Meola skates with the boys

By Audrey Williams
Staff Writer

From Canada to California, sophomore Maria Meola has had ice in her veins.
Meola began ice skating when she was seven while she lived in Vancouver, Canada. Her mother encouraged her to be a figure skater, but ultimately she chose hockey.
“My father encouraged me to start hockey,” Meola said. “He used to play and still inspires me to keep going with hockey today.”
Meola joined the Mira Costa hockey team this year as a defenseman and is currently the only girl on the team
“It’s a bit weird being the only girl on the team,” Meola said. “I’m used to being on an all-girls team, so it’s a little nerve-racking, but once I get on the ice all the nerves go away.”
After Meola moved to California, she joined an all-girls hockey team called the California Wave. She has been playing for the club for eight years.
“Being on the team has been a great experience for me,” Meola said. “We have all bonded over the years, and we are all friends, which has helped us work together as a team and do well.”
This year, she has traveled to Toronto, Canada; Boston, Massachusetts; San Jose, California; and Green Bay, Wisconsin to compete in tournaments with her team. Recently, they won the Pacific District Championship, beating teams from all over California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada. After that they traveled to Green Bay for the National Championships where they went 1-2. They suffered their only loss to Shattuck St. Marys, the team that ultimately won Nationals.
“I am so happy to be a part of the team,” Meola said. “We play well together, and it’s amazing we get to travel to all of these places for hockey.”
Meola hopes to play Division 1 hockey at a college on the east coast, such as Boston University, Notre Dame University, Providence College or Northeastern University. Eventually, she wants to coach hockey as well.
“I love playing hockey,” Meola said. “I plan to keep playing for a long time. In the end, whether you’re professional or just playing for fun, you’re all just playing for the love of the game.”