Before entering high school, freshmen Lucca Martini and Leo Kwon skated with the upperclassmen who would later become their teammates.
To prepare for the speed and physicality of high school hockey, and get to know the players and coaches, 8th-grade hockey players are invited to spend time with the team in the spring to get experience before team tryouts are held in the fall, Martini said. Martini and Kwon proved themselves capable of skating with the older players, Jimmy Philbin, Boys’ Varsity Hockey Coach, said.
“During tryouts, we completed evaluations and made our decision on whether or not the freshmen were ready to compete against the upperclassmen,” Philbin said. “Kwon and Martini are very skilled and talented players, and they both played well during tryouts.”
Martini, who first played hockey at 3 years old, began competing through the Glenview hockey program by the time he was 8, he said. Martini said he became interested in hockey because he often spent time at the rink while his older sister figure skated. Although he is the only person in his family who plays hockey, watching the sport and being around the rink motivated him to start playing, he said.
When Martini first joined the varsity hockey team, he was on the quieter side because he did not know any of the other players, but spending time with his teammates on and off the ice has helped him become more comfortable and confident, he said.
Competing against older players also pushed him to play faster and improve his hockey IQ, Martini said. He also had to learn to balance the demands of practices and games with his increased high school workload, which was another adjustment from middle school, he added.
“My goal is to be playing at a level where other people do not think of me as just a freshman,” Martini said. “I want to be at a level where they think I am playing well compared to the seniors on my team.”
While Martini initially struggled to become comfortable with his new teammates, Kwon found the adjustment relatively easy, he said. Having played the sport for about seven years, Kwon was inspired to start playing by both his mother and grandfather, he said. His biggest adjustment was competing against older and faster players, but the upperclassmen and team captains helped him become comfortable with the change, Kwon said.
“It is a great experience to play varsity as a freshman,” Kwon said. “It was scary at first, but the upperclassmen are really nice and supported me a lot.”
Beyond developing their players’ athletic abilities, the coaching staff emphasizes building relationships and creating a supportive team environment. Players are encouraged to treat one another like family, regardless of their grade level, Philbin said. This helps younger players feel included among the upperclassmen, he added.
“We welcome all players that make the team and take care of each other no matter what,” Philbin said.
As the freshmen begin their varsity careers, the coaching staff hopes to help them develop both as players and as students. Philbin said he wants both Martini and Kwon to learn how to handle the expectations of varsity hockey while continuing to grow throughout their high school careers.
“I want them to learn how to succeed at the varsity level both on and off the ice,” Philbin said. “They will be great players to watch over the next four years.”
As the season continues, both freshmen hope to contribute to a team that they believe has the potential to compete for a state championship. Martini believes the team’s experience and chemistry gives them a stronger chance of success in the future. Martini pointed to the team’s wins against highly ranked opponents as evidence of its potential. He said those games have shown that the team can compete against strong competition.
“I want to win state this year, and I think we have a good shot because this is one of our best teams in years,” Martini said.