Youth hockey hits the ice
Landon Amaral shoots the puck toward the goal. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Daxton Westgate skates across the ice with the puck.
Connor Bryant keeps the puck away from an opposing player.
Nolan Alfaiate makes a shot.
Dartmouth residents on the team; Landon Amaral, Bella Amaral, Nolan Amaral, Harrison Camara, Jameson Fumo, Mason Medeiros and Nolan Alfaiate
Landon Amaral shoots the puck toward the goal. Photos by Kat Sheridan
Daxton Westgate skates across the ice with the puck.
Connor Bryant keeps the puck away from an opposing player.
Nolan Alfaiate makes a shot.
Dartmouth residents on the team; Landon Amaral, Bella Amaral, Nolan Amaral, Harrison Camara, Jameson Fumo, Mason Medeiros and Nolan Alfaiate
The sound of pucks slamming against glass and hockey sticks hitting the ice started off the Youth Hockey Association game on Saturday, Oct. 4 where the Soath Coast Panthers faced off against Quincy and won 6-1.
The Association has existed since 1984, with a team of new and returning players each year. This year's team is a mix of different talents and skill, according to Head Coach Jay Amaral.
Amaral said the season has been “so far, so good.”
“We had a great first game,” said Amaral.
Amaral says next step is getting the kids to play together as a team, have fun and understand hockey as a game.
One of the Dartmouth kids, Jameson Fumo, agreed that it has been a rocky start to the season but that the team is improving.
“I think we’re going to have a good year, so far it hasn't been that well but we’re getting there,” said Fumo, “Today shows that we played a good game, that we tried, and we’re going to get there.”
The team offers kids the opportunity to join a sport and learn life-long skills like sportsmanship and commodity, according to Amaral. Amaral said that he enjoys that the team is able to offer these life lessons through sports at a discounted rate, making the team more accessible.
The team supports each other, with Amaral noting he loves watching the kids grow up and Fumo stating the managers really care and want the kids to succeed.
“We all enjoy hockey, sometimes we blame each other for stuff, but at the end of the day, we all make up, we all go to open skate, we all hang out, all have fun,” said Fumo, “Most of all, we all play really well.”
