2023 | Massachusetts | GIRLS

Hanover High Girls Varsity Ice Hockey | Hawks | GIRLS

Cailyn McCarthy – Senior Captain – Hanover Girls Hockey, PL Sportsmanship Award Nominee

Everyone who knows Cailyn describes her as a people person, happy-go-lucky, positive, fun, hardworking, and compassionate girl. In Hanover, captains are appointed by teammate votes and feedback. Always looking out for everyone on her team, Cailyn was nominated and appointed as a two-year ice hockey captain and three- sport captain at Hanover High School. This accomplishment speaks volumes of the respect and admiration Cailyn’s teammates have for her. She “makes everybody feel like a somebody” and is truly a natural leader helping create an unbelievable TEAM environment. On the teams that Cailyn leads, there are no bullies, no players playing for themselves, just true cohesive teams. Cailyn’s team lives by “There is no I in team.”

Cailyn is absolutely the lifeblood of our ice hockey team on and off the ice. On the ice, she is a leader in every sense of the word. A great player yes but she is so much more. She is the one that looks out for everyone on the ice and cheers loudly and exuberantly for everyone. Her enthusiasm, excitement, spirit, sportsmanship, and love for the game is contagious. Cailyn is the go-to player on our team. Whether you are a player not sure of how to do a drill or someone needs a tutor in the classroom, everyone knows Cailyn will be the helping hand.

Sportsmanship is what Cailyn is all about. All of her coaches and our school’s Athletic Director share such deep admiration for not only her work ethic but her empathy and deep love for inclusion. Cailyn has been instrumental in creating a positive environment on all her teams, making everyone feel valued and important members. She takes leadership to the next level, organizing preseason activities for everyone interested in playing and always making sure girls of all abilities and experience feel welcome and valued. Cailyn does all the little things that make being on a team exciting and memorable; team dinners, bringing the team speaker (which was the only present on her Christmas list last year), creating pregame playlists, making sure that everyone has rides to practice, and always the last one to leave the parking lot making sure everyone has a ride home. She takes the time to organize team apparel orders, always taking into consideration that there should be options (price, size, style) available for all her teammates!

Most importantly, she is always pushing her team to be the best that they can be. If our team is losing and the team camaraderie is down, Cailyn has something positive to pick the team up and come onto the ice stronger than they were before. During games and practices, she is everyone’s cheerleader, being the loudest and most encouraging teammate. Cailyn also takes the time to reflect on how the season is going, making sure each teammate is able to voice their opinion and give any feedback. As a junior, Cailyn was awarded the Joe Masi Sportsmanship Award for the Patriot League on both her Ice Hockey and Lacrosse teams. As a coach I know that this award is most often given to a senior. Cailyn being awarded this honor twice as a junior speaks volumes to the sportsmanship, leadership, and compassion she has for her teams. This year, I am proud to say that she will absolutely be receiving this award again. She’s a coach’s dream and displays model behavior, always being respectful to everyone; her teachers, classmates, coaches, teammates, opposing players & coaches, and the officials.

Cailyn didn’t always have it easy. Growing up, Cailyn experienced kids making fun of her and was bullied but she persevered and stayed true to herself. She has an immense amount of inner strength, overcoming obstacles and helping those around her find their inner strength too.

Cailyn is a very committed individual and goes the extra mile in our community as well. She is very active in community service where she has worked with numerous kids throughout the Town of Hanover. For the last 4 summers Cailyn has volunteered her time helping our towns summer enrichment and recreation programs. She has touched the lives of so many kids as a mentor in the street hockey program. She engages with all campers and has no problem adjusting to whatever the day holds, always showing a great amount of enthusiasm when taking on new tasks, challenges, and opportunities. Whether working with kids with lots of hockey experience or those just starting out, Cailyn brings her patience and positivity to kids with all skill levels. Boys and girls all around town will call out to Coach Cailyn because she has had such a positive impact having volunteered for one of their teams or camps that they attended. They always ask her if she will be coaching again next summer! Young girls in particular really look up to her! For over five years Cailyn has also been a volunteer mentor in Hanover’s Special Needs Athletic Partnership (SNAP) helping kids in our community that have special needs participate in athletics and crafts as well as sharing her talents and skills with our town’s youth hockey and soccer teams.

Cailyn has been a member of the Hanover High School’s Yearbook Club, Girls STEM Program Summit, and a member of the Be Better Club since middle school. The Be Better Club encourages students to make the school a better place, make peer connections and help all kids feel comfortable at school! Cailyn genuinely wants to make a difference in the lives of those around her. Her commitment to this club for six years shows that she isn’t just doing it to add it to her college resume but that she truly wants to make a difference in the lives of those around her. Cailyn doesn’t do any of these things to be recognized or call attention to herself. She is truly doing what she felt was right in looking out for others. She is such an amazing role model for not only our team but the whole student body!

We can’t wait to see the heights to which Cailyn will soar in the years to come!