With Battlefield’s successful fall sports season reaching the end of the line, it is time for the winter teams to make their selections and set their rosters in hopes of  having a great season. With Battlefield Varsity Ice Hockey already having their team roster selected by the start of September [see below], the team was ready to go for their first game of the season.

Battlefield Varsity Hockey hit the ice to start their preseason with a 3 to 1 win over McLean High School. Starting off the year facing a foreign team in Reston, VA, Battlefield recorded three goals by three different players in the win: Owen Spicer, Cameron Ramos, and Bennett Dzekian. “It was a great team win,” says Alternate Captain Dylan Carpenter. “This is one of the best teams we’ve had in years, and after tonight I believe that we have a great chance to make a playoff push.” This is Carpenter’s third year as a member of the hockey team.

The team opened up the regular season at the Haymarket Iceplex by defeating Woodgroove High School by a score of 12 to 6. Cameron Ramos lead the team with four goals and six assists on the night, followed by Jason Brady who recorded one goal and five assists, and Nikolai Chernitsky with two assists. The following week, the team faced Woodbridge High School and won by a dominating score of 10 to 0. The game ended via mercy rule as goals were scored by Sean Hoffman, Nikolai Chernitsky, Chris Shannon, Jack Wagner, and more. In the days that followed, Battlefield also defeated Potomac and Dominion.

Junior Ashli Timmons, who is a big fan of the varsity hockey team says, “I personally love the hockey games because the game is fast-paced and the fans get very into it. At the games people actually come to watch the whole game and cheer our players on all the way to the end no matter the score.” Timmons’ fast-paced comment refers to the change in type of sports after the conclusion of the fall season, which usually is headlined by Battlefield’s outstanding football team. Timmons continued by saying, “Some of the games get very loud and energetic. The opener against Woodgroove was a great example.” Now with a record of 4-0, the Varsity Hockey team has their sights set on Oakton and Yorktown in the following weeks.

Hockey games are known to be a great time at Battlefield. Games can bring up to 500 to 600 people in attendance depending on the matchup. Carpenter says, “We really like when we have a big crowd come out. I think that when the crowd gets into it, the guys get motivated to play even better than they already have been.” The game against rival Patriot High School on February 9th is expected to bring out hundreds of people from around the area.

Senior Cameron Ramos added onto Carpenter’s comment by saying, “The team really likes having a big turnout. We’re excited to see who comes out for Patriot. Being our biggest rival, it’s going to be a good one.” Last year Battlefield edged Patriot by a score of 4 to 2.

Battlefield currently leads their league and their division. With such a hot start to their season, it will be interesting to see how Battlefield plays down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Battlefield Varsity Hockey Roster:

Owen Spicer

Malcolm McGlasson

Cameron Ramos

Joseph Gorzka

Andrew Beasley

Dylan Carpenter

Jacob Staples

Jake Kennedy

Connor Owen

Bennett Dzekian

Jason Brady

Nikolai Chernitsky

Jack Wagner

Reese Goetz

Chris Shannon

Sean Hoffman

*Check out Pencil Talk – Episode 1 on YouTube, which covers the Varsity Hockey Team. Our channel is BHSBeat!*