Conant Hockey Stars Embrace Fresh Avenues on the Ice

This winter, five student athletes from Conant discovered a new platform for their hockey aspirations, with Tristin Herr, Kaden Kirby, Kam Castricone, Sophia Spingola, and Aerowyn Schwertz collaborating with players from Monadnock and Fall Mountain to establish a joint NHIAA program.

It has been three years since the boys’ hockey alliance between Conant and ConVal was disbanded, and now, the Conant girls had to make a similar decision as neither institution could arrange ice time for their matches. Fortunately, Conant was welcomed by Fall Mountain and Monadnock into their new combined squad, the Monadnock Mountaineers.

For senior Herr, the Mountaineers provided a renewed chance to skate for his educational institution.

Following his freshman year with the Griffins, the boys’ program was dissolved, leaving Herr to engage in club hockey until this current season.

“I’m genuinely thrilled to have this opportunity to be part of this team,” Herr remarked.

With the inclusion of Monadnock-Fall Mountain-Conant, seven out of the nine NHIAA Division III boys’ hockey teams are cooperative units consisting of players from various school districts.

The Mountaineers showcase a combined jersey featuring a Husky, a Wildcat, and an Oriole behind the logo and stripes representing Monadnock green, Conant orange, and a red closely resembling Fall Mountain maroon.

That’s the uniform that junior Kirby dons each game night before heading out to fulfill his role as the starting goalie. Kirby’s elder brothers were among the initial players for the ConVal-Conant boys’ team. However, with that option eliminated as he entered high school, he opted for the basketball team. Just a year ago, Kirby was suiting up for a team that would ultimately reach the state championship match, but when hockey became a possibility again, he seized the opportunity.

“Hockey has always been one of my favorite sports,” Kirby stated. “It has always been. Being at the rink brings me so much joy. I’ve thought about both sports, but ultimately, hockey just gives me more happiness when I play.”

Junior Spingola was elected captain of the ConVal-Conant girls’ hockey team at the conclusion of the last season and she dedicated her summer to prepare for a significant season as an experienced leader among the Griffins.

“Ever since I became aware that I wouldn’t be able to compete in high school hockey, it has been a constant thought,” Spingola recalled. “Griffins has played a vital role in my life since my dad began coaching years ago, so leaving that program, coupled with the possibility of not having a season this year, was a tremendous loss for me.”

Currently, Spingola and Schwertz are collaborating with the Mountaineer boys, adapting to diminished roles and rule modifications while striving to integrate into the team, something Spingola noted is easier than one might anticipate.

“Naturally, being one of the few girls on a boys’ high school squad was a substantial adjustment, but the boys on this team have made it quite smooth,” Spingola expressed. “The kindness and support I’ve encountered not only from the coaches but also from the boys on this team has been unparalleled. This group has welcomed me as they would any other member, and aside from the fact that I’m in a separate locker room for practices and games, I really don’t feel different from them. The level of competition and intensity on the ice is incredibly thrilling to witness and participate in, and I feel fortunate to compete at this caliber.”

The Mountaineers host their home matches at Keene Ice, which used to be the ConVal-Conant Griffins’ venue. Griffins girls’ coach Chris Spingola mentioned he was informed at the end of last winter that Keene Ice would no longer be available to host the Griffins.

“At the conclusion of the season, Athletic Directors Larry Pimental from ConVal and Heather Linstad from Conant, along with myself, began searching for a rink that we could use as a home facility,” Chris Spingola stated.

They explored every possible avenue – including their previous venue at Winchendon School, ConVal’s past home rink in Gardner, and locations as far away as Henniker, Manchester, and Nashua, but none could provide adequate practice and game time. Chris Spingola revealed he even suggested an entire schedule of away games, but that desperate measure was not sanctioned by the NHIAA, resulting in the Griffins’ season not occurring.

“The families and players that have been part of our program were prepared to do whatever was necessary to keep it alive, but the shortage of ice time was too significant a challenge to overcome,” Chris Spingola remarked, adding that he intends to continue making efforts to maintain the Griffins in the upcoming winter.