Anna Monette

53 Wins and More: Reflecting on the Girls’ Hockey Season

March 26, 2026 by Anna Monette

The girls’ hockey team, seen here celebrating their fourth Northwood Invitational championship in a row. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

The girls ended their season this Sunday, finishing with a 53-18-2 record and ranked 7^th in the country. Along with two tournament wins and having all seniors continue their hockey and academic careers in college, this group showed what it means to play Husky hockey and work hard.

Although the team fell short in the league championship game, losing 3–2 to NAHA in double overtime, the result does not diminish the resilience and determination they showed all year.

For the seniors, the final game carried an even deeper meaning. Not only did it mark the end of the season, but also the end of their time at Northwood and their youth hockey careers. For many, the reality of it all did not fully set in until the final whistle blew. In that moment, everything—from early morning practices to long weekends and cold winter days—felt worth it. It’s something many would do again without hesitation.

This year’s team was especially close-knit. Despite early doubts from others who believed the team was “too young,” the players proved otherwise. They grew together throughout the season, building strong chemistry and continuing to trust the processes every day, which led them to one of the top rankings in the country.

This group definitely raised the bar for the teams to come and set a new standard for future Northwood teams.

Filed Under: Sports

Looking Forward to Spring at Northwood

March 20, 2026 by Anna Monette

As many students wrap up their sports season, the weather starts to get nicer, and snow starts melting, many people wonder what they are going to do with their free time. Here are some of the many activities Northwood students enjoy during the Spring.

Playing Spikeball after dinner is a popular spring activity at Northwood. Photo provided.

One of the most popular activities is Spikeball. Many students got a preview of this in the fall when we played before dinner, but in the spring, Spikeball is played almost all night until students are forced to go inside for study hall. Spikeball can sometimes get very intense, but it is always a fun time. It is also a wonderful way to talk to people you have never talked to before.

Another fun activity is hiking up Cobble. Now that the snow is melting, it is easier to get up, and the short hike offers a great view. I especially recommend doing this during sunrise or sunset to get the full effect of how beautiful the place we get to call “home” is. Cobble is always a fun time, whether it’s with a huge group of people or just you and a friend.

Atop Cobble in the spring. Photo by Eliza Quackenbush ’25.

An activity that is still done in winter but is much more enjoyable in nicer weather is a walk around the lake. In the past, many students would stop at Starbucks along the way to grab a refreshing drink during the warmer months. However, this spring, the Starbucks location that students often visited was closed, which changed the experience a bit for those who enjoyed making it part of their walk. Also, sometimes hockey players will put on roller blades and roll around the lake instead of walking. Either way, walk or roll, this is another great way to spend your time during spring and enjoy the company of others, or enjoy a walk and the beauty Lake Placid has by yourself.

Last but not least, and definitely a favorite among all students, is Northwood Beach. Although it will be some time before this is open, you can promise that at least half the Northwood students will be there on a nice, warm day. It is the perfect place to swim or kayak, enjoy the sun, and play lawn games.

Although many students are sad as their season comes to an end, there is much to look forward to about spring at Northwood.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Pre-Game Ritual Penelope St-Pierre ‘27

March 12, 2026 by Anna Monette

This edition of student-athletes’ pre-game rituals features Penelope St-Pierre ‘27. This is part of a series of articles about student-athletes’ pre-game rituals. Read them all here.

Penelope St-Pierre ’27. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“Before a game, it would be rare that you would hear me say a word. I get up super early on game days, and the first thing I do is text my dad, my biggest supporter. We will talk about hockey and have a good laugh. If we play early in the morning, I don’t eat anything, but if we play later, I will eat something. But I hardly ever eat before games, and if we have two games, you’ll always find me eating chicken or pasta with fruit.

“ Two hours before the game, I always have my headphones on, listening to my music. That’s my focus time. I’m in my bubble so I don’t hear anything around me. As soon as I arrive, the first thing I do is put on my hockey socks and change for warm-ups. On the road, Meg and I always sit beside each other in the locker room. I always warm up in slides; it’s been my ritual since the beginning of the season. No matter how cold it is, I will always be in slides. After warming up, I take five deep breaths to calm myself down and release the stress and pressure. Then I will go look at the rink and the ice for a little.

