WOODSTOCK — It was senior night at Union Arena late in the winter of 2020, and the Woodstock Wasps were celebrating the culmination of girls ice hockey season with their families.
One of the faces in the crowd on that pre-pandemic evening was that of Isabel Konijnenberg, a high school freshman, who decided to take in a game while staying at her family’s second home in Bridgewater.
She left the rink impressed by the level of play, but without knowing a white and green uniform would be in her future.
One year later, thanks in large part to the global pandemic, Konijnenberg is not only skating for the Wasps, but also leading the team with 12 points (including eight goals) in seven regular-season games.
Woodstock (6-1-0) is gearing up for the VPA Division II tournament, which it will enter as the top seed, on Wednesday at Union Arena against either U-32 or Burr and Burton.
Like all high school hockey teams in Vermont, the Wasps got a late start due to COVID-19 restrictions and played an abbreviated schedule as a result.
Soon after they finally took to the ice in January, Konijnenberg officially transferred to Woodstock from Lexington High School in Massachusetts.
She’d already been residing in Windsor County for months, attending school remotely while considering the prospect of making a move.
The sophomore right wing has been a welcome addition.
“As soon as she stepped on the ice, you could tell she was a player,” said Woodstock coach Ian Coates following Tuesday’s practice at Union Arena. “Like, she could skate, she could handle the puck. And then just messing around in a simple scrimmage or whatever, you could see the hockey sense.”
Konijnenberg, who was born in the Netherlands and speaks native Dutch, has filled up the stat sheet since arriving, but she’s also integrated well with her new teammates and coaches.
“One, she’s humble; two, she’s passionate and loves hockey,” Coates said. “So, you have those ingredients right there with a good head on your shoulders, like a nice kid, who is easy to coach, it’s just fun.”
Being the new kid is never easy and Konijnenberg, who moved to the United States at the age of 6, is appreciative of the support around her.
“The first practice was definitely a little awkward because I didn’t know anyone yet,” she said. “But really quickly, everyone was really inviting and welcoming, and I’ve actually made some really good friends on the team so far. And I would say that that’s also really helped me transition into this school because of those familiar faces that I know from practice and the hockey team.”
Woodstock’s senior co-captains, Ava and Eliza Dodson, who are identical twin sisters, both gave their nod of approval to the team’s new addition.
“She comes with a lot of intensity,” Ava Dodson said of Woodstock’s leading scorer. “She’s always head-on, like always there with the puck.”
Goalie Ava, defenseman Eliza and forweard Konijnenberg are joined by blueliner Lily Gubbins and forwards Skylar Haley and Kassidy Haley in a group that typically comprises the starting lineup.
Ava Dodson is part of a net-minding trio with fellow senior Novah Conway and freshman Meridian Dremel.
As for the eighth-year head coach, Coates was expecting more of a rebuilding season with his squad transitioning down to D-III for the regular season, but he’s been pleasantly surprised.
“We’ve played some of the best Division II teams,” he said. “Our first three away games were legit, and I was like, ‘What is going on here?’ We were riding the bus, and normally I hate riding the bus, but it was just such an enjoyable ride home, like, ‘What just happened?’ We were on the other side of the coin last year: pulling the goalie, calling times out, one-goal loss, one-goal loss all last year, terrible record, and then this year it’s just flip-flopped the other way.”
Since D-III doesn’t have its own tournament, the Wasps will play up in the D-II bracket. Division II sends its top four teams to compete in the D-I tournament.
The Wasps’ success, as usual, will depend on a collective effort.
“What I really love is the team aspect,” Coates said. “It’s not just Isabel. Yeah, she’s great and she’s got four out of (seven) game-winning goals, scored a point every game. But you don’t just think of her, you think of everybody else that’s on the ice and what they do. Everybody else also stands out, so it’s pretty cool.”