Girls Hockey Co-Captain Peyton Kennedy ’25 grew up surrounded by hockey. Her mother, a former championship-winning Division I hockey player, was the first person to introduce her to the sport. Her younger sister’s involvement with the sport further piqued an interest in Kennedy.
Kennedy has led the team as an offensive player for the past two years, currently serving as an Co-Captain. Though typically quiet, Kennedy has grown to use her voice as well as her skills to help engage the team.
“I would say I am a player who kind of goes around everywhere. I am a hard forechecker, but also have a defensive mindset… I see the [defensive] zone pretty well and anticipate what the other team’s defense is going to do and pick up in front of the net. As a person, I would say I try to bring energy but am quiet by nature. When I am really focused I am pretty quiet, but I have gotten better at being louder as I get accustomed to this new role,” said Kennedy.
According to teammate Corinne Spade ’27, Kennedy has navigated a solo captainship well this Winter Term. With Co-Captain Molly Boyle ’25 currently competing with the U.S. National Team in Switzerland, Kennedy has taken more initiative on the ice.
Spade said, “Peyton has really taken a big leadership role. She leads the warmup and drills on her own, and she has really stepped up. She has really great leadership skills and sets a great example for all of the players on the team.”
For Kennedy, hockey is a community centered around building relationships with teammates who become good friends.
“[My favorite aspect of hockey is] playing and competing alongside my best friends. It is so amazing being able to do what I love with people that I love. I would say we have a tight-knit group, which makes every aspect so much more enjoyable,” said Kennedy.
Spade noted that Kennedy’s infectious energy on the ice creates a well-balanced space for fun and competition.
“Peyton has a really positive attitude and she is really funny and always has a really light heart. She makes the space feel really welcom[ing] and she is always there to pick you up after a bad play,” said Spade.
On the ice, Kennedy pressures opponents to regain possession of the puck, along with creating offensive plays for her teammates. Sarah Lackley ’26 highlighted Kennedy’s well-rounded skills as an offensive player.
“She has really good puck protection and she has a lot of good passing, with chips up off the boards to her teammates. She gets a lot of pucks to the net and buries a lot of rebounds which helps us take advantage of a lot of scoring opportunities,” said Lackey.
Kennedy anticipates a successful season with her teammates who share similar ambitions as her. She commends the players for recognizing their role and helping the team achieve its shared goals, such as winning the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) this year after falling to Williston Northampton School in the NEPSAC finals last year.
Kennedy said, “I think GVH [Girls Varsity Hockey] is special because we all have similar goals, whether they are small goals like bringing energy to practice and communicating on the ice, or a long-term goal to win the NEPSAC. We are on the same page and that makes things easier. We all have different roles to play and I think everyone knows that we each need to do our job for the team to succeed.”
