By Maya Rosado – Staff Reporter 

The Milford Mariners boys ice hockey team, a co-op with Law, Foran, and Platt Tech, has big plans for the rest of their winter season.

The team was 6-4 last year and is currently 1-3-1 with many games left in the season where they plan to make their mark. 

“A goal of ours is to qualify for states,” Law junior Connor Chirico said. “A personal goal is to score 20 goals on the season.” 

Chirico, a center, often takes draws for the Mariners and has three of the team’s seven goals on the season. He is one of five boys on the team from Law. 

The Mariners have a challenge as the boys come from all different schools in Milford.

“Playing with kids from different schools is a little difficult because we don’t see each other in the halls and we can’t bond at school,” Foran junior Chris Adkins said. 

Some of the players don’t feel much of a difference not going to school together.

“It’s not much of a difference because you spend most of your time together at practice and games anyways,” Chircio said. 

The boys make up for this difference with fun team traditions that bring them together.

“My favorite team tradition is that after every game the coach chooses the best player that game to get a cowboy hat to keep until the next game where there is a new winner,” Chirico said.

Hockey also differs from other sports as twice a week they have morning practices beginning before school at 5:30 a.m. Many other athletes say they couldn’t imagine this, but believe it shows the boys’ dedication and spirit.

“The morning practices were hard at first but once you get in a routine they aren’t that bad at all,” said Chirico. 

The team is excited for their upcoming games against Newtown/New Fairfield on January 12 at 6 p.m. and January 15 against Newington Coop at 5:15 p.m.