“About 20 minutes before the game, I sit alone against the wall. I talk to myself, I say positive things, and I remind myself why I’m here and all the sacrifices I’ve made to get here. I do that for about 5 minutes. About 15 minutes before the game, I start getting dressed. My skates are always the last piece of equipment I put on. It takes me about five minutes to get fully dressed.

“Then, I leave the locker room and sit on the floor across from Franny and Gilly, and we talk about hockey. About eight minutes before going on the ice, I go back to the locker room with my coaches. I am always the last to sit down and I splash some water on my face.

“Here we go! Our team always has two songs that we have a ritual for, and then it’s game time! And finally, after the team cheers, I always do my handshakes with Reese, Annette, and Sara.”

As told to Anna Monette ’26.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: PreGameRituals

Humans of Northwood: Rylie Griffiths ’26

February 25, 2026 by Anna Monette

“My favorite place to eat in town would be Jimmy’s 21 Eatery. Their Italian food is amazing. I always get the chicken parmesan. I also love the atmosphere, especially when we get to sit at the end of the restaurant overlooking Mirror Lake.

“Growing up from K to 12, I only had three girls in my class, and all the boys were in hockey, so naturally, it was something I wanted to try. It was hard to convince my mom to switch from figure skating, but as soon as I put on hockey gear at a birthday party, she couldn’t take it off. And ever since then, I continued to fall in love with the sport.

“The quote that inspires me is very simple, but I heard it nonstop growing up. My dad would always tell me, ‘The worst they can say is no.’ I still live by that today, and I apply it to all areas of my life as it forces me to have several plans when I take action on something.

“I heard about Northwood through hockey. When looking to play prep hockey in the States, the first thing an advisor told me was to play for a great coach. As soon as I toured and met Gilly, I knew I could develop as a player under his coaching style. This made my choice on where to go easy.

“Northwood is special to me because of the one-of-a-kind opportunities you get to experience. It has been a privilege to work, learn, grow, live, and laugh alongside people who were strangers in September and quickly became family.

“Once I graduate, I will be attending Post University in southern Connecticut to play Division I hockey in the fall. I will be studying finance and look forward to travelling back and forth to NYC in my free time.”

As told to Anne Monette ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Students Gather on Campus for Super Bowl Celebration

February 23, 2026 by Anna Monette

Before coming to Northwood, most students either spent Super Bowl Sunday with their families or did not watch the game at all. This year, many students who were on campus pushed couches together and gathered around the TV to watch the game as a group. Many described the night as having a very “home-like” feel.

Students gather in the living room to watch the Super Bowl game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Photo provided.

The crowd was made up mostly of girls’ hockey players, skiers, and members of the 16U hockey team, while many other students were still traveling for competitions. Although only about half of the group was actively watching the game and the other half was there mostly to socialize, everyone had a great time. “It was so much fun. I always watch it at home with my family, so it was so special to be able to do it here,” said Autumn Kelly ’26.

The dining hall helped make the night feel complete by providing classic Super Bowl food, including pizza, wings, and vegetables with ranch. Sitting together, eating game-day food, and watching on the big screen made it feel like a break from the usual routine.

Although the football game itself was a little on the boring side, since neither team had much offense, students still enjoyed watching the commercials and talking about which ones were their favorites.

Students gather in the living room to watch the Super Bowl game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Photo provided.

There was also a big debate about the halftime show featuring Bad Bunny. Many students thought the show was shorter than usual, and others didn’t enjoy it simply because they don’t listen to his music. Other students loved the performance and got up to sing along. “I love Bad Bunny. I thought his performance was quite good, even though a lot of other people thought otherwise. I found it very interactive, especially when he was talking to the camera almost like he was talking to us through the TV, and I loved his message about inclusivity,” said Sara Martin ’26.

Overall, it was a great night and a great way to bring the community together.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Girls’ Hockey Takes on the Toboggan Chute

February 10, 2026 by Anna Monette

The girls’ hockey team had a much-needed off weekend, and although it was mostly full of rest, about half the team took on the toboggan chute in Lake Placid. This was the first time for many of the girls, and although they passed by it daily, they either did not have time or were too scared. It was a fun time for all of us, and we were glad we did it.

