Reading, MA — With women’s hockey reaching new heights and finally getting the recognition it so deserves, the Reading Rockets Varsity Girls squad is blazing its own trail of success this season. The Lady Rockets finished the regular season 13-6-1, earning them 9th place.
With a 2-1 win over Tewksbury/Methuen, who was previously undefeated, they were crowned champions of the Brianna McCarthy Memorial Tournament in their last regular season game. “Beating the Tewksbury/Methuen team gave us confidence and better prepared us for who we will face first in the state tournament, Pope Francis, a strong physical team,” says Head Coach Carolyn Avery.
Captains Gianna Bonfilio, Katie McKinnon, and Libby Quinn excel at leadership and “demonstrate what it means to be team players and find success as a team.” McKinnon suffered an injury early in the season but has been the team’s biggest cheerleader on the sidelines.
The team’s top two lines are Danielle Bowers, Payton Curran, Jacki Shimansky, Jesse Talty, Gianna Bonfilio, and Gisella Ciano. “Curran (nine goals, four assists), Shimansky (three goals, eight assists), and Danielle Bowers (five goals, five assists) have great chemistry together and work well to move the puck and create opportunities,” says Avery. “Bonfilio is our leading scorer (21 goals, six assists). She is our best offensive player who we count on each game to spark our offense and score big goals when we need it.” Avery adds, “Talty (three goals, nine assists) and Ciano (two goals, three assists) support her with strong passing and speed.”
Libby Quinn (two goals, 11 assists) and Lily Rodgers (five goals, 12 assists) are the team’s top defense pair. “They are extremely consistent and solid on the back end for us,” says Avery.
The Lady Rockets are fortunate to have two great goalies this year in Rylee Middleton and Madison Lake. Middleton (11 games, two shutouts, 262 saves, 15 goals against, .95 save percentage) and Lake (nine games, four shutouts, 128 saves, 11 goals against, .92 save percentage) provide “a solid backbone that the team can depend on between the pipes.”
Rounding out the roster are Aubrey Fabiano, Audrey Veilleux, Ava Ockerbloom, Ella Connelly, Emily Rogerson, Grace Crowley, Kate Richardson, Kayla Cox, Keeley Salmon, Mackenzie Libitz, Maggie Putnam, Mia Learned, Sage Power, Samantha Toomey, Sarah Dyment, and Manager Molly Crowley. Assistant Coaches are Brigid Avery and John Cain.
Catch the Lady Rockets on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 7 PM at Burbank Arena as they face Pope Francis!
