Pictured last season against DS, Krista Anderson (2) will serve as one of three co-captains for Medfield/Norton girls hockey in 2021. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The world has changed since the last time the Medfield/Norton High School varsity girls hockey team took the ice.
In 2021, the Warriors will play a condensed 10-game, TVL-only schedule and there will not be a state tournament. Players will get dressed at home instead of in locker rooms, and will be required to wear masks at all times. Depending on the capacity of each rink that Medfield plays in this winter, limited numbers of fans will be allowed to attend games.
Even with all the uncertainty surrounding the situation, the unorthodox rule changes and no ultimate goal of a state championship, the Medfield and Norton girls still have a lot to play for this season. Leading Medfield/Norton in 2021 will be three senior co-captains: left wing Krista Anderson, center Taylor Guindon and defenseman Brenna Smith.
"We had made some goals at the beginning of the year and our goals were to win at least 80 percent of our games (8) and to have a team bond just like the strong one we had built last season," said Anderson when asked about her team's general goals heading into the new season. "It’s almost the same team with just a few new freshman, so the chemistry is already there - [we] just [need to] make it stronger. We want to try to make this season as normal as possible."
As far as the new rules and COVID protocols, Anderson says she and her teammates are certainly going to have their hands full with the adjustment process. Still, Anderson says she and her teammates are fortunate for the opportunity to play hockey together and in front of their families.
"It is very different playing hockey during COVID, since we obviously have to wear masks and that makes it harder to breathe," said Anderson. "Also, we have to be socially distanced on the benches, so they make us spread out along the bench, which can be hard trying to figure out lines with the distancing - but we are getting the hang of it. It’s super unfortunate that we can’t get the locker room, because that was one of the best parts of playing hockey: making those connections with teammates and making memories. The other captains and myself are just grateful that out home rink [Rodman Arena in Walpole] allows our parents to come to the games, because I know the other captains and myself want our families there for our last season."
At the time of print, Medfield/Norton will host Norwood on January 6 to open up their season, followed by a road date with Norwood on January 9.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
