By Carter Barry ’25 & Ava Veronneau ’24
Last weekend was the infamous Girls Varsity Hockey vs. Faculty game. Here at Gunn, this is our Super Bowl, a modern take on the Hunger Games. The arena is the Linen Rink, where greatness is put on show. The two competitors consist of the legendary Girl’s Varsity Hockey team, whose season record currently stands at 2-3, and a select few of some of the beloved faculty members either in it for the fun or reliving their glory days on the ice. This may have seemed like an easy win for the girls, but the student section at the game knew they were in for a treat when Mr. Richards showed up in skates and sweatpants. It is rumored that girl’s hockey coach Dan Allen carried the faculty team on his shoulders with a stellar performance, and expert Mia Merrill ‘25 raved of his “buzzer beater” to tie the game with a second left. And in true Gunn hockey spirit, the faculty won in overtime ending the game with a 4-3 win.
Although the epic game gave the gunn community some laughs and the chance to see some favorite teachers slipping and sliding down the ice, the incentive of this game bodes great importance to the community.
Organized by GVH’s Ryleigh Gagnon as part of her Civic Changemaker project, the game raised money for Morgan’s Message, which supports student-athletes with mental health problems. The Civic Changemaker Project is completed by every senior as a way to cultivate each individual into acting on convictions and taking civic action. These projects involve various activities, including civic media-making, alliance-building, or a meaningful and intentional service project. Students work on these projects for weeks and even months. It is a way for students to grow closer to themselves and our community through an act of service.
Morgan’s Message works to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health among high school and college athletes. Along with this, they work to empower individuals who suffer in silence and support those who feel alone by creating a platform for advocacy. The “Chuck A Puck” competition occurred between the game’s two periods. With 1 puck for $2 and 3 for $6, all the proceeds went to Morgan’s Message. It was a great way to incorporate competition and raise money for a good cause. “Morgan’s Message holds a special place in my heart. Growing up playing hockey surrounded me with friends who have struggled with mental health, and I wanted a way to combat that. By choosing this organization, I became more aware, and it allowed me to help spread awareness to other members of our community,” says Ryleigh. By completing her Civic Changemaker Project, Ryleigh was not only able to educate herself but also educate all of Gunn on the stigma around mental health in athletes through an event that the community will always cherish and remember.
The game was a smashing success, however some speculate that the referees did not play fair. It is widely considered taboo to hate on the officials as a losing team. But sources say that the refs, Ryan Rutkowski ‘25 and Taylor Brown ‘24 handed out many power plays and breakaways. Whether or not they sold the game for the girl’s hockey team, the 4-3 loss speaks for itself. We’re looking forward to an awesome rematch next year and keeping the annual Girls hockey vs. Faculty game a wonderful Highlander tradition!
