Junior Heredia is a senior at South Windsor High School and is entering his fourth year as a varsity athlete for the school’s hockey team. He has played hockey since he was six years old, starting with the town’s youth travel team. Growing up, the sport was a family affair; his father played, and Junior and his brother often played street hockey with their neighbors.
“It is a big jump from youth travel to high school, takes a lot of commitment but it is a sport filled with fun with great team bonds,” Heredia said.
The commitment required for the team is significant. The athletes practice or play games every day except Sunday, both on and off the ice. Unique among high school sports, ice time presents a financial challenge, as the team must pay for each hour on the rink. This means that time on the ice is valuable because it is limited and expensive.
Another challenge the ice hockey team faces is the abnormal training schedule. Practices often require athletes to wake up as early as 4:30 a.m. to train before school starts. Practices consist of an hour on the ice every day, with an additional hour off the ice reviewing film on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The season runs for roughly 12 weeks from December to February, often following pre-season work from September to December.
Heredia, who wears jersey number 10, is known for dominating the center position as a passer and was the team’s top goal scorer last season. He lives and loves the sport for its quick pace, physicality, and the brotherhood of the team.
“Junior is a well-rounded player, he’s everything you’d want to see in an athlete, he’s versatile, he’s shifty, and he’s a leader on and off the ice,” said senior teammate Evan Dunn.
The team’s biggest challenge this year will be facing Glastonbury on their senior night. Heredia reports that key players to watch this season include Senior Cameron Lawler on defense and his sophomore brother, Matteo Heredia, who plays left wing.
Heredia is excited to enter his final year of high school hockey with a team composed of strong, experienced seniors and new, eager freshmen. He hopes the team will win games and qualify for both the CCC and state tournaments. In the future, he hopes to continue having fun by playing intramural hockey in college.
