Beyond playing hockey at Groton School, Tina Scalese ‘26 and Maddie Cronan ‘25 brought their fiery spirits and proficient skills to a group of young avid hockey lovers. With the opportunity given by Coach Paul Jenkins, they, as the young coaches in this occurrence, represented the Groton girls varsity hockey team in Oslo, Norway.
For Maddie, her motivation to participate in this program originates from her love for this sport. “I love playing and coaching hockey,” she said, “so having the opportunity to do this somewhere where I’ve never been before was absolutely amazing.” Throughout the week, Maddie was delighted to see the kids work hard and improve, making her feel “inspired.” She was delighted to help her students gain more skills and learn to love the sport as much as she does. Coach Tim Leroy, the head coach of the girls hockey team, is proud that two of his players are bringing their devotion for this sport abroad and sharing it with others. “I was very excited that they had this chance to travel and work with other hockey players and to make connections with new kids and make an impact for this program,” he said. “This was a memorable experience for two very good friends to share this past summer.”
While hockey itself is its own language, Tina and Maddie did have to navigate the fact that they did not speak the same spoken language as their students. The two coached players ranging from the ages of 6 to 16, and their ability to speak English varied greatly. However, as the week progressed, the children became more comfortable with their young coaches, overcoming their differences. Not only did they start speaking more English, but they also taught Tina and Maddie phrases in Norwegian.
Besides coaching, Tina and Maddie explored downtown Oslo with their host family. Maddie remarked that this experience was her most memorable moment during this experience. Their host families introduced them to iconic spots in both Årnes and Aulifeltet .
Later this year, both the boys and girls hockey teams will be heading to Europe to play against club teams across Europe. From December 27 to January 4, they will make stops in Munich, Salzburg, and Innsbruck to sightsee, practice, and compete. Both teams look forward to bringing their skills global and meeting other hockey players across the world.
As Tina and Maddie return to Groton, they not only bear a novel cultural experience but also the fulfillment of sharing their passion around the globe and leaving their unique hockey legacy in Norway. This journey was far more than an opportunity to coach; it was a testament of the universal language of sport and passion. Preparing for their next adventure in Europe, they remain inspired by the impact they have made and thrilled to continue spreading their love for hockey across new horizons.
