Rounding up the 2023-2024 DeMatha prep hockey season, members of the team are hopeful for the future to come. Kalen Wells, a senior on the prep team, gave a few words about how he feels the season went.
Kalen Wells, a senior on the prep team, said, “Unfortunately, the season was not what we anticipated, finishing low in WCAC seedings. I was disappointed with our overall performance this year.”
The hockey team ended with an overall record of 2-32-1 and like many organizations that undergo a tough season, Kaylen sees this year as a learning experience and growth period for DeMatha hockey. “Regardless of how I feel this year went on the ice, I am hopeful for next year’s team. They have the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and pull together the pieces to make a full 180 from this year.”
There are three graduating seniors on the team this year. In fact, the roster included just eight total upperclassmen to go with 12 underclassmen, so next year’s class will be full of youth and hopefulness.
When asked about the health of his relationship with other members of the hockey organization, in spite of the poor season statistics, Kalen spoke very highly of his teammates and his coaching staff who he says “stood together through the storm as a family.”
He described his relationship with his teammates saying they are his “brothers, and no win or loss could separate that.”
“Win or lose, I have nothing but love and respect for our coaches. [Head coach] Tony MacAulay and [assistant coach] Todd Mercier have been outstanding teachers and role models for us both on and off the ice.”
Todd Mercier is an alumni of Dematha and former captain of the hockey team in 1991. “With his extensive knowledge and wisdom of the game, over the course of the season they did an outstanding job teaching us the ropes,” Kalen said.
Overall, through the ups and downs of this year, the team stuck together, and now they get to look forward to a new year. Goalie Wyatt Stezney is confident the team will improve because they will be “led by an experienced core and have a lot of room to develop so we can make a run in the playoffs.”
