The first day of practice for the St. Dominic Academy girls hockey team got off to a shorthanded start. Three players, Gabby Allen, Abby Titus, and Aiva Dorman, were absent because they were busy competing in the girls soccer playoffs. The soccer playoffs were delayed due to a manhunt in the area, causing a scheduling conflict for the athletes. Despite their absence, the hockey team is supportive of their teammates’ success on the soccer field. The girls soccer team has had a strong season, improving from a 2-11-2 record last year to an 11-3-1 record this year. The hockey players are looking forward to their return to the ice and believe that their conditioning from soccer will help them quickly get back into the swing of things. The team is excited to have a larger roster this season and no longer be a cooperative program with other schools. The players feel that this change will improve team chemistry and allow for more line changes during games. The team is also hopeful that they will have more depth on defense this season. Despite being a young team, with the addition of eighth-graders to the roster, the players are optimistic about their chances of making the playoffs this year. They believe that their enthusiasm and competitiveness will drive them to success.