According to girls’ hockey coach Chris Erickson, the girls’ hockey team took a break off the ice to have a pasta party as a part of a team building initiative. Erickson said he thinks pasta parties are a good way to build a strong team dynamic.  

“I think it builds camaraderie, and it builds the program. I think it’s a way for the girls just to be with the girls and the JV girls with the varsity, and it’s just a good way to build team morale,” Erickson said.

According to Erickson, while the JV and varsity teams may be a little separated, team bonding helps build the girls’ relationship.

“I think it’s always going to be a little separate, but I think that’s a lot because of the age difference when we have a lot of really young girls on JV,” Erickson said. “But I think it helps, and I think with our strong leadership we have this year, it really helps build the team morale throughout both teams.”

According to freshman Erin Broussau, pasta parties help bring the whole team closer together.

“I think that (pasta parties) help bring our team together. They build more chemistry for our team,” Broussau said.

Brossau also said she is very excited for the pasta parties and they contribute to a fun team dynamic.

“They are kind of just fun, and it’s a way for us to all hang out with each other. My favorite part is the food,” Broussau said.

Erickson said the girls normally look forward to the pasta parties because it helps them build friendship outside of the rink.

“They run out of there after practice when they are going to them, and you get an update on how it went, and the girls usually stay later,” Erickson said. “It’s just a way for them to hang out away from the rink and be friends.”

According to Erickson, the pasta party was held Jan. 19.