Senior Sarah Norton is happy to have found her place on the co-op girls ice hockey team with Masco.

“I have been playing this sport for fourteen years. When I moved here, I thought playing with the boys would be my only option,” said Norton. “I’m happy I can continue my career on a girls hockey team where I can make my final years worth it.”

Many people haven’t heard of the Masco girls ice hockey team. Being a part of this establishment is an opportunity like no other. Playing in division one, this team has shown great accomplishments over the years. Ending the 2016-17 season by making it to semifinals in states for the first time ever has proven them to be capable of a lot.

Representing another school is something these Triton students never thought they would do during their high school years. But the color of a jersey is only minimal to the meaning behind the sport and why to play. Getting the chance to meet girls from all different schools and to spend everyday with them is something many people don’t get to experience.

Not only is the co-op team with Masco, but it is involved with three other high schools in the area, including, Newburyport, Amesbury, and Georgetown.

“I love playing this sport because you get to meet so many girls from other schools that soon become your family,” said Newburyport junior Katie Strauss. “I never thought I would be so close with people from all these different schools, but it’s so cool.”

In the 2016-17 season, the team placed 18th seed out of 20 in their division. They competed against teams placed in far higher seeds than them, but that didn’t stop their motivation to make it as far as they could. Making it to semifinals in states, the team ended with a close loss in final over time against Woburn. No one suspected the team to come out as strong as they did, but it was a good surprise and a happy end to the season. The Masco girls hockey team created their “Cinderella Story.”

The Masco girls hockey team doesn’t get enough attention compared to other teams, like boys high school hockey.

“I’ve never seen a game,” said sophomore Aidan Gay-Killeen. “I have barely heard
much about the team, but it seems interesting.”

The Masco girls hockey team hopes to be the next best thing.

Playing with brand new people is a hard adjustment, especially if you’ve only just met them. But every friendship starts somewhere.

“When I first joined, I wasn’t sure if I would be bothered playing for Masco. But now that I’ve played with the team for a couple of years, it doesn’t bother me what school I’m representing,” said junior Anna Behringer. “I’m more proud to be on a team with a bunch of my friends and to play the sport that I love.”

The team has already made a great start to the 2017-18 season. Playing in a series of games in the anual Pingree tournament, they won all three games and placed first, taking home the trophy the second year in a row.

The Masco girls ice hockey team has a lot of good things going for it. They may all be rivals from different schools, but on the ice, they’re family.