Wrapping up a long, tiring, and successful season, Walpole Girls’ hockey is finished, on Sunday March 8, 2009, until the new season begins next winter. The girls of Walpole High School were diligent and worked long and hard to make the playoffs for the first time in their history. Although the team did not make it as far as they had hoped, they made it halfway to the Championship.

The team’s first playoff game, against Canton, was an exciting win. The girls hockey team triumphed with a 4-2 victory over Canton in the quarter finals. The girls fought hard during the entire game and played extremely well.  Though the team was jubilant with their win, they knew they needed to focus and work hard in the next game to make it to the Championship.

The next game was the Semi-Finals, which ended up being re-scheduled three times before actually being played. The team was up against Winchester, who had rallied from the recent death of their assistant coach. The Semi-Final game finally took place on Sunday, March 8 at the Stoneham Arena. Both teams had finished their warm ups when an unexpected, yet genuine surprise occurred. Each member of the Walpole team gave a rose to each Winchester player to express their sympathy in the loss of their assistant coach. The game ended with the final score, Winchester 2, and Walpole 0. The season had finished right there and then, leaving the girls of the Walpole High Hockey Team stunned and with no chance of the playing in the much sought-after championship game. The team came a long way from last year by making it into the tournament, which was their goal of the season. The season had a better outcome than previous seasons and the girls should be proud of their accomplishments this season. The girls lost the game, but they won the respect of Winchester asa whole. Speaking with a new member to the Varsity team, junior Jackie Kelliher said, “I wasn’t even going to play hockey this year, but now I am sadder than I thought I would be to turn in my jersey.”

The 2008-2009 season was Head Coach Joe Verderber’s second year coaching the Rebels with the assistance of his father, Teddy Verderber. The girls did not make it into the tournament last year, which was why these coaches deserve much respect for shaping up the team, and getting them into the tournament, never mind the semi-finals. Coaches Joe and Ted spent most of their free time on the Girls’ Hockey program and with their hard work they created a powerhouse team out of the struggles of previous seasons and have much to look forward to in continuing to build the Girls’ Hockey Team in season to come. 

            A hearty congratulation is owed to Walpole High School’s very own Girls Ice Hockey Team for a tremendous fight towards victory in the tournament. Although they fell short of their goal to play the championship game, the team ended the season 13-5-1 and they hope to continue improving for next season. The team scored more goals, had more shots, and saved more goals than last season. This season was a huge step up from last season, and next season should be an even greater leap into their winning ways.  Walpole High School is certainly proud of the Girls Hockey team for their outstanding 2008-2009 season.