Skating into the New Season

The Ice Cougars kicked off the 2025 high school hockey season this week. Although they suffered a tough loss in their season opener against the UC West Mavericks, the Cougars rebounded with an exciting victory over the Northern Ice Hawks, led by the strong performance of junior Ethan Walters. This year’s team returns eight players from last season, bringing invaluable experience and chemistry to the ice. Their experience, paired with the promising talent of new players, positions the Cougars to make a strong run this season. 

Unlike other teams in the conference, Charlotte Catholic is the only high school in the area that fields a team composed primarily of players from its school. All other schools do not have enough players to form their teams, so they combine athletes from several schools in the area. This collaboration spreads talent across the teams, making the games more competitive while fostering camaraderie among players from different schools. To determine team rosters, athletes attend tryouts, after which they are grouped to ensure balanced competition across the league. Once assigned to a team, players typically remain with that team throughout their high school careers in order to facilitate player development and foster team spirit. 

Sophomore defender Brody Hertzig looks forward to the high school hockey season every year and is determined to help the team make it to the championship game this season. After two strong seasons that ended in disappointing playoff losses, he is more motivated than ever to make a run at the title, saying, “The team is improving every day, and our chemistry on the ice is getting stronger, which will definitely help our playoff chances.” Right wing Ethan Walters echoes his sentiment, saying, “This team has what it takes to win this year’s state championship. We are dedicated to working hard, supporting each other, and making a serious run at the title.” 

As the Cougars gear up for their next game against the UC East Eagles, they hope to build on the momentum from their recent win and focus on advancing to the playoffs. The team typically plays two games a week at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail. The team hopes Catholic students will come out and support the Ice Cougars as they make a run for the title!