The South Boston Youth Hockey girls travel teams are true pioneers in the City of Boston for their sport.
Southie Girls U14 and U12 teams pose together after a practice.
When the South Boston
Angels started out about 10 years ago there were no tryouts,
that's because anyone who wanted to play was welcome. They
simply needed players and this resulted in girls 9 and 10
years old playing with teens. But this wasn't league founders
Don Foley, Mary Balaconis and Teddy Cunniff's biggest obstacle,
finding someone and somewhere to play was. The city game was
predominantly a boys sport and the girls had to lobby hard
to be included in tournaments.
Longtime coach Andrea Flaherty told Online how the girls had to travel across the state and into Connecticut in search of opponents. "What started out as a handful of girls will grow into four teams at four different age groups next year" said Andrea. Last year the South Shore Conference formed a girl's hockey league that includes Southie as well as Hingham, Weymouth, Quincy, Milton, Braintree and Canton. The league has helped cut down in the travel and resulted in more playing time. "Southie has sent many girls to play in college and local high school varsity rosters are full of our present and past players" proudly stated Andrea.
A few seasons back a Southie 10 and under team went the entire year without a win. They went to an all boys Greater Boston League tournament and walked away the champions; this speaks highly of the competitive nature of the Southie players and coaches. In the beginning the Southie girls "had to fight their way" into the Mayors Cup annual tournament. Once cleared to play the girls quickly proved they belonged winning the tournament a handful of times over all boys' teams.
Girl's hockey seems to be one of the fastest growing local sports. The young ladies involved love to play and are dedicated to working hard on improving their skills. South Boston Youth Hockey has produced many NHL stars so don't be surprised if in the near future we have a player or two on the female U.S Olympic hockey squad as a result of all the hard working coaches and parents involved in the league.
S.B. Angels U19 team includes Coaches Rick Jenness and Mary Balaconis, players Elizabeth and Katie Balaconis, Mariella Collins, Jordan Delano, Alexandra Devlin, Jacqueline Durant, Justine Forcione, Megan Graham, Kristin Jenness, Lauren Kostka, Erin Noonan, Anne O'Brien, Katherine Pavone and Ursula Volosevich.
S.B. Angels U14 team includes Coaches Dan Conroy, James Baker and Scott Lampron, players Victoria Baker, Olivia Collins, Maura Conroy, Kaila Connolly, Susan Cunniff, Michaela Cunningham, Taylor Curley, Lauren Doran, Trystan Hogan, Jessica Lampron, Taylor Lavey, Erika Leard, Miranda Mahoney, Katie O'Brien, Cailin Pagel and Brena Walsh.
S.B. Angels U12 team includes Coaches John Picariello, Andrea Flaherty, Patricia Conroy and Mark Flaherty, players Danya Brooks, Rachel Carroll, Emily Casper, Katelyn Coe, Samantha Curley, Jessica Egan, Catherine Flaherty, Rachel Forcione, Marisa and Micayla Gifford, Brittany Miller, Taryn Picariello, Jenny Pollard, Hannah Powers, Jacqueline Sullivan, Ann Taylor and Kerri Yetman.
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