2023 | Maryland | GIRLS

Maryland Student Hockey League Varsity Girls Montgomery Team | MSHL Girls Montgomery | GIRLS

Tory Boles has been a natural leader since her first season on a Championship winning Varsity Girls team. Tory, always a great teammate, readily absorbed the leadership skills of the older teammates while she was among the youngest players. When Tory became an upperclassman, she easily became the team leader on and off the ice. She has a way of welcoming every player at the start of the season and making them feel like their contribution is valuable on the ice, even if the team is down.

Tory works hard to improve her hockey skills year-round, whether she is taking skills clinics or shooting pucks in her driveway. While she prefers playing center, Tory will play whatever position is needed: forward or defense. When the team needed a goalie to play in a scheduled league game and neither of our goalies were available, Tory graciously strapped on borrowed pads and did the best job a non-goalie could do. While the team did not win, the players rallied around her and reciprocated the same positivity that she had modeled for them.

Respect plays a role in Tory’s selection for this award. She is not only respectful of her own coaches and teammates, but also her opponents and their coaches. It is not uncommon for Tory’s outgoing nature to come into play even during a competitive game and for the opposing players to reach out on social media as a friend, resulting in greetings by name and warm hellos at the next game.

Tory is very coachable and takes direction well. She has good hockey sense, but also listens to a coach’s advice when offered. It has been a pleasure to coach Tory and to see her growth on and off the ice as a hockey player, person, and leader.