Every profession has its share of adverse situations, and participation in youth hockey is no exception. Hockey provides a valuable experience towards developing perseverance and resilience, essential skills that benefit far beyond the scoreboard.

Adversity in sports is a constant, and how players and coaches respond to it defines their character.

The easiest way to escape the disappointment is to fold, sulk, and walk away. Those who have courage, resilience and the willingness to push to the end are the ones who are remembered fondly.

Among those folks is Payton Logothety, an assistant captain of the St. James (VA) Hockey Girls 16U Team, which is making its fourth straight appearance in the Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 16U National Championships, all under the leadership of Matt Billman, the team’s head coach.   

On the ice, Logothety is a proficient skater and arguably, according to her teammates, one of the fiercest competitors who embraced every challenge. Off the ice, she provides valuable advice for her teammates.

“Payton’s been with us every step of the way and on the bench supporting the team. If anything, that has had the biggest impact on our team morale because no matter how the game is going, good or bad, she’s always right there with us,” Billman said.

In December 2023, Logothety’s time on the ice found itself in danger as she was diagnosed with stage 4 chronic kidney disease, the last stage right before kidney failure. It was a shock to both her and her family, and panic instantly raced through her mind.

“When I first received my diagnosis, I was in shock,” Logothety said. “The first thing I thought was how it was going to impact my daily life and my future in hockey.”

While the diagnosis didn’t stop her from recording 25 points and seven assists in 51 games during the 2023-2024 season, the physical changes and pain that accompanied her condition began to take a toll on her hockey performance. Logothety said she wanted to continue to support her teammates and push through despite the pain.

Unfortunately, the unrelenting pain forced Logothety to take off her skates and take on the challenge of treatment. Additionally, in June 2024, upon further testing, Logothety learned that the high-dose steroid treatment she had been receiving had caused avascular necrosis, or inefficient blood flow, in both of her hips.

To alleviate further pain, Logothety and her family opted for core decompression surgery. However, Logothety suffered another blow when the surgery was unsuccessful. Still, Logothety has hope that eventually she can come back on the ice.

“The experiences have made me realize that I needed to take a step back from playing in order to prevent further injury. I have to make sure I am constantly hydrating before, during and especially after playing, as well as watching what I eat,” Logothety said. “Deciding to do the full hip replacement at a young age will hopefully give me the opportunity to play hockey for another season or two, before needing a kidney transplant.”

During the season, Logothety did get an opportunity to appear on the ice as she did a warmup lap, skating around by herself before a game to the cheers of the bench.

It hasn’t been easy for the team without Logothety providing both an intense spark and a calming influence, but her presence alone, according to Billman, the other coaches and her teammates, has been a blessing, all doing everything they can to ensure she still has a place on their roster. The team has worn green ribbon stickers on their helmets to represent kidney disease awareness while the coaches wear green ribbon pins on their jackets.

“It wasn’t difficult to ensure Payton felt included,” co-head coach Vanessa DeMerchant said. “We treated her like any other team member, holding her to the same expectations. This was exactly what she wanted, and she responded in kind. From road trips to the required practice arrival times, Payton was present just like every other player on the team. We made sure to encourage her to step up in her leadership role and actively participate in all team activities.”

Natalie Posusney, an assistant captain, says that Logothety has consistently shown the team that through the darkest of times when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel that you can keep going no matter what gets in your way.

St. James captain Naomi Flom added that Logothety has motivated the team’s return to nationals this year.

“I’ve experienced what it’s like to have to cheer our team on from the sidelines, and I know it’s not easy. But I also know it’s well-appreciated by the team,” Flom said. “She demonstrated to us the importance of showing up, as she came to every practice and game she could. Her dedication and constant support for our team have given us motivation all season to become the team we are today.”

Logothety says she misses being able to score goals and celebrating with her teammates and wants to be back on the ice someday. However, Logothety doesn’t take for granted her love of the game and how much she misses being part of it. 

“Between the support and motivation within the hockey family it has made my recovery much easier. In the beginning, the only thing that kept me going was the possibility of playing hockey again and having a normal teenage life,” Logothety said. “The experience this past year has shown me how much I miss this game.”

For St. James’ players, the journey is now about more than just the pursuit of victory, but also honoring the incredible resilience demonstrated by one of their own. Every time they take the ice, No. 90 may not be skating alongside them physically, but her presence, and her voice, will be felt, and certainly heard.

“Most people would let the success or competition become a challenge or let it become a distraction, but not with us. The success, competition, and all that comes with such a high-level tournament only makes us stronger and tighter as a group,” Billman said. “At the end of the day, medals, trophies, and banners just get thrown in a drawer and forgotten about. But a memory will last a lifetime.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.