Maddie Soule. / Photo by: Sue Moss
Maddie Soule, a four-year player, will enlist in the Army after hockey season.
Maddie Soule’s importance to the Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake high school girls’ hockey team doesn’t show up on the stat sheet.
The senior defenseman from Hanson has one point this season. It was a goal back on Jan. 27.
Soule’s niche is elsewhere. It’s her leadership.
“She is a great leader and just a good kid,” said WHSL head coach Kevin Marani. “That’s what we need.”
Soule, a team captain and four-year varsity player, has seen the highs and the lows of the program. After winning back-to-back SEMGHL titles in her first two campaigns, the team has collected just five wins since, as it undergoes a massive rebuild. She is one of just three seniors on the roster.
“[Being a captain] is a lot harder because of our record,” Soule said. “It takes its toll on these girls, especially me, so I to set the tone and keep everyone’s attitude the same and make sure everyone is still committed and giving fill effort.”
Soule described her leadership style as “intimidating.”
“I just feel like people take me more seriously because I’m all business,” she said.
With a passion for leadership, coupled with hockey, Soule will head into the Army after she graduates in May.
“I just knew that I wanted to start doing something right away out of high school,” she said. “I realized going into the Military will help me with my job because I want to go into law enforcement. I’ve always wanted to serve my country.”
Her training kicked into full gear in the fall.
“I met with my recruiter at 5 a.m. at the track at the high school and we worked out,” Soule said.
Being a hockey captain also works to her benefit.
“Making sure everyone follows has prepared me a lot for the future,” Soule said. “Hockey prepared me with mental toughness and physical toughness so I can take hits and get up.”
Soule said her memories as part of the WHSL girls’ hockey team will be everlasting.
“I’ll remember my freshman and sophomore year when we were back-to-back league champs,” said Soule. “My sophomore year we were two games away from going to the Garden.”
Soule said she hopes she left a permeant stamp on the hockey co-op.
“I kind of helped build the program, my freshman year it had just started, so I feel like I was part of starting it,” Soule said.