The Chittenden County high school girls’ hockey teams are set to return to action this winter, with a combination of familiar faces and new talent. Teams including Burlington/Colchester, Champlain Valley/Mount Mansfield, Essex, Rice, and South Burlington are gearing up for the 2023-24 season, each with their own unique outlook.
BURLINGTON/COLCHESTER
Coaches: Molly Beauregard (10th season), Jamie Rozzi (ninth season)
Last season: 15-6-2; lost to Spaulding in Division I championship
Key returnees: Camryn Poulin, Norra Moody, Holley MacLellan, Leah Boyd, and more.
Key newcomers: Madison Bean, Austen Fisher, Ellie Young, Marzie Schulman, Ana LaBelle
Outlook: Burlington/Colchester, celebrating its 10th season as a cooperative program, has its sights set on a championship run with a deep squad and strong leadership from the upperclassmen.
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY/MT. MANSFIELD
Coach: Matt Bunting (first season)
Last season: 12-8-1; lost to Spaulding in Division I semifinals
Key returnees: Kerribeth Aldrich, Sophie Brien, Miles Brien, Clark Clark, and more.
Outlook: The CougarHawks are focused on rebuilding and developing new talent to maintain their competitive edge, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and effort.
ESSEX HIGH SCHOOL
Coach: John Maddalena (19th season)
Last season: 6-13-1; lost to CVU/MMU in Division I quarterfinals
Key returnees: Malissa Erickson, Emma Airoldi, Emily Stempek, Zuzu Rooney, and more.
Outlook: Essex is integrating a significant number of freshmen into their roster, bringing new energy and excitement while also presenting challenges in building team cohesion.
RICE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Coach: Tom Rugg (fourth season)
Last season: 7-11-3; lost to Kingdom Blades in Division II quarterfinals
Key returnees: Becky Penney, Finley Strong, Emeri Rascoe
Key newcomers: Cassidy Skoda and Kate Kozachuk
Outlook: With a strong focus on offensive play and potential in their younger players, Rice is optimistic about their prospects in Division II.
SOUTH BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
Coach: Courtney Barrett (fourth season)
Last season: 7-14; lost to Burlington/Colchester in Division I quarterfinals
Key returnees: Sabrina Brunet, Kiley Burke, Jordan Larose, Ava Hershberg, and more.
Outlook: South Burlington has a solid core of returning players, aiming for improved depth and better results compared to the previous year.
The 2023-24 girls’ hockey season in Chittenden County promises to be an exciting and highly competitive one, with each team bringing unique strengths and aspirations to the ice. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights as the season progresses.