According to senior captain Elena Basill, the girls on the hockey team have adjusted to the merge with Hopkins and are working well together.

According to Basill, the Park girls enjoy playing with the Hopkins team, which has a record of 5-4-0.

“I know for sure the varsity group has meshed really well together, so I think it was a really good fit for us to join with Hopkins,” Basill said.

Varsity coach Chris Erickson said the teammates haven’t had issues playing together.

“The girls have worked well together, and I don’t think there’s been much drama,” Erickson said. “They’re cohesive and they seem to get along.”

Junior varsity player Makayla Jones-Klausing said even though Park isn’t represented on the jerseys, the girls still feel part of the team.

“When it comes to being in the locker room and spending time with the Hopkins girls, I think we are treated as equals and where you’re from isn’t an issue,” Jones-Klausing said.

The schools combined well together after only knowing each other for a short time, according to junior Anna Gleason.

“I think we’re connecting really well,” Gleason said. “(We’re) just playing well together, for not having played together at all.”

The bonding helps the team grow and unite, according to Erickson.

“They have worked together off the ice and on the ice. I think that really helps the development of the whole team together,” Erickson said.

Jones-Klausing said she thinks Park and Hopkins have successfully reached out and united the team.

“I feel like bonding has gone pretty well between the two schools,” Jones-Klausing said. “People are branching out and getting to know more girls.”

The next game takes place 12 p.m. Dec. 28 at Braemar Ice Area against Stillwater.