The 2023–2024 season was a season of struggle for the Warriors, as they finished 0-26. Despite all of the hardships, the team kept working diligently till the very end.
Their schedule was made up of some of the highest-ranked teams in the state, such as Liggett, Country Day, Gabriel Richard, Birmingham, and Trenton. Although many of their games ended in losses, they were not defeated and kept a positive mindset.
Captain Jimmy Olbrich said, “Towards the end of the season, we started to build a more positive culture and show positivity, and hopefully that positive culture continues as the team moves forward for the next upcoming seasons.”
The team only consisted of four seniors, so they were a very young team that had little experience and chemistry, leading them to struggle. This did not stop the warriors from moving forward. They were able to keep their heads high through their good communication and determination.
The first game of the season was against Southgate, which resulted in a close loss with a score of 3-4. Later in the season, they played Huron with another close loss with a score of 3-5.
Senior defenseman Reid Philabaum says, “One thing that we could have worked on this year would be not getting down on ourselves. In most games, if the other team scored a goal, we would just get angry at each other and say we couldn’t come back.”
Towards the middle of the season, the Warriors had another close game when they played Grosse Pointe North on their home ice and lost in overtime with a score of 4-5. Olbrich carried the team by scoring two goals during this game. Senior wing Colin Robbins says, “I achieved to try and pass the puck more to open up opportunities, and this could help build more communication.”
As the end of the season approached, the Warriors started to play the highest-ranked teams not only in the league but also in the state. They played Ann Arbor Skyline and ended the game with a close score of 2-4. This gave them a sense of renewed confidence to keep working and fighting for a win.
Senior forward Brandon Ridings said, “This season was harsh, but it has taught me more than any other season I have played; it has taught me to never give up on anything. Things may not go your way in life, but at no point should you just give up. It has helped me grow as an athlete because it has taught me how to be loyal as a teammate. When you give up, you’re not giving up on just yourself, but your entire team.”
The team went into their regional quarterfinal game knowing it would be a hard battle, but unfortunately lost against Carlson and ended their season there. Although this was not the season they had hoped for, it was a season that helped them grow as a team on the ice through their communication and mindset skills, as well as off the ice by developing friendships that would last a lifetime.
