Players from two cross town rival schools came together under one jersey, forming a hockey team built not just on skill, but on trust, leadership, and shared purpose to win state. Rather than division, the team has created a culture of unity that has made them one of the top teams in the state.
“As captain, my role is to help lead and motivate the team,” said Cutter. “When you bring players from different schools together, leadership matters even more because everyone has to feel like they belong.”
Every player must feel they belong. From the beginning, the team focused on chemistry instead of differences. Despite coming from separate schools with their own traditions, the players quickly found common ground.
“Since I’ve been on the team, I don’t think there’s really been any bad blood,” Cutter said. “We’re able to get along with each other very well, and that made it easier to become one team.”
“The red versus blue does not really affect us,” Ellenwood said.
Instead of letting their school rivalry’s divide them, they leaned into it to make them stronger together. They used their differences which led them to grow closer on and off the ice. Even during the two schools’ rivalry week.
“During Mudsock week it adds jokes in the locker room,” Ellenwood said. “It adds a fun aspect to the group as we get guys from both schools.”
Through the years, that unity has shaped Cutter not only as a player, but as a leader. Bringing together two groups with different backgrounds required communication, and accountability skills that go beyond hockey.
“I’ve learned a lot about leadership and how to connect two different groups of people into one,” Cutter said.
After four years together, the team has become more than just a shared roster it has become a family.
“It means a lot because all four years, we’ve been able to come together as a family, see more than just ourselves, and be a top-tier team,” Cutter said.
“We have all played together for a while, so our bond has been growing since we were younger,” Ellenwood said.
