From day one at the August 17 season kick-off, veteran hockey coach Michele Krisa made it clear to this group of 15- and 16-year olds—the team supersedes any individual player, because hockey games cannot be played or won with only one. It takes the entire team, trusting each other to do the right thing on and off the ice.

Coach Krisa’s focus on team, which includes team tailgates when traveling and group activities, such as their Halloween Helmets practice night, has proved to be a recipe for success. The Charlotte Rush 16U Premier team currently holds an overall record of 11-7-2 and an impressive CHL record of 5-1-0.   

The 16Us opened their season with two decisive CHL wins (10-1 and 5-1) versus the Junior Hurricanes. The focus on good passing and positioning at practice paid off as the whole team moved the puck well and two leaders each earned a hat trick: Captain Adam McNeill and Assistant Captain Aidan Sutter. Additional league play includes two road wins against the Charleston Junior Colonials (4-3 and 5-3) and a win (4-0) and a loss (3-5) versus the Railyard Dawgs in Roanoke.   

Tournament play against skilled competition has helped the team continue to hone their hockey abilities and IQ. After earning a win, tie and loss in the round-robin, the 16U Premier advanced to the semi-finals in their first tournament of the season in Pittsburgh. In October, the team stayed home and participated in the Hemby Cup, where they barreled through the round-robin with three wins, only to come up short in overtime in the championship game.

Their most recent tournament was a great weekend of hockey and fun in South Bend, Indiana over Veteran’s Day weekend. By far, the toughest competition they’ve seen yet—two Canadian teams and one Texas team (tourney champ), they tied for third place and enjoyed a moment of international camaraderie with their northern counterparts after a hard-fought 0-0 tie. They also enjoyed watching the number 5 Fighting Irish defeat number 9 Ohio State in a third-period comeback.

Off the ice, this team won the rink’s Community Service competition for October by giving the most back to the generations that came before them. Next up are inter-organizational scrimmages, another Hemby Cup tournament and a trip to Atlanta to compete against the Fire. But win or lose, it’s all for one, and one for all with this team.