So, I found myself digging into Stonehill women’s hockey recently. It wasn’t something I planned, really. It started kinda randomly a few weeks back. My nephew’s getting into ice hockey, and I was just poking around online, looking at local teams, college stuff, you know, trying to understand the scene a bit better for him.
That’s when Stonehill popped up. I live relatively close, maybe a 40-minute drive if traffic isn’t a beast. I’d heard the name Stonehill College, of course, but never really paid attention to their sports, especially women’s hockey. Curiosity got the better of me. I started looking, just trying to see what their deal was. Are they new? Established? What league are they in? Basic stuff.
Getting Down to It
Found out they transitioned to Division I not too long ago. That caught my eye. Making that jump is a big deal for any program. So, I thought, okay, let’s see what this looks like in practice. I’m a hands-on kinda guy, like to see things for myself rather than just read stats online.
I checked their schedule. Saw they had a home game coming up. Decided, why not? Let’s go check it out. Didn’t have huge expectations, just wanted to get a feel for the atmosphere and see the level of play.
The Actual Visit
- Packed up my old trusty camera – nothing fancy, just my standard DSLR I use for weekend projects.
- Drove over to their arena, the Bridgewater Ice Arena, if I remember right.
- Got my ticket, found a seat. The place wasn’t packed like a pro game, obviously, but there was a decent energy. Lots of families, students, real community vibe.
What I Saw
Honestly, I was pretty impressed. The game was fast. Faster than I expected. These players can really skate. Puck movement was quick, lots of back and forth. You could see they were still figuring things out, maybe adjusting to the higher competition level, but the effort? Absolutely there. Every single player was hustling.
I spent most of the time just watching, trying to follow the plays. Snapped a few photos, mostly trying to capture the speed and the intensity on the players’ faces. It’s tough, hockey photography. Everything happens so fast, the lighting in rinks can be tricky. Got some decent shots, nothing prize-winning, but good enough to remember the day.
What stuck with me most wasn’t a specific goal or save, but the overall feeling. It felt like genuine sport. Kids playing hard, coaches working the bench, parents cheering. It felt less commercial, more about the love of the game and representing their school. Seeing a program in the middle of building something, making that DI transition, it’s kinda cool. You appreciate the grind.
So yeah, that was my little dive into Stonehill women’s hockey. Started as random research, ended with a Saturday afternoon at the rink. Definitely gave me a new appreciation for the college game and the dedication these athletes have. Might even go back for another game sometime soon.
