Athletes of the Week: Girls Varsity Hockey Captains

By JETT GOETZ, SOPHIE MA, BEVERLY OLEKA

The girls’ varsity ice hockey team is back, having already won four games this season. Following a period of inactivity last year, the 2021-2022 season marks a new beginning with four captains: seniors Grace Emmerick, Victoria Quinn, Kathryn Welch, and upper Shauna Vadeboncoeur. 

All four captains began their hockey journey very young. “I have been playing ice hockey since I was four,” senior Grace Emmerick said. “I’m a goalie. I always loved watching the hockey games after my Learn-to-Skate lessons when I was three, so my parents signed me up to start playing when I was old enough. Hockey has been one of my highlights at Exeter as I feel that I have become a part of another family.”

Welch started even younger than Emmerick. “I've been playing hockey since I was three years old. I learned how to skate just when I learned how to walk — right around two,” she said. “My dad put me in, and I learned to play hockey on Wednesday nights. Then, I joined a team around six and I play defense now, but I've played every position besides goalie.”

Quinn also learned to skate around the age of three. “Me and all my sisters used to figure skate before we actually played ice hockey. But I started playing ice hockey probably around third grade, maybe — probably when I was eight or nine. I play center or forward,” she said. 

Vadeboncoeur echoed the other captains’ experiences, playing hockey since she was four years old. “I primarily play right wing but I also play some center. Both my older brothers played hockey, so I think that really brought me toward it. And then as I got older, probably like middle school, was when I really started to love hockey,” she said.

Head coach Sally Komarek spoke about the role the captains play on the team. “The captains are my go-to group to get a sense of how the team is doing collectively, and if there are any individuals who need more support, care, or anything else. They let me know if someone is having a tough day or has exciting news to share, and they help me read the energy of the team,” Komarek said. “The captains do an excellent job of setting the tone for our team, and they’re active in contribution to our team norms and expectations.”

Komarek described the process of captain selection. “I had every player respond to a set of questions on leadership and supporting teammates. These four individuals have a strong commitment to uplifting others, connecting with all of their teammates, and a willingness to commit to and work for the good of their team. They uplift others with their actions and attitude, and it goes a long way on our team.”

The team captains help make the team a welcoming environment for everyone. “I love all of the captains on the [girls’ varsity ice hockey] team. Honestly, I didn't even know some of them until the hockey season started, but they have been so welcoming and uplifting especially as a new student,” lower Jessica Chen expressed. “We’re all very close to one another! The captains do an amazing job with leading the team. We’re definitely friends as much as we are teammates. So, we definitely have a super close relationship with one another.”

Being captain is more than a title for Welch. “Leadership on our team is definitely more than just captains. Everyone still has a role and yes, the captains have a little bit more responsibility, but everyone has that same power to make the change that they wanna see,” she said. “So, I was definitely really excited to be named captain, and I was just looking forward to being a leader on the team.” 

Orr elaborated on the importance of captains and the energy that they bring. “The captains definitely boost our confidence and help us when we need it. They also bring amazing energy to our games and practices which hypes us up as well. They definitely do bring out the best in us,” she said. 

Lower Caroline Shu shared similar sentiments. “I don't know about past years, but I think especially this year and last year too, the captains have been breaking the captain hierarchy,” Shu said. “I know a lot of the time teams look up to the captains [and everyone else just follows].” 

“We do look up to the captains. But they've created the sort of environment where it's not just about them. Obviously, not everyone can be captain, [but they push] the idea that everyone on the team has qualities of a captain and can add to the team,” Shu continued.

Assistant coach Jim Tufts talked about the impact the captains have on the team. “I think the biggest thing that the four of them bring is the trust and confidence of the other girls. I think every player on the team looks up to them and trusts them,” he said. “For every player on the team there is someone in that group that they feel really comfortable with, and can share their feelings, emotions, and thoughts, which I think is really important to a group, that everybody feels they have a voice, and that they are safe.”

Prep Soleil Jamani agreed. “I remember one day I was having a really horrible day. It was so bad and I stormed off to my dorm. Later on, I felt someone pulling my backpack and it was Shauna. We stood outside for God knows how long,” Jamani continued. “She was just kind of there to listen to everything, and she's always been an incredible support system. I can't thank her enough because she's always there to hear me out about anything and it means so much to me to have someone that I can trust to understand, whatever it is that's happening. She's willing to listen to everyone and it's something that has always stuck out to me about her.”

All four captains have high hopes for this season. “I definitely want to make the playoffs,” said Vadeboncoeur. “I think we're off to a really good start and that's definitely within our range. I also just want to have a lot of fun with the team this season and continue to get to know everyone.” 

Welch and Quinn agree on a common goal: beating Andover. “I definitely think one of our biggest goals is just keeping the momentum,” said Quinn. “Just learning how to keep momentum  and just putting in the work every day. That will really be beneficial to meeting our success.” 

Komarek is proud of the captains for all of their passion for the team and sport. “I think that this leadership group has worked hard and is continuing to work hard to show that being captain is not to be above or removed from the rest of the team, but as the teammates most responsible for caring for others. That isn’t something I’ve always seen at Exeter, and I applaud this group of captains for their work so far, but I also challenge them to continue to commit to this throughout the season,” Komarek said. 

“I am excited to spend time with this group and compete as a team. There is nothing more exhilarating and rewarding than working with a group of dedicated student-athletes and seeing them overcome challenges, push each other to improve, and find joy in being around one another,” Komarek concluded.