When the Darien varsity girls hockey team skated off the ice on March 11, they did so as state champions, capping a season that, despite one early stumble, never really felt in doubt.
The Blue Wave finished the year with both the FCIAC title and the state championship, completing a dominant run under first-year Head Coach Mr. Gray Weicker and first-year Assistant Coach Mrs. Hallie Kreppein. For Coach Weicker, who spent years as an assistant before taking the helm, the double championship was the kind of debut coaches dream about.
The season’s only blemish came on Dec. 22, when Darien fell to rival New Canaan. The loss stung more than most. It was the first time anyone on the roster, including seniors, had ever lost to the Rams. It was also the only game Darien had lost in two years.
“That loss hurt,” said junior defender Sophie Beach. “No one on this team had ever lost to New Canaan before. But looking back, I think we needed it.”
The rematch didn’t take long. When the two teams met again, New Canaan struck first, scoring within the opening minutes. But Darien answered, battling back to win 2-1 in a game that seemed to crystallize exactly what this team was made of.
Then came the FCIAC championship final: Darien vs. New Canaan, one more time. This time, there was no drama. The Blue Wave won 4-1, and the guys hockey team was in the stands watching. After the final buzzer, the celebration moved off the ice entirely. Darien fire trucks met the team back at the high school, horns blaring, as players piled out and took photos in front of the trucks.
In net, junior goalie Cameron Seely was a steady presence all season. “It was a good group to play behind,” Seely said. “Everyone gave it all they had and it showed.”
Junior defender Sarah Ryan pointed to something beyond the stat sheet when explaining the team’s success. “Such a special group of girls,” Ryan said. “It’s not the skill that got us to be so successful, but the camaraderie and effort put in from everyone on and off the ice.”
That culture extended to the little things. Before games, the team blasted hype music on the bus ride over. Beach, who finished the season with 27 points including 9 goals and 18 assists, had her own routine: a Roost bacon, egg, and cheese and a Bloom energy drink before every game. “You find what works and you stick with it,” she said. For this group, what worked was each other.
On the way back from states, the music was still playing.
