TWO LANCASTER/IROQUOIS/DEPEW PLAYERS HONORED FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO HOCKEY
–BY RANDY SCHULTZ –Dear Reader:
Just prior to the start of one of their recent hockey games at Holiday Rinks in Cheektowaga, the Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew (LID) Girls Ice Hockey Team honored the two seniors in their team. It was senior night, and like all the other teams in the Western New York Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Federation, LID was honoring their seniors.
What made it interesting about the two LID seniors being honored, Bailey Depczynski and Jenna Grazen, was that the game they were playing in that night was their first of the season.
That’s right, their first.
Both had been practice players on the team and had practiced with LID all year long. But there is even more to the story as Head Coach Dave Santoro and the two players explained.
“To have never played a varsity sport before and to come out and work hard at every practice we had and to support the team every game by being on the bench or keeping stats, I give them a ton of credit,” commented Santoro. “The fact that they had never played the game before also speaks of their dedication to hockey.
“Their heart and determination is why I dressed them for this game. They wanted to be out here and be a part of this team.”
Bailey and Jenna both seemed to be accepted by the team.
“It’s a great sisterhood that we have on the team,” continued Santoro. “The respect they have for each other, from seventh graders to seniors, and the fact that they come from three different schools speaks for itself. It is a unique situation.
“Jenna has provided leadership while Bailey has been like a manager for us all season. They’ve both learned as much as they could about hockey for the short time they have been with the team.”
For Bailey, who attends Lancaster Sr. High School, being with the team has been like a dream come true for her. She actually joined LID for the first time last season and it was her first experience playing in organized hockey.
“I love watching and playing hockey,” said Bailey, the daughter of Kelly and Brian Depczynski. The more I watched it, the more I wanted to play it.
“I’ve found that once you get involved with it, the more you want to play it.”
For Jenna, who also attends Lancaster Sr. High School, this was her first season of hockey. EVER!
“I had been involved with track for about six years and I wanted to try something different,” remarked Jenna, the daughter of Debbie and Mark Grazen. “I wanted to accomplish something else in my life.
“I had a few friends who played on the team. So I decided to try out and I stayed on the team.”
While their playing careers may have been short, their “Senior Night” was one they will remember for the rest of their lives.
