A win doesn’t prove the perseverance of the players on ice
On Feb. 27, 2026, our hockey team went on to tackle RECCup regionals in our very own city at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. The stage was set; and the men’s hockey team was set to face four strong opponents. The first play was against McMaster, a team that had gone unbeaten since 2021 by the Golden Hawks. But, in this play, that long-standing record was broken. It was not just a win, but a shutout against McMaster with a score of 2-0.
“It was a huge win for us, not only to get a shutout but to beat a team like McMaster,” Mitch Hartman, a player who was on the ice that day, said. A huge role in gaining the shutout win was played by Daniel Ferrante, goalie for the Golden Hawks, who was also credited with the title Athlete of the Week. “He played a huge part in our season and him getting that shutout over McMaster was the cherry on top,” Hartman said.
Ferrante was not just a goalie but also a great leader for the team in this tournament. “Having Danny both in the net and in the locker room as a leader and a voice was huge for everyone, because we knew he was gonna give us a chance to win every game,” Justin Murchison, the coach of the men’s team, said. “The early morning win against such a tough opponent was achieved by great grittiness from the boys,” Murchison said.
The second game was against St. Clair, another strong rival. This game was a highlight due to an exceptional goal scored by Lincoln Humphris, who plays forward for the Golden Hawks. “We were down 4-1 at that point, and we quickly scored two to make it 4-3,” Hartman said. “He can make something happen out of nothing.”
Lincoln’s goal was not just a point; it was seen as an elevation of momentum and the spirits for the whole team. “A guy with that skill and ability to make plays executes, it helps everyone get their energy flowing even more,” Murchison said.
The spirit of the Golden Hawks was also carried by the women’s team. Veteran player Lorna Rynard, who was also named Athlete of the Week, noted that while the scoreboard was tough at times, the team made up for it in spirit. “I definitely feel honoured. I’m graduating so it’s nice to have that accomplishment sort of as a parting gift for myself,” Rynard said.
Whether it was cheering each other on or making sure to high-five every teammate coming off the ice, the focus remained on the fun of the game. “We learned perseverance. Despite the tough teams we played, we were able to play as a team with smiles on our faces,” Rynard said.
Even though this season didn’t go the way the team intended, both the players and the coaches are proud of the teamwork and responsibility each player took on themselves to fight until the very end in every game. Even when the team started to notice a downfall, the coaches and veteran player, Alex Vessoyan, played a huge role in keeping the team focused and motivated.
The biggest message from this season to the team and the coaches was to put in all the effort to make a great start to the game. Doing so puts the team into a great headspace which, in return, stacks up victories, as was evident from the game against McMaster. The end of the season was not how the players wanted it to be, but “the guys should be very proud of themselves for the great season they had,” Hartman said.
Leave a Reply