West Haven Voice

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Historian’s Corner

By

Conlan All-Stars 1978-1979 –Bottom row: Karen McDonough, Gina Carafano, Donna Bruneau, Cheryl McDaniel, Sue Passender, Maureen McDaniel, Carol Franco, Maryellen DiBianco, Patty Yates, Michele Brereton, Dianne Romans. Back row: Melanie McDaniel, Sue Fogarty, Bridget Stearns, Jennifer Tingliy, Manager-Jerry Calabrito, Coach-Bobby DePascale, Coach-Pete Stephens, Margaret Nolan, Gail Smallman, Chris Kelly, Sue Guertin. Missing: Mother Manager – Marie Carafano.

By Dan Shine

Voice Columnist

West Haven Girls’ Hockey League

1972-1980

Part IV

The name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back. ~ Herb Brooks.

(As written by Maureen McDaniel Celone.)

Conlan’s All-Stars get ready for their trip to Sweden outside the Bennett Rink after ac city-wide effort helped the team.

Resilience, strength, and character are the key personal traits the players on Conlan All-stars share while realizing years later what an experience and great opportunity they had playing girls hockey. After hosting the 2nd East -West Girls Invitational Hockey Tournament in 1975, they played against Choate Rosemary Hall, The Taft School and traveled frequently to Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. The high school aged Conlan All-Stars even played against colleges and universities (many just club teams) for more games and better competition. Eager for more ice time, the team would practice with Yale University’s club team.

In 1979, Conlan All-Stars made history by being the “first” women’s hockey team from United States to be invited to an international hockey tournament in Vestros Sweden – the “Gurka Cup”. This opportunity was driven under the leadership of Mr. Bud Conlan and the amazing community support of West Haven. In November 1978, Mayor Robert Johnson proclaimed, “Support the Conlan Girls Hockey Team Week”. There were countless fundraisers to assist the team to make history for a group of girls ranging from 13 to 19 years of age.

We were a group of pioneering women from West Haven and neighboring towns who travel all over to play a game we love. The special opportunity to play for the Conlan All-Stars afforded Carol Franco the ability to continue a long career playing hockey for Team CT and later the honor of coaching the W.H.H.S. Girls Hockey Team. Patrica Yates Garcia and MaryEllen DiBianco Launder continued the love of the game to become USA Hockey Referees. Donna Bruneau moved on to play at the University of Connecticut. Bridget Sterns from Ridgefield CT recalls being mesmerized as she stood in front of the trophy case of Conlan All-Stars team photos at the Bennet Rink at the age of 14. She was ecstatic to learn that there was an actual girls hockey team in Connecticut. Bridget went on to play college hockey at the University of New Hampshire. Kathy Lenahan Hurley played at Providence College (Captain) and later coached at Yale University as the first female varsity coach. A ballerina on ice, Sue Passender Schryver, played at Providence College (Captain) and currently is the basketball and Softball coach at Emmett Obrien Technical High School.

We were a great team way before our time. A team that played with grit, and each player had the determination and rebellious mindset to play a sport not typical for girls in the 70s.

A common theme from the girls that played for Conlan All-stars, “it was the best time of their life, so proud to wear the Conlan All-Stars’ jersey” and attribute their success to the amazing coaches and “Big Bazoo” AKA Bud Conlan.

Thanks to MaryEllen Launder, Patty Yates Garcia, Kathy Lenahan Hurley, Carol Franco, Bridget Sterns, Sue Passender Schryver, Doreen Paul, Patrica Maher Carrano and Cheryl McDaniel Jennings for their contribution in the creation of this story.