by Chase Sondike ’26

After a tough couple of weeks, the Warriors on ice are looking to flip the script on their season. The Warriors currently sit at 3-3, but this record does not fully match the roster’s capabilities. The team has shown flashes of what they can be, but consistency has been the biggest challenge. After most recently taking on the league’s top team, Churchill in a brutal loss, the Warriors aim to bounce back with two games in the final full week before winter break. They faced off against Wootton earlier this week on Tuesday, December 16, and now gear up for the final game before break against B-CC this Friday.

Though the team’s record may not show it, they have shown signs of greatness in parts of their up-and-down season. One of the bright spots for the team has been standout goaltender Aidan Pesek. The sophomore transferred to Sherwood, coming from St. John’s, and has immediately made an impact. Pesek acts as the team’s safety net, relieving a lot of pressure off some of the younger defenders who have had to step up. On a team still looking to find there footing, the netminder has been a consistent wall, protecting the Sherwood net.

“I think that this team has all the talent we need to achieve any and all goals we have set for ourselves,” said Pesek. The Warriors have the tools necessary to start stringing some wins together, and Pesek believes that their team bond will only help propel this. “What we have that other schools do not is the closeness and brotherhood among teammates. I think the chemistry and the ability to push one another on and off the ice is something that sets Sherwood apart from other teams.”

Senior captain Cam Calandro, as well as sophomore Vaughn Teeter, have also been beacons for the Warriors despite the season not going as well as they had hoped. Both Calandro and Teeter are the number 1 and 2 point leaders, respectively, for the Warriors. The freshman class as a whole has also stepped up significantly, providing heavy minutes, especially on the back end. Four freshmen have already taken charge and are an important part of a steady defense.

Looking ahead, there are four games remaining in the regular season, including Friday night’s puck drop against B-CC. The Warriors look to make the rest of their season count and start playing with the ability that they know they have. “Our goal is to win all of our remaining games of the regular season. With the group we have on this team, there is no opponent we cannot beat as long as we play together as a team and play to our potential,” said Pesek.

As the calendar moves deeper into December, the Warriors aren’t looking at what went wrong earlier in the season, but are rather alternatively focused on what’s ahead.