-down by the entire squad over her music preferences. Just an absolute gamer.

Taylor Guarino #3 Defense. It takes a special kind of player to be a healthy scratch. It’s easy to have yourself a pity party and undercut what the team is trying to achieve and say “hey I should be out there”. That’s the easy route. What’s hard, and not many are able to do it, is to ACTUALLY put the team first and understand that everyone contributes and you still have to bring it at practice and support the squad and be ready for when you get the nod. That’s what Guarino has done and she’s set an example for the entire team (for the entire league) on how to be a good teammate and to be ready when you get out there. And when she did get out there? No drop-off in the team’s defense. Talk about an unsung hero.

#16 Lily Yovetich Defense. An absolute legend. Before I talk about her game play, I want to tell a quick story about Yov. A few years back, I was able to bring my daughter into the locker room after a game and Yovetich got down on one knee and talked to my then 6 year old daughter and ask if she was playing, did she want to play in the future etc. It was probably a 7-8 one way convo and she didn’t need to do that. It meant so much to my daughter that she never forgot it (plus the fact that Yovetich is from Cali) and it wasn’t like Yovetich knew who I was, or who my daughter was, it was just a genuine nice moment. Now let’s talk about her on-ice persona. If you’re going to tell me that the nice woman in the locker room is using opposing players as pin cushions and tackling dummies on a nightly basis I wouldn’t have believed it. Just an absolute weapon out there. Physical, tenacious and leads the dance party after every victory. Yov came on the podcast and it was great getting to know her, and don’t ever forget that I called her goal.

#19 Katie Davis Forward. Talk about a nice portal surprise. Davis came to NU via Minn-Duluth and looked as if she’d been here for 4 years already. A complete energizer bunny on the Munchkin Line, she worked tirelessly at the things that no one wants to do. Hard back-checking, dogged fore-checking, shut-down minutes against the opponent’s top lines: Just a good hockey player that does her job. Davis was always in the right spot with her stick in the lane defensively or ready for the outlet on the offensive rush. If she was in the NHL she’d be that player that every team tries to acquire for the playoff run, willing to work their tail off and doesn’t care about anything but the Dub. I didn’t get to know Davis, but the smile on her face was clear from the press box. She is the type of player you need in any hockey program.

#8 Molly Griffin Forward. Much like Guarino, Griffin is a special person to take on the role of the extra forward, and do so while rocking the A on her sweater! Truly a beauty. Griffin played (I believe) on every line this season. Talk about a plug-and-play type of player. She fit in on the Munchkin Line, would be out there banging with the Nailguns and could skate in the top 6 as well. A true Swiss Army knife of a player. So, Griffin is another one of my daughter’s favorite players because this year during an autograph session, Jules Constantinople offered to sign the team pic for my daughter “across Molly’s forehead”. My daughter vehemently said no (and understood that Jules was joking), but rooted for Molly from that day on. Every time she saw #8 come over the boards, she was chanting Molly-Molly-Molly. Just a great attitude and truly a team first player.

#88 Skylar Irving Forward. The Mayor of Kingston – poor Skirvs, I dumped that nickname on her during her freshman year and I’ve ridden that horse into the ground. Such a good sport about it too, so I want to say thank you for your patience. Let’s talk wheels, holy smokes can 88 scoot. I remember the end of her freshman year when you could almost see the opposing coaches looking at the lineup cards saying “the pre-scout didn’t say she was THIS fast”. As her time at NU progressed the rest of her game caught up to her speed. She used that speed as its’ own weapon and a way to create space for herself and her linemates. No matter who she was out there with, if it was a big moment – Irving excelled. Her Beanpot goal will live on in my (and 10K other fans) memories forever and it would be great to see her dad finally get that QR code tattoo. The thing for me about Irving, is that no matter the circumstance she has the god-given ability to stay cool. Never was the moment too big, she never gripped the stick too tight, never got caught up in any of the scrums: she was just out there being HER. In my minds’ eye, I can see Irving take that little hop step as she breaks over the red line and the OH SHIT reaction from the defender realizing that her gap was waaaaaay to big.

#44 Taze Thompson Forward. Last but certainly not least; it’s the captain. Thompson transferred over from Harvard (she’s wicked smaht) and immediately had an impact on the ice and amongst her teammates. Just a true leader in every sense of the word; she set a great tone for this team. Another player that can adapt her game to whatever is needed, I can clearly remember one of her first games where she continued right to the whistle dumping an opposing defender behind the net at the final horn. I can also remember many examples of her doing all the little things right: a great communicator on the ice, going hard to the net and always being ready in every moment. A true coach’s kid. Thompson leaves NU undefeated in the Beanpot Tournament (must be something about prime-time players excelling in prime-time moments). Taze was kind enough to recommend a book that my wife and daughter have read multiple time (and enjoy each time) and I will miss seeing her “wash her hands” after the anthem.

Good luck to all of you and we all wish you nothing but success in whatever your futures’ hold. And speaking of the future, wherever you find yourself, we’d love to have you on Breaking The Glass Hockey Podcast to have a catchup down the road. No matter what your path, we’d love to have an update. And if you haven’t heard of Breaking The Glass, it’s a podcast that is strictly about women’s hockey. We’re 3 episodes in and starting to find our rhythm. Myself, Linda Lundrigan and Kelly Dyer Hayes bring our thoughts and opinions on everything about the women’s game. You might recognize one of these beauties during our opening montage. As we said on the podcast, please like, share and subscribe; and if you could tell 100 of your closest friends that’d be great.

So, until our paths cross again: much love to all of you and best of luck in your adventures.

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