16 Rutland Herald Winter Sports Guide 2019-2020
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY PREVIEW
Rutland hockey looks to take step forward
By Adam Aucoin
Staff Writer
nlike most athletes in Ver-
mont, the Rutland boys and
girls hockey teams will have
plenty of practice time under their
belt when the first puck drops for the
Raiders.
Rutland, and hockey teams across the
state, have been practicing since before
Thanksgiving.
Both teams have exciting talent com-
ing back and the hope is that they can
take a step forward from their first-round
exits a season ago.
U
GIRLS
The Rutland girls hockey team has
gotten used to playoff hockey.
Heading into last winter, the Raiders
had a Division I state championship and
a pair of state semifinals under their belt
across the previous three seasons.
Last year ended with a quarterfinal loss
to Burlington/Colchester as Rutland fin-
ished the season 11-9-1.
Rutland High School vs. Brattleboro boys hockey.
After losing just four seniors to gradu-
ation, the Raiders are confident in their
ability to climb the ladder of success again.
Rutland is itching to get the season
underway.
“The kids are looking forward to it
ALBERT J. MARRO PHOTOS
because it has been a long practice sea-
son,” said Raiders coach Dirk Steupert.
“I’m very pleased with the group of girls.
The main thing is to stay healthy and
keep practicing and working hard.”
A big story line of last winter was the
addition of a large freshmen class and
the crucial ice time they received to get
their feet wet at the varsity level.
That group is a year older and year
more experienced as they enter the
2019-20 season.
“(Last year) was a learning piece for
them, competing against Essex seniors
and BFA seniors, among others,” Steu-
pert said. “It was a good way to throw
them into the fire and learn the hard
way. They got better and stronger.”
The Raiders’ two top goal scorers
from last season, junior Alexis Patter-
son and sophomore Isabel Crossman,
return this winter.
They’ll be joined on the attack by
Isabel Alexander, Taylor Surething,
Sydney Wood, Tessa McLaughlin, Molly
Abatiell and Sierra McDermott.
Elise Lidstone, Sera Wideawake and
Alyssa Kennedy can flip between forward
and defense as well.
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