Even though the SouthCoast was down to one co-op girls hockey team in Bishop Stang this past winter, many local schools were represented with participation from Bishop Stang, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Apponequet, Fairhaven and GNB Voc-Tech as well as Durfee, Dighton-Rehoboth and Somerset Berkley.
Here’s a look at The Standard-Times‘ top girls ice hockey players from the 2023-24 season.
GIRLS HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Izzy Duarte, Bishop Stang Freshman
Izzy Duarte was playing for more than herself and her team every time she laced up her stakes this past winter for the Bishop Stang girls ice hockey co-op.
“My grandfather (Frank Willard) passed away during the season,” she said. “That motivated me to try a little harder.
“Before every game I would always tell myself, ‘Remember who I’m playing for and I’m playing for him.’”
Duarte, a freshman, played beyond her years as Bishop Stang’s starting goalie.
“She’s been playing hockey for a long time and she’s been playing goalie for a long time,” said Bishop Stang head coach Bill Theodore. “She puts in a lot of work and does clinics and things like that.
“She got used to the high school game and she got better and better as the year went on.”
WHY SHE WAS SELECTED
With Duarte anchoring the defense, Bishop Stang was able to finish the regular season with an overall record of 8-10-2 and punch a ticket to the MIAA Div. 1 state tournament as the No. 26 seed.
KEY STATS
In 19 games, Duarte allowed just 45 goals for a 2.36 goals against average. She had a .888 save percentage and recorded three shutouts against Arlington Catholic twice and Bishop Fenwick once.
“She is a very good athlete, technically sound,” said Theodore. “She had a way of not letting the previous goal affect her next save.”
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Duarte learned to skate when she was 2 or 3 years old and started playing hockey at age 6 with the SouthCoast Panthers.
“My dad (Joe) played hockey so I got it from him,” said the 14-year-old Duarte, noting that she also has played for the Taunton Bruins, Massachusetts Spitfires and Walpole Express. “I’ve always been a goalie since passing the pads to now. I just love it. I’ve had so much fun doing it.”
Duarte said over the years, she’s developed good instincts.
“I’m trying to think about the next play,” she said. “I feel like I have good vision. I like to know where the puck is going to go before it goes there.”
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