Highlanders Girls Hockey Champions for Life

The Highlanders girls hockey team traveled to Massachusetts this past weekend for the Power Prep Hockey League (PPHL) Championship. The girls faced the top three ranked teams in a round-robin play beginning with the number one-seeded Gilmour Academy Lancers.

In a very tight back-and-forth matchup, the Highlanders pulled off a 2-1 shootout win to give Gilmour their first PPHL loss of 2024.

Saturday saw the Highlanders hold a 1-0 lead after two periods against Ironbound and Winchendon. Ironbound was able to take control of an injured Highlanders team in the third period scoring four unanswered goals to win 4-1. The Highlanders pushed to the very end against Winchendon, but two late goals allowed them to take the lead and the Winchendon goalie made key saves down the stretch to secure the victory.

Securing the fourth seed in the playoffs, the Highlanders needed to learn from their experiences Saturday as they would face-off against top-seeded Winchendon in a rematch for Sunday's semi-final.

The Highlanders played within themselves and did not allow the emotions of the game to control them. Ava Shearer ‘24 scored the winner late in the third to secure a spot in the PPHL Championship game. Kristy Michaud ‘24 stood strong with a shutout.

The final matchup was set with the Highlanders facing off against the only team they had not been able to take a point from this season, Ironbound Elite. Learning from their experiences is what made this group special and allowed them to be fully invested in the game. With three forwards out of the lineup due to injury, the Highlanders only dressed 13 skaters against an Ironbound team who had outscored the Highlanders 10-2 in their two prior matchups.

The mentality of this group was to be a bison. A bison is the only animal that will not turn away from a storm, but instead, push towards the storm as they know the fastest way through the storm is to go straight into it.

The Highlanders withstood many attacks from a very talented Ironbound team. The team never wavered from their game plan and a key breakaway goal from Ava Shearer tied the game at 1-1 entering the third period.

Kristy Michaud stood strong as Ironbound attacked early in the third and the entire team bought into a defensive style of play that was beautiful to watch. Clare Munro ‘24 found the back of the net with five minutes remaining and Leslie Cuddihy ‘25 sealed the championship with an empty net insurance marker with 12.6 seconds remaining.

Coach Cameron Scott stated, "We have challenged ourselves physically and mentally all season in preparation for this opportunity, but the heart this team showed in the championship game is what makes me so proud to be their coach and they have earned the right to call themselves champions for life."

Kristy Michaud was awarded 2024 PPHL MVP as the Highlanders brought the first banner to the hill in their prep program history.