At the toboggan chute. Photo provided.

Although it was very cold us nine bundled up and walked down though the lake at right after brunch “I’ve always wanted to do this and even though I’ve been here for three years ever winter seemed to pass by and I never had the time to do it” Oceanne Thiffault-Michel ’26 said “Being a senior I’m so happy I got to do it and ever happier I got to experience it with my team”

Normally, it is $10 for kids and $20 for adults to go down, but since we went to Northwood and were considered locals, we got to go down for free. We waited about 30 minutes, which was not a warm wait, but it was worth it. “It was definitely a cold wait, especially because we took the lake across, so my feet were already cold, but the wait seemed to pass fast since we were all laughing and talking during the wait,” said Ryan Erster ’27

About to launch down the toboggan chute. Photo provided.

Once at the top, we realized it looked much steeper than it did at the bottom. We separated our group into a sled of five and a sled of four. Once we were up, we all started to get excited. “I did this once before when I was about four years old, so I do not remember anything. I will definitely remember, and I will also remember how scared I was before my sled took off. I was on the first sled to take off, and after the guy assured us that we were safe, we were pushed down. I screamed a lot on the way down,” Said Lily Pratt ’26

Once we finished this fun, thrilling adventure, we immediately went to Fresh Tracks to get hot chocolate and end a great day.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Students Reflect on Favorite Dining Hall Meals

February 3, 2026 by Anna Monette

As I was sitting in the living room on any other night, a conversation about the dining hall and its food began, and people eventually shared their favorite dishes and why. We mostly talked about lunch and dinner since breakfast is always the same. I learned that chicken is the most popular meat. Here are some of Northwood students’ top meals.

Pasta is a favorite of many students, as is a custom wrap. Photo by Anna Monette ’26.

Starting strong, one of the most popular answers was General Tso’s Chicken, also known as Orange Chicken. The whole dining room gets excited for this. “I have even heard alumni come back and ask, ‘Do you guys still have orange chicken?'” said Charles Pigeon ’26. “Orange Chicken always hits the spot,” he added.

Another very popular answer was chicken nuggets. This is a lunch we often have that no one seems to complain about. Although they are basic, Northwood students love them. Reese Combe ’26 and Brennan Poole ’27 both said they loved chicken nuggets because “it is chicken nuggets—you cannot go wrong,” said Combe.

Last but certainly not least were the beef tacos. These are my and many other Northwood students’ favorite meals. Although it’s all taco shell and ground beef, it never fails to be a great meal. Tessa Barton ’27 and Jacob Slagel ’26 say it’s their favorite, too. “It’s my favorite because you can make it your own,” said Barton.

Another couple of meals mentioned were a burger bar, chicken and rice, chicken pot pie, hot dogs, quesadillas, and more.

As you can see, Northwood students like very basic food and are incredibly lucky to have a different meal cooked for them every night. Even if they do not like the main meal, students are happy; they can choose pasta, salad, a sandwich, or more.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

The Senior Night Tradition Continues

January 27, 2026 by Anna Monette

Although the Northwood tournament is always special, it was especially so for the Girls’, Varsity, and Prep hockey teams, who had their senior night games. All the teams celebrated their seniors by having their names called, sharing their future plans, and then taking a picture on the ice with their family and loved ones. After their senior games, all the teams celebrated by having a “senior dinner.”

Seniors from the Varsity Team. Photo provided.

The boys’ varsity team has ten seniors. The senior varsity dinner was held in the Olympic Center banquet room, where they ate, and then the seniors received water bottles to remember their time at Northwood. “It’s my second year at Northwood and second Northwood tournament, and it was such a special night for the nine other seniors and me, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the parents and underclassmen,” said Harry Vant ’26.

Girls’ hockey has nine seniors, and had a very special night planned for them. The night began before the on-ice ceremony, in the locker room, when each underclass player gave a senior their senior basket. “It was crazy to see all the hard work the underclassmen did for our night, between the baskets and locker room being decorated, it was a great and emotional night,” said Anna Monette ’26.

