A tale of two seasons ...

In Charles Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities, he begins with the iconic line, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." The 2024-25 LHS varsity hockey season has reflected this sentiment in many ways, unfolding as a tale of two seasons—one of triumph

and success (the best of times ... the first 8 games), followed by a period of challenges and setbacks (the worst of times ... the last 9 games).

It’s almost unbelievable that a team that started 5-3 against a tough early-season schedule—just two one-goal losses away (one in regulation, one in overtime) from a 7-3 start—now has only one win and one tie in its last nine games. For those keeping track, that’s a 1-7-1

stretch. Even as I write this, it doesn’t seem possible, especially given the talent level on this team! After those first eight games, no matter how I projected the possibilities, not once did I foresee a scenario where we’d end up with just one win in the next nine. In fact, the statistician in me would call that such an extreme outlier, it barely fits within the bell curve - but here we are!

We’re not going to dive into the how’s and why’s—everyone likely has their own thoughts and theories. But with three regular-season games left and no path to the playoffs, my hope for the boys is that they can regain their confidence, enthusiasm and effort level which has been subdued now for about five or six games. These last games are an opportunity to play for the seniors and build some positive momentum heading into the offseason.

It’s been a tough stretch, even for the most optimistic fans and parents, but let’s hope we can end on a high note!