Photo Courtesy of Lily Kenny '27
By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28
Staff Writer
As the fall season concludes, the Mount Holyoke Ice Hockey team has had quite an eventful term. They have completed 14 weeks of evening practices and six matches with neighboring colleges, such as Smith College and Wheaton College, and universities farther away such as Fairfield University, the University of Rhode Island and Colby-Sawyer College. The team practices at Fitzpatrick Ice Arena in Holyoke on Tuesday and Thursday nights, with an additional off-ice practice in Kendall on Monday nights. The program holds its final practice of the semester tonight, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.
The club sport is coached by head coach Tom Cardosi, with Rose Stait ’25 and Hannah Landau ’26 as captain and assistant captain respectively, and Leslie Muñoz ’26 serving as the chairperson. The team competes in the Berkshires Division of the Independent Women's Club Hockey League.
“Ice hockey has helped me stay physically enriched and healthy while also connecting me with some of the most genuine souls this school has to offer,” Syd Baker ’27, who plays on the team as a forward, said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “I was a dual-sport varsity athlete during my first year here at Mount Holyoke, before quitting both to pursue testosterone hormone therapy as part of my transition. Within a week of starting my first semester sophomore year, I knew I had to pursue a new athletic endeavor, so I reached out to the hockey team on a whim and was able to join.”
“I think joining ice hockey might have been one of the best decisions I’ve made in recent memory. I have met so many amazing people and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Baker added.
“Our biggest goal for every game is always to have fun and do our best,” Dekyi Deji ’25 explained. Deji has been a member of the team since their freshman year, but admitted that ice hockey had not been a planned venture. “I can’t imagine my college life without ice hockey,” Deji stated, remarking on the great joy found in the sport and the four years of commitment to the ice hockey program. Upon reflection, they expressed how the team has “always been a loving and caring community.”
“Joining the MHC Ice Hockey team gave me an opportunity to learn and enjoy a new sport with a positive team environment,” Delaney Gardner ’26, who plays center and defense, said. “After playing an intense sport all four years in high school, ice hockey has been a low-stakes way to get back into competitive games and have fun with a new community on campus.” Gardner added that the team was welcoming to individuals of any skill level and admitted that she wished she had joined sooner, as the sport has been “an outlet to take time away from the stress of academics and play with some amazing people.”
“I have enjoyed my time being on the team thus far. Everyone seems really nice and helpful,” Dalencie Marcelin ’27, a forward, said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “Leslie in particular has helped me immensely on the ice, since I did not have any ice skating experience prior to this.” Marcelin added there is a good team environment where the athletes are supportive and kind to one another.
“The team environment is wonderful and welcoming. I joined the team with no prior hockey or skating experience and was ready for games within a few weeks of on-ice practices,” Assistant Treasurer Chloe Brink ’27 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. Brink’s long-time passion for sports was fueled by the “amazing environment” she found in the ice hockey team. She added that it was “something to look forward to when coming back again this year.”
If individuals are interested in joining the ice hockey team, they should speak to the board members at the College’s involvement fairs or reach out to the club’s board at ice-hockey-board@mtholyoke.edu, with new player practices happening at the beginning of every fall semester. No previous skating or hockey experience is required, and interest meetings are held in the fall semester.
Mount Holyoke Ice Hockey has since competed against Colby-Sawyer College at Proctor Academy Ice Hockey on Saturday, Dec. 7. They will next face Smith College on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, at 11:50 a.m. at the Lossone Rink.
Gemma Golovner ’25 contributed fact-checking.