A decorated locker in the girls’ locker room. Photo provided.

Seniors on the girls’ hockey team. Photo provided.

After the game, they celebrated with a senior dinner at the Voco hotel in Saranac, having dinner, a senior slideshow, and much more. The seniors also received Northwood blankets. “It was a great night celebrating all we have accomplished, and being a three-year senior, it was especially special for me, but the season definitely isn’t over yet,” said Monette.

The Prep team has 14 seniors; they celebrated their senior dinner at Big Z bowling alley. “The dinner was a lot of fun. We bowled, there was a golf simulator and even arcade games we were all playing,” said Charles Pigeon ’26, one of two third-year seniors on the Prep team.

The gifts given to the prep players. Photo provided.

Seniors (in hats) and the Prep team at Big Z’s.

“It was a fun night to celebrate all the seniors. I enjoyed the food and bowling as well as getting to know my teammates’ families a little more. For the gifts, each senior got their own water bottle and a custom hat. It was special because it celebrated all the boys and their hard work. Watching other seniors move on was always sad to me, and now I feel it is that time for me,” said Parker Thompson ’26, the other third-year senior on prep.

Senior Night during the Northwood Tournament was a meaningful way to honor the hard work, dedication, and memories made by each senior, making an already special weekend even more unforgettable.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Humans of Northwood: Loelie Lachapelle ’26

January 23, 2026 by Anna Monette

“One of my secret talents is drawing. It is not much of a secret anymore because most people know how much I love it, but it is also something I love to do that people do not expect from me. Drawing keeps me busy when I am bored and gives me a way to relax and express myself creatively.

“I started playing hockey when I was four years old because I wanted to be the first female hockey player in the NHL. When I told my dad, he said hockey was a boys’ sport, and I think after that, something inside me was motivated to prove him wrong. That mindset has stuck with me ever since and continues to push me to work hard.

“I like Northwood because it has given me the chance to grow as an independent person. Being away from home helped me become more confident and responsible, and it also allowed me to connect with people in ways that were harder for me back home.

“The quote I live by is Wayne Gretzky’s famous saying, ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ This applies to my everyday life, especially when I am unsure whether or not to take a risk. It reminds me that you only grow when you step outside your comfort zone.

“My favorite meal at Northwood is definitely the beef tacos.

“Next year, I plan to continue both my education and hockey career at Boston University, where I hope to study architecture. Playing Division 1 hockey has always been a dream of mine, and I am incredibly excited to be a part of the BU hockey program. I am looking forward to this next chapter.”

As told to Anna Monette ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Girls’ Hockey First American Team to Win Canadian Tournament

January 21, 2026 by Anna Monette

The girls’ hockey team participated in the Ottawa Geegees Tournament earlier this month, where they faced off against some of the top teams in Canada and came out of the tournament with a banner and a championship win. “This was a great start to the new year, the team was working together really well, and you could tell we all wanted this win,” said Captain Kate Elbrecht ’26.

Photo provided.

The girls started the weekend strong with a 5-0 win vs the Junior Oilers, but that night they lost 6-5 to the Blue Water Hawks, even after crawling their way back in the third. “We definitely didn’t play our best on Friday night, and if we had played how we played in the third, I think we would’ve won,” said Kenna Gillis ’27.

On Saturday, the girls put their game faces back on and came in focused, pulling off an overtime win that advanced them to the semi-finals. The semi-finals were also a very tough match, but the girls kept working, and with Summer MacLean ’28 scoring a beautiful overtime goal, they advanced to the finals. “It was a great feeling having that goal. It was definitely a battle and team effort all game, and I was just happy we got the win and were headed for the chance to win a championship,” said Summer.

In the finals, the girls faced off against the 2nd-ranked team in Canada, the Limoilou Titans. This game was exciting from start to finish, with the game remaining scoreless until about 2 minutes left in the third when Rylie Griffiths ’26 had a great shot from the blue which buzzed past the goalie. The game ended 1-0 with Northwood’s goalie Oceanne Thiffault ’26 standing on her head all game and recording a shutout. After five games of hard work, the Northwood girls raised the banner and became the first American team to win the Geegees tournament!