By ALEX SPONSELLER Despite jumping out to a slow start this 2021 winter, the Bishop Hendricken hockey team remains in the playoff hunt and believes it will be poised to make a deep run come the postseason.

The Hawks have gone 1-2-1 thus far, losing to Moses Brown and Barrington, tying Mount St. Charles and beating Prout.

Between the unusual circumstances with the pandemic and the tough schedule coming out the gate, the Hawks believe that their best has yet to come.

“We are doing well on the ice and we’re doing the little things. We’re outshooting teams, we’re competing. COVID restrictions aren’t helping our program, no excuse, but it’s been difficult,” said Hendricken coach Mike Soscia. “We got off to a late start with tryouts and everything is now magnified with the short season. It’s been tough on the kids, not being able to have team meetings, not having locker rooms, it’s been tough.”

Leading the way for Hendricken to this point has been Owen Leahy, who has recorded three goals and an assist in league play. Noah Mertz has led the defensemen with a pair of goals as well, while other goal scorers include Jack Hornstein, Owen Dean, Nick DeFelice and Mike Soscia. Nate Palumbo has also added three assists while defenseman Griffin Cain has chipped in two.

Goalie Drew Carr has been sharp in net for the Hawks, boasting a 96 percent save percentage.

Although the Hawks have competed in each contest, including coming up empty handed in two overtime appearances, they believe that taking things up a notch offensively will be key in the later part of the regular season and into the postseason.

“We’re just pressing a little bit right now because we are outshooting teams, but we are not scoring as much as we would like. When you are pressing and you aren’t scoring goals, everything gets compounded. We’re going to continue to work with the kids and stick with the game plan and structure, and then make a run in the playoffs,” said Coach Soscia.

In order to take that next step, the Hawks plan on paying attention to the details and putting in the work at practice each day.

“They’re resilient and they are working hard and doing everything we have asked them. They just need to continue to work hard and do those things. We’re strong, we’re fast, and we have a good balance of kids that work hard,” Coach Soscia said. “Now we just need to keep focusing on doing the things we need to do to succeed. If we do that, if we take it one period at a time and not look ahead, then things will fall into place.”