Every experience must end, whether we want it to or not. There will eventually be a last time when hockey players tie their skates, put on their gear, and laugh with their teammates. To hockey players, the rink isn’t just ice; it holds the memories they have clung onto for years. Memories built in late practices and early games, through tough losses and earned wins, with teammates by their side from the start. As the HSE Hockey A seniors approach the end of their high school careers, they reflect on the memories that made their time at HSE special.
For many players, those memories go beyond the scoreboard. They live in the locker room after a big win, on long bus rides to away games, and in the moments shared off the ice. Whether it was team bonding, rivalry victories, or playing in front of a packed crowd, each memory helped shape their experience on the team.
Senior, Evan Fandrei reflects on a moment that stood out above the rest.
“My favorite [moment], especially this year, was playing at the Fishers Event Center, [we] were the first high school hockey team to do so, and with the big crowd, [it] got my adrenaline going,” Fandrei said. “Overall, [we] just had a great time.”
This represented more than a normal game for the seniors. Playing in a full arena for the first time, and being the first hockey team to be there, made the night more special than the final score. For Fandrei and his teammates, it served as a reminder that their time at HSE was about more than wins and losses; it was about the time spent together and the legacy they will leave behind. And these memories weren’t just about the games. They were in the locker room after a big win and on the long bus rides to away games.
Senior Cam Young recalls one of those nights where he bonded with his teammates:
“[For me], there were too many memories to choose from but hanging out with the fellas, like going to hotels and eating out together,” Young reflects. “Spending quality time with the guys [matters], because it goes by quick.”
Those experiences may seem small, but they are what makes the season special and memorable for the players. Spending quality time outside of hockey not only strengthens their bond but forms friendships that will last long after high school.
