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Meet Addie A Pint-Sized Powerhouse On Ice

photo by provided Addie loves her sport and her idols at the college level!

photo by provided In a recent game Addie only let three pucks by her of the 43 that came her way that game.

Monday November 20, 2017

By Cookie Steponaitis

There was a time when the often rough sport of ice hockey belonged to men but no more. Today there are a growing number of young ladies who are putting on skates and taking on the sport of ice-hockey with the same determination and ferocity as their male counterparts. Addie is one of those up and coming ladies of the ice who is studying hockey at the Norwich University rink and a player who is on hand at the men and women’s games at the college.
    Playing on a co-ed team called the CVSA Capitals out of Montpelier, Addie is at the Squirt Team level but there is nothing miniscule about this little ice-hockey player. She plays on a co-ed team and gets a kick out of being the old female goalie on any of the teams they play in her age division in the state. “I admit I do get a little nervous when I see the puck coming at me,” shared Addie, “but not because I am afraid of getting injured. I just don’t want that puck to go by me and get into the net. I watched Norwich’s Women’s Goalie Celeste Robert, Class of 2017 and she would even dance on the ice in between plays. She made it look like so much fun that I wanted to be like her.”
    Addie’s mom Jenn did explain that she was not excited at first about her daughter’s desire to be a female goalie on a co-ed team. In addition to goalie equipment costing a great deal extra, there is a lot of pressure to never miss a game since she is the only goalie on the team. While safety was never far from her mind she feels a great deal of pride when Addie holds her own against players much bigger in size and weight. Jenn shared, “I know that being a goalie is a tough job and she puts her heart and soul into every practice. She studies the game and whether it is a win or an overwhelming loss she comes out with things she has learned and states she will not make the same mistake twice. I have been known to yell, ‘That’s my girl!’ while pounding on the glass numerous times during a game much to Addie’s embarrassment.” Addie may protest but she loves the family commitment to her new love and especially likes it when she can look up in the crowd and see that her grandparents have made the trip over from Addison County to see her play.
    While it is hard to know what the future holds for this pint-sized goalie, one possible scenario has not gone unnoticed by Addie. Who knows if in the future a petite and athletic goalie may proudly take the ice at Norwich and bring the crowd to their feet and do a little dance like her idol did back in 2017. All things are possible and with the work ethic and passion of this tiny but dynamic athlete it is more than likely probable. The Valley Voice salutes Addie Croteau and all the ladies of the ice who skate because they love it and not because the sport belongs to one sex or another.

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