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03/12/2024 11:28 AMIn a short span, Kendall Dobratz has established herself as a preeminent goalscorer in the Connecticut girls’ ice hockey landscape. Yet no matter how many accolades or lamp lighters she produces, her face radiates with enjoyment just as much following an assist as an unselfish teammate.
The Old Saybrook sophomore and forward for the Hand girls’ ice hockey co-op team first began her athletic journey with a different stick in her clutches with lacrosse at age 7. Yet after her father came home with an ice hockey flier for her brother, she joined him on the ice, and has not looked back since then. This year for the Tigers, Kendall nabbed a spot on the All-State Second Team after achieving a 20-goal campaign.
“Ice hockey is so different from other sports, because of the high level of action. You are always involved in action and moving. I just love the action and the pace of play,” says Kendall. “I could not do all of this without my teammates, and I feel assists are just as important as goals. I also live off of my coaches’ feedback, and they have taught me all I know and I cannot do it without them. Being named All-State is such a great honor. It is a goal I have been working towards, so it was the best feeling to see all that hard work pay off.”
Functioning on a line with two other teammates, Kendall and her colleagues know some quick quarrels can arise. Yet they make sure to squash them quickly for the squad’s betterment, and they just keep motivating each other to their max potentials.
“Chemistry on a line is so important, and we are friends on and off the ice. We know that disagreements will happen, but we know it is in the team’s best interest to resolve them,” Kendall says. “We are also driven, because we know with hard work comes success. We work every day with each other, and it is great that they want to fight for you and make you better.”
Kendall loves being at the epicenter of the action on a consistent basis, while collaborating with her teammates to create tallies. She adds that she can certainly make mistakes by getting so many reps on the rink, though she can compensate for them swiftly.
“As a forward, I love being involved in so much action. Playing full games can be tough, but it is fulfilling,” says Kendall. “I have had trouble with getting too much in my head, but you cannot overthink in hockey because you will be right back out there. I learned I cannot think about one play too much. I have also improved upon my body language, because your mood and emotions can affect the feelings of the rest of the team.”
As she has additionally improved upon expressing her emotions verbally, Kendall knows that the best asset to utilize is the person next to her on the ice. She details that a perfect play involves every unit at every line, and the Tigers certainly show that well with camaraderie.
“I have gotten better at using my teammates, because it is never a solo effort. I have also gotten better at communication,” Kendall says. “We all love playing together, because we care about each other. Each goal starts with the goalie making an amazing save, then the defense bringing the puck up to the forwards so they can score. Even when it comes to getting goals on rebound shots, it is always a team effort.”
Stepping into a co-op club environment as the lone girl from her town, Kendall felt some trepidation and apprehension at first. But as she began to get more entrenched in the club, she saw a swarm of welcoming arms.
“As a freshman last year, I only knew one girl at the start of the season, so it was scary for me at first,” Kendall says. “But I became overwhelmed by how welcoming everyone on the team was. This year, we were able to develop so much more. We knew what we needed to work on from last year and applied that well this season.”
Hand girls’ ice hockey co-op team Head Coach Dom Odice praises Kendall not only for her tremendous skill set as a sharp scorer, but also for her selflessness through all the solo attention and accolades.
“Kendall is a skilled young lady when it comes to hockey,” says Odice. “She has a killer instinct and a nose for the net. She makes her teammates better. She is a 20 goal scorer and is an unselfish player.”
Giving great gratitude to the game that has already given her so much, Kendall knows that every practice, day, or shift on the ice is truly a gift. She reciprocates to the sport by staying present and in the moment, while working diligently no matter what.
“We are all so blessed to play this sport and do it for four years in high school, so I never take anything for granted,” says Kendall. “And because of that, I learned I cannot get so down over one bad game or week. I also learned how much I truly love the sport and giving maximum effort towards it.”