1986 – John Bilodeau

Finishing the First Season

The first season ended in March, 1986 with an 11-4-1 record, a surprise to most, but an expectation by the village to be a winning season at that. Aimee scored the most goals, and Mary Micchice had the most assists. A winning record was a big surprise. A bigger surprise was that this rookie-year team was asked by the AHAUS to represent New York State at the peewee National Tournament in Detroit, Michigan. There were so few sanctioned girls’ peewee teams in New York that in truth, honor should have been granted to the stronger girls’ team from Ithaca, NY. Hell, yes! The girls jumped with joy, both honored and excited to play hockey against the best girls’ teams in America.

The girls’ Clinton Comets team lost convincingly in the Detroit National tournament. The 1986 girls’ peewee United States National champions were from Taylor, Michigan. The runner-up team was from Assabet Valley in MA. Michigan and Assebet Valley have been, and still are, the most consistent winners in girls’ hockey. The Michigan and Massachusetts teams are the powerhouses of girls’ hockey, and have been year after year. Both teams overpowered the girls from Clinton. There were goals aplenty, although Clinton’s only goal in the tournament was by Aimee. The long bus ride back to the village was sad for sure, but the enthusiasm and camaraderie remained strong. Better yet, these twelve girls all could say, “Wait ‘til next year! We’ll be better and will win!!” Girls’ hockey was alive in Clinton, New York.

– John Bilodeau