“We’re maybe not scoring as much yet, but defensively we’ve been very good,” said 16U Head Coach Jake Anderson, back for his fifth season. 

 

“It’s keeping us close in games. I like our energy, effort and attitude. We’re really hungry and we’ve got a lot to prove.”

 

That the squad has been able to pile up 11 wins in 15 games is no small feat considering the team is icing 10 young athletes who are new to Bishop Kearney — including seven forwards and both goalies on the roster.

 

But on the blue line, five of the six regulars are experienced at this level. A pair of third-year defenders — Erin Healy (South Burlington, Vt.) and Avery Ide (Skaneateles, N.Y.) — head the group of returners, which also includes Micayla Hunt, Gigi Martin and Cody Kowalow.

 

“Their ability to shut down plays quickly, not panic and move (the puck) quickly has been really noticeable,” Anderson said. “Our two young goalies have played well, but that reliability in the ‘D’ corps has been great. We’re not spending consecutive shifts in our end.”

 

Ide, 16, has already committed to attend Providence College after her BK stay is over. She said she “feels a responsibility” to guide some of the younger players like freshman defender Callie McCullough.

 

“Because I have been a part of this program for a while, I know what it takes from everyone collectively for our team to become the best,” Ide said. “My leadership style is very much leading by example, I make sure I am doing the right thing and putting in the extra work. By doing that, it demonstrates a sense of hard work and dedication and I truly believe that rubs off on the rest of the team.”

 

Ide said she believes the defensive group has meshed so well early on because they’re focused on contending for the USA Hockey national championship at the end of the year — a goal the 16Us came one win away from achieving last spring.

 

“Each and every individual on the ‘D’ side shows up day-in and day-out,” Ide said. “(We’re) putting in the work that’s going to eventually get us over the finish line.”

 

The 16-year-old Healy feels similarly, saying that repetition has driven the 16Us to be on the ball systematically at this early juncture of the 2024-25 competitive season.

 

“As a team we work on defensive-zone positioning and small defensive details every practice,” Healy said. “This allows us to stay disciplined within our team systems. Something else that allows us to have success defensively is making sure that we have strong communication on and off the ice.”

 

To hear Healy tell it, the workmanlike atmosphere at Bishop Kearney is inspired by the reality that all her teammates have made sacrifices at an early age in order to chase their goals.

 

That solidarity of singlemindedness permeates the group.

 

“This place has not only made be a better hockey player, but has helped me to grow has a person in so many ways,” Healy said. “This program has taught me to have a high work ethic and to put 100 percent into everything that I do. The challenges that I have encountered while being here have taught me determination and discipline and to maintain a positive mindset while facing adversity. 

 

“Also, constantly being surrounded by so many talented athletes has really motivated me to become a better hockey player. It’s amazing to be around teammates that are also working towards their dreams because I can relate to them in so many ways.”

 

The pursuit of excellence continues in October for the 16U girls, with trips to Pennsylvania and Minnesota upcoming, during which they’ll face some of the nation’s top competition in their age group.

 

Should be a great test of their early-season progress, while also serving as an alert that BK is once again icing a contending team. 

 

“We’ll learn a lot from these games,” Anderson said. “But we’re going to be on people’s radars after that.”