Girls Ice Hockey Team Grows Together, Wins Together

The Andover U-14 girls hockey team went down to Marlborough last weekend and brought back the Tier II State Championship title; the first in the Andover team's history and an impressive feat by even the highest standards. But that's only a stepping-stone for these girls.

Now, the Andover U-14 girls ice hockey team will soon be heading to Frisco, Texas, to represent Massachusetts as the top seed in the USA Hockey National Championship. And they're one of 12 teams in the entire country to make it. 

The cohesive group of girls leaves on Tuesday and will be playing their first game on Wednesday, March 28, against the Alaska Icebreakers. The team will then play two more games on Thursday and Friday and, depending on how they do during the week, they could move on to semifinals on Saturday and finals on Sunday.

The Secret Sauce

On the surface, the team may appear just like any other. But unlike all of the other teams in their league, the U-14 Andover team is just that: only Andover-grown athletes.

While most teams in the statewide league cull players from multiple communities each, the Andover team is made up of almost exclusively Andover girls, most of whom began playing with each other at age 8.

Head coach Bill Chase said this familiarity with each other and their abilities and the close-knit sense of community has driven this team to success.

"It’s an important distinction that we have that other teams don’t. I think it’s our secret sauce," said Chase.

Chase said the widespread selflessness among the players allows them to truly work as a team striving toward one goal.

"We’re not about statistics. The girls are not competitive with each other, but they are fiercely competitive with the other teams," said Chase. "They support each other."

The Andover girls will be getting an official send-off this Sunday before heading off to Frisco, Texas on Tuesday. The event, complete with speakers, a DJ and more, is being held at the Old Town Hall at 1 p.m.