Three games into the season, the Greenwich High School girls ice hockey team has exhibited plenty of positive signs, all of which can enable it to re-emerge as a contender in the always competitive FCIAC.

“We’ve got some depth, our roster is now 22, so that’s an increase from last year,” Greenwich head coach Doug Jebb said following the Cardinals’ home game against Ridgefield on Dec. 21. “We have a JV team, so we’re rebuilding the program and taking good steps.”

Depth is only one of the positive signs the Cardinals displayed in their game against FCIAC foe Ridgefield on Dec. 21 at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink. Greenwich received goals from five players, got excellent defensive play and strong goaltending in skating to an impressive 6-3 win over Ridgefield.

Balanced scoring, depth, solid defensive play and goaltending – those are the characteristics the Cardinals have shown through their first three games, two of which resulted in victories.

Greenwich (2-1) was edged in its season-opener by Guilford, 1-0, then defeated Wilton at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink, 3-2, before doubling-up Wilton, this past Saturday. A longtime contender in the FCIAC, the Cardinals are coming off a tough 3-12-1 season and are motivated to put themselves back among the top teams in the conference.

“We’d love to finish in the top four of the FCIACs and tonight was a big step there,” Jebb said of the Cardinals’ victory against Ridgefield. “We’re 2-0 in the FCIAC, beating both Wilton and Fairfield.”

Captaining the Cardinals are seniors Aubrey Roth and Lexie Carino. Both have been a part of the Cardinals’ ice hockey program for several seasons, bringing experience and skill at their respective positions. Roth is a forward on Greenwich’s first line and Carino is one of the Cards’ key defenders. She is currently sidelined with concussion symptoms and hopes to return to the ice in several weeks.

“As my second year as captain, I want to try to continue building from last year,” said Roth, whose three older sisters, Delaney, Sophie and Kelsey also played varsity ice hockey at GHS. “I didn’t think we had as great as a season as we wanted last year, but I think with a great underclassman class we are looking to be more successful and we’ve shown that we are so far.”

As Jebb noted, Greenwich’s 2024-2025 roster includes 14 sophomores and freshmen, so the program is set up nicely for the future.

“It’s a young team,” he said. “But we’ve got good leadership and the young skaters are responding really well to the speed and the energy level that they see in the FCIAC.”

Carino shared the same sentiment about the squad’s athletes.

“There has been a lot of progress made on this team,” Carino said. “I was really excited to see a bunch of freshmen joining this year. They are really talented and they have contributed a lot already. They have gotten a bunch of goals.”

Since she is currently sidelined, Carino is providing the all-important leadership and motivation that captains bring from the bench to her teammates.

“I’ve been out for a bit and last year that might have had a bigger impact since we had a shorter bench, but this year, they have held their own really well and have won their last two games,” Carino noted.

In Greenwich’s triumph over Ridgefield on Dec. 21, freshman forward Miren Woolven scored two goals, while Roth tallied one goal and one assist. Senior forward Stella Buddy, sophomore forward Daniela Pedlow and freshman forward Charlotte Dengl-Kelly added one goal apiece for the Cardinals, who held a 2-0 lead on the Tigers after the first period. Sophomore defender Sasha Yeterian, sophomore forward Mady Jones and freshman defender Hailey Dreher each assisted on a goal in the winning effort.

“I thought the team’s performance went really well,” said Buddy, who has also competed on the varsity squad for several seasons. “We actually had a film session before our game and that was really imperative to how we played. We really focused in practice on shooting low and fast to get in between the slot and I think with all of our goals, they were all on the ground. So, I think it was really helpful to do that.”

Buddy gave Greenwich a 1-0 lead on Ridgefield, scoring from close in off an assist from Yeterian with 11:37 remaining in the first period. The goal came after Cardinals freshman goalie Eleanor Woolven made a save off a shot from Ridgefield senior Addison Avery-Payne.

“It was just between my linemate Daniela and I,” Buddy said of her game-opening goal. “We always work on rebounds in practice, so it was really nice to connect. It was a great pass by my teammate Daniela and a lucky shot by me to get it right in that slot where she wasn’t.”

