Hockey is an extremely aggressive and harmful sport, and with the stereotypical reputation of delicacy that females are portrayed with, it is hardly a sport anyone can imagine a girl playing. Sophomore Kirstin LaBelle, however, is a proud counterexample to the stereotype that couldn’t be any farther from the truth.

Originally a figure skater at the age of nine, Kirstin is now a member of the Chicago Young Americans Hockey Team, an organization that promotes coed hockey at the highest level between ages 11-19. Though the team standings are still undetermined this early in the season, Kirstin is confident in her team’s capability to pull ahead of their adversaries, regardless of their opponents’ skepticism of female players. One of her favorite things about being on the Chicago Young Americans Hockey Team is the camaraderie and closeness shared with fellow teammates. “We’re like a big family,” Kirstin stated.

When she’s not on the ice, Kirstin participates in several other activities at Naz. This year, she is a member of the Alexine Staff, SMILE, and one of the three leaders running the freshman service project Blanket Buddies. Kirstin also plans to try out for the softball team this spring. We wish her the best of luck as her hockey season gets under way.