High School Team Not Only Hockey Winner in Town

The Wilmington High School boys hockey team earlier this year. But those Wildcats aren’t the only hockey champions in town.

During the Valley Hockey League playoffs earlier in April, Wilmington's youth program skated its way to a total of seven championships. Five teams won their divisional championship, while a pair of squads won conference finals.

“Wilmington High School’s program can trace its roots right to Wilmington Youth Hockey Association,” said WYHA president Joe Kippenberger. “The coaches and staff here instill a passion into the players to want to play this game at its highest levels and that transpires into a successful feeder program for the high school.”

During the most recent youth campaign, the Mite 1’s, Mite Blue, Squirt 1, Squirt 2 and Peewee 2 each snagged divisional championships. The Squirt 1 and Squirt 2 teams, meanwhile, were the local squads to win their conference finals.

According to Kippenberger, Wilmington was one of just two teams to earn five individual level championships. The other was Andover, which features a much larger program than Wilmington’s.

“All of these championships show the strength of our overall program,” said Kippenberger. “Hockey builds self-confidence, self-reliance, sportsmanship, teamwork and respect for others in our children so we are not just successful on the ice, but we are instilling values and habits that will serve our players for success in life.”

While Kippenberger said WYHA provides a big boost to the high school program, he also said the older Wildcats have the same impact on their youth hockey counterparts.

“Because of the high school’s achievement, it put a resolve into the WYHA players to share in the same kind of success,” said Kippenberger. “It is hard to find anyone that plays this game that doesn’t love it, and that is a testament to the people that teach it and donate their time for the betterment of our youth. That is town pride.”