Skates are laced up and ready to hit the ice, and the hockey season is officially upon us. Parkway West Hockey Club is aiming for the Wickenheiser Cup.
This tournament, played at the Scottrade Center between late February and early March, will feature the best two teams from the second tier conference.
“We expect to finish the season with a winning record and a good seed in the Wickenheiser Cup,” senior Nick Balestra said. “It’ll take a lot of work, but if we all come together and play to our full potential then we have a good chance.”
Half of the players feel that this will be the only year that Parkway West can have a championship team due to the seniors the team will be losing at the end of the 2015-2016 season: Hasan Baig, Nick Balestra, Jordan Wojtak, Jacob Ransom and Braden Storner (out-of-district player).
“From last year to this year, the team is trying to become a family and giving everything we have on every play for our family,” Ransom said. “Commitment is the most important trait for players on this team to have in order to achieve success.”
However, the team says they will need some help from the school to help perform at their highest potential.
“The more fans and the more noise present at the games will definitely help us get more pumped and more prepared to get a victory,” said senior goalie Jordan Wojtak. “The sound of the fans cheering for us helps me get in the zone to get a W.”
The next hockey game scheduled is on Friday, Nov. 19 versus Parkway South High School.
“The team will need the school’s support to get the first victory of the season,” fan Alex Karrenbrock said.