By Dan Shine
Voice Columnist
West Haven Girls’ Hockey League
1972-1980
Part III
Teamwork is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there. ~Virginia Burden
Bennett Rink, 1975: Thirteen-year-old goalie Maureen McDaniel stepped out on the ice and paused for a moment: The cold ice rink always had a certain feel to it just before a game, and she would always remember the cold air and the scent of the ice. Tonight would be the championship game of the 2nd East -West Girls Invitational Hockey Tournament for Conlan’s All Stars, and the rink’s seating was completely empty. Maureen turned around and entered the locker room to join her teammates, gear up and prepare for the “Big” game. Although the locker room was full of excitement and music, each player dwelt with her own thoughts and hopes.
An hour later, not to the team’s awareness, enthusiastic fans proceeded to enter the rink. Coach Keith Sweeney entered the locker room and said, “We have a crowd out there,” gave them a pep talk and said, “Okay, let’s go.” As the goaltender, Maureen led the team onto the ice. When she hit the ice, she was shocked to see that the rink was absolutely packed with over two thousand roaring fans—it was standing room only. For Maureen, it was like a dream come true: Playing with her sister Cheryl, her entire family watching, and the tremendous support of the community. She blocked 81 shots that night.
Maureen was nicknamed “Cat” by coach Sweeney, in recognition of her exceedingly quick response time in keeping the puck out of the net. Over the years, she had the opportunity and support of Mike Violano, a former standout goaltender for West Haven High School. Mike was just a few years older, and worked patiently with her to hone her skills, as the other coaches did the same for her teammates.
Today, she smiles as she says, “I don’t want this story to be about me: It wasn’t like that at all. It’s about a great team—the Conlan All-Stars. The team effort got me to where I am; we were supportive of each player and we did it together. We all looked out for each other, while we were on and off the ice. In the end, we had become a hockey family.”
Many fond memories were shared by Maureen of the years playing hockey: The countless road trips with the team and their families, playing against the boys hockey team, representing the United States in the Gurka Cup in Sweden, playing on the same ice as the USA Men’s Olympic Hockey Team when they won the gold Medal in Lake Placid – Conlan All-Stars won too! Reflecting back, she is grateful to play with three of her sisters (Cheryl, Melanie and Marilyn), her younger sister Dawn cheering the team on (Conlan All-Stars little mascot) and finally, her daughter Morgan, ironically at the age of thirteen, in the stands at Edward L. Bennet Rink witnessing “mom” playing ice hockey, knowing that the Conlan All-Stars paved the path for young girls to play the great sport today—Ice Hockey!
Note: This writer was totally overwhelmed by the volume and quality of amazing responses and the enthusiasm received upon gathering the information needed for the writing of this story. In twenty years of writing this column, there has never been anything like it.
They were girls, and they were a team, and they were equals, and their honor was shown in the way that they always acted in support of each other. Today, as mothers and grandmothers, some retired, they continue to stay in touch, and support each other like the family that they consider themselves to be. ~DRS