At the 9:05 mark of the first period, the Cardinals increased their lead. Pedlow tallied, giving GHS a 2-0 lead with the assist going to Jones.

“I think we played really hard and we played team hockey,” Pedlow said. “We played as a team, there were great passes. My goal, I had an assist. Stella’s goal had an assist. There was great passing, we had a great team connection and everyone was communicating.”

Just 45 seconds into the second period, the Cards converted another shot, making it 3-0. Dengl-Kelly snapped a shot past Ridgefield’s goalie from the right faceoff circle after receiving a pass from the boards from Dreher.

“It popped out of the corner and I just took it and shot it and it went in,” Dengl-Kelly said of her tally.

Throughout the FCIAC matchup, GHS succeeded in keeping the puck in Ridgefield’s zone the majority of each period.

“I think we did pretty good, we had it in their zone for the entire game and had very good shots,” Deng-Kelly said. “I’m so excited to see what the team can accomplish.”

The Tigers trimmed the Cardinals’ lead to 3-1 when sophomore forward Kelsey Gotti scored off an assist from Rose Idone at the 11:48 mark of the second period. However, GHS regained its three-goal advantage.

Roth went with her backhand and put the puck past Collins, as it bounced off her pads into the net, giving Greenwich a 4-1 edge with 5:18 to go in the second period.

“I think we’re looking really promising,” Roth said. “We have a very young team, but they’re all really skilled. They’re not looking like freshman, they are playing really confident and they’re looking great so far.”

Roth skates on a line with Dengl-Kelly and sophomore Eleanor Fine. Miren Woolven scored Greenwich’s final two goals – both coming late in the second stanza. Her first goal was assisted by Roth and Yeterian had the assist on her second tally. Miren and Eleanor Woolven are freshman twins.

“It’s been really fun and I really like playing with everyone, everyone has been so nice,” Miren Woolven said. “Today, the ‘D’ was pushing up and getting the puck in the zone and we were spread out and talking more. We were crashing the net.”

Freshman Lily McCartan and Gotti notched third-period goals for Ridgefield. Eleanor Woolven got the win in goal for the Cards, making several standout saves.

Roth, Carino, Buddy, Taylor Carrescia and Chaya Friedman are the squad’s seniors, with Roth and Carino captaining the Cards.

“Aubrey is a returning captain, she was our leading scorer last year,” Jebb said. “She’s a veteran captain, a veteran leader. Lexie Carino provides tremendous leadership. This is her fourth year on defense, so she’s been with us a long time.”

Tate Patterson, Allie Studwell and Daphne Martinez Greenwich’s juniors. Yeterian, Fine, Carlyn Duffy, Rachel Goldenberg, Jones, Pedlow and Hayden Zinker are sophomores. The Cardinals’ freshmen include Eleanor Woolven, Dengl-Kelly, Natalie Allen, Lily Bittman, Dreher, Miren Woolven and Lexi Lisjak.

Greenwich is playing Fairfield Ludlowe at Sacred Heart University today (Dec. 23), then hosts its annual Winter Classic at Greenwich Skating Club on Dec. 28. The Cardinals will face Conard-Hall in the Winter Classic at 1 p.m. on Dec. 28 at Greenwich Skating Club.

The Cardinals return to FCIAC action on Jan. 3 against Trumbull at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink.

“I’ve seen all the seven teams that we play and they’re all very strong,” Jebb said while describing the FCIAC teams. “Every single team boasts at least six good forwards at least two pairs of good defensemen and solid goaltending, so every single FCIAC game is a battle and you have to bring your best. This is the best conference.”

“Last year the record was difficult but we had great spirit and those returning skaters are bringing the exact same spirit,” Jebb continued. “With the infusion of seven freshman there’s a lot of energy.”

Said Roth: “Our goal is to make playoffs in both states and FCIACs. If we accomplish that we’ll know that we have been successful. Also having fun and making sure that after the game we’re happy as a team.”

“We have some ‘D’ that like to skate the puck up and it’s good to have some offense coming from your defense,” Carino said. “We look really good this year, I’m excited.”