Sports

Swampscott Skater's Team Takes National Championship

Molly Conner's hockey game is never on ice. She has been playing since she was 6.

Here is Q & A with Swampscott hockey enthusiast Molly Conner.

Molly, president of the Swampscott Historical Society, has loved hockey since she was 6 years old.

She was a pioneer on ice, lacing up skates at a time when very few girls played the sport.

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She also has a history of playing for winning teams.

Back in the day she played for a team called the Polar Bears, and competed in the national championship.

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Her hockey odyssey continued at the University of New Hampshire where in 1990-91 she played on the Women's ECAC Championship team.

Back in 2010, she played in Detroit in the Women's B Division National Championship.

Molly recently skated on a national championship hockey team.

Below, we talk to Molly about the tournament and what's next for her on the ice:

When and where was the championship?

Tourney held from April 25th thru 28th, in Ellenton FL (near Tampa).It was the USA hockey women's recreational over 40 tier 2. How is that for a title?! :-

How many games did you have to win for the Cup and what was the final of the final? How did you do? Goals? 

We played in 5 games, winning the first 2, losing the 3rd in sudden death on a penalty shot.

Game 1: 4-3

Game 2: 4-0

Game 3: 1-2

Semi-final game 4: 5-1

Final: 1-0 !

We were the only team to score on the Texas Stars in the whole tournament. We played them in the 3rd game (we had both won our previous games so it actually didn't matter who won, except for seeding in the semi-finals). And played them again in the finals.

It was pretty funny seeing them so organized with a special warm-up, coach, 3 lines and pre-game calisthenics, ie, we had none of that.

I ended up scoring in every game but the finals. It was a great team effort! Everyone stepped up and we got better as the tournament went on.

We killed penalties, played short when people were hurt, many different people scored and a fabulous leg save at the end of the final when they had pulled their goalie and we had a player in the penalty box!

I am really proud of this group of women.


Any other North Shore players on the team?

The closest other player to the North Shore in Reading, Kathy Newhall


When does hockey start again for you?

I have my final tournament of the season in Walpole in 2 weeks. The Walpole Women's Hockey Tournament which raises money for ovarian cancer research.


And what would you say to a young girl if she was thinking about playing hockey?

If a young girl wanted to try hockey, I would say go for it! It is exciting, great exercise, a place to make friends and challenge yourself. It can be a game that can last you your whole life. I love it!

 



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