Considering the team has players that already travel long distances to be there for games and practices, even on a good weather day, the weather can make it even more challenging. But that doesn’t faze the coaches or players, nor the parents, in getting the girls on time to the hockey rink.

It certainly didn’t stop them on their way to qualifying for the 2017 USA Hockey Girls Tier II 14U National Championships in Troy, Michigan.

“There are plenty of times when we receive lots of snow, but you get used to it because New England is part of the country where you have to be ready for that,” said Breakers Head Coach Brian Kennedy. “As hardy New Englanders, we deal with it.”

While weather conditions are just temporary, one might think that maybe the many miles that some of the kids and parents travel to get to practice or the game would be a deterrent. Not so, says Kennedy.

“We have a number of girls that travel between 20 and 40 miles to get to our home rink and you would think we would get a call off from maybe 6 or 7 players for any given practice or game schedule but that’s not the case here,” explained Kennedy. “We have a commitment from everybody, both the girls and their parents.”

For example, Macey White, an eighth-grade honor student who is one of two goaltenders for the Breakers, is one of the long-distance travelers, but she never calls off or is a no-show. Attending important things like practice, regular season games or her teammates keeps her coming.

“Macey is a three-sport varsity athlete at her local high school in Sandwich,” said Kennedy. “She is really proud of the fact that she does not miss any hockey-related activities. She just loves to be with her teammates and nothing stops her from coming to the rink. She is just an amazing girl and one of many on our team that makes that kind of a commitment.”