The Lakers hockey team started their season just a few weeks ago. The team has some rebuilding to do after they lost seven varsity seniors last season. However, they gained some new additions to the varsity team, one of them being senior Peyton Lyndon.
Lyndon has been playing hockey since she was 8 years old. Her love for the sport began from playing iceless hockey in elementary school. From there, she was inspired to play ice hockey and eventually was enrolled in skating lessons to pursue her dream of taking the ice.
Lyndon started playing with a house league and throughout her career she played for teams like the Vipers, Milwaukee Jr. Admirals and now, the Lakers.
Also on the Lakers is senior Remi Merrill who has been playing hockey for about ten years and is planning to continue his career after high school, whether that be in college or with a club. Although Merrill and Lyndon have only been playing together for a short time, they have already been positively contributing to each other’s mindsets.
“She’s always in a good mood and she always tries to make people laugh,” Merrill said. “She’s more like the class clown on the team.”
Similarly, junior Alex Frank also explains that Lyndon is always willing to talk in the locker room and never fails to bring the energy to the team before games and practices.
Playing on the boys hockey team has definitely been an adjustment for Lyndon.
“The pace is so much faster,” Lyndon said. “Like they’re just guys, so they’re bigger and stronger. So you have to work 10 times harder and it’s honestly way more physical.”
While making the new adjustment, Lyndon also has to face the stereotypes of being a female playing a sport that is typically f0r males.
“Even when I’m playing, I will do something that should be called a penalty, and the refs won’t call it because I’m a girl and I notice that and other people notice that too,” Lyndon said.
These stereotypes do not go unnoticed, even to those who play on the same team as the girls.
“I definitely think some if not most women hockey players are underestimated due to the sheer fact that they are female,” Merrill said.
Despite these underestimations, Lyndon continues to play her hardest at each practice and game. Her positivity and good attitude are very apparent on the ice. As the season continues for the Lakers, Lyndon and her team will continue to try their best and stay motivated until the spring.
