Thwak! The sound of the puck hitting the gloves of Ava Whaley, junior, as she saves the shot in the final seconds before the game ends. Ding! The Pioneers have taken yet another win to cap off the regular season. As the Kirkwood Varsity Hockey team prepares to enter the playoffs, Whaley said they’ve started to increase the intensity and expectations. Whaley, who also plays for the AAA Blues, has been the starting goalie for the Pioneers for the past two years.

“We’re gearing up for playoffs [right now],” Whaley said. “The team’s looking good, [we’re] definitely more physical [and] intense in practice, which is always a good sign.” 

Whaley said postseason hockey requires a different approach than normal season play. She said it’s encouraging to see the team getting better before playoffs start, especially because the Pioneers will be up against tough teams in the postseason.

“I know that I have a team in front of me who will help me out,” Whaley said. “That makes me excited too, because I know it’s going to be a challenge, but I love to face a good challenge.”

Christian Ermilio, senior goalie, said Whaley represents how anyone can compete as long as they put in the effort. He said her performance demonstrates that hard work matters more than anything else. 

“She’s an incredible athlete,” Ermilio said. “She’s so dedicated to the game, I haven’t seen many people like that in my time. She goes to three rinks in one day. I don’t know how she does it.”

Hunter Ealey, junior and right wing, said Whaley being a girl doesn’t change much on the ice. He said she’s like any other player.

“She keeps her thoughts, her emotions, everything to herself,” Ealey said. “I know there’s certain situations where she’s been whacked with a stick or something, and [another] goalie would probably do something. She stays composed, acts like nothing happened and moves on with the game. It’s really hard to get into her head.”

Whaley’s mentality has shaped how rival teams play against the Pioneers. She said being the only girl sometimes affects how opposing teams view her before the puck drops.

“Many times it’s fun, because sometimes other teams will underestimate me,” Whaley said. “They’ll be like, ‘oh, we’re playing against a girl, we’re gonna score on her.’ And then when they don’t, they’re kind of surprised.”

Whaley said being the only girl on the team comes with challenges. She said differences in things like separate facilities sometimes make her feel isolated from her teammates. 

“Sometimes it gets a little lonely, because obviously guys have that special bond, being in the locker room and hanging out all the time,” Whaley said. “I don’t do all the team bonding stuff with them, but our team specifically has been really inclusive. I know [that on] some other teams, some of the girls play, and their teams don’t include them as much. It feels pretty special to me that the Kirkwood team is inclusive.”

Ealey said Whaley’s spot on the roster is treated the same as anyone else. He said the expectations and responsibilities remain consistent regardless of gender, and hockey allows athletes to share the ice in ways many other high school sports do not.

“I feel like a girl on the team [makes] hockey more [inclusive] for everyone, not just boys,” Ealey said. “In a lot of other sports, there’s [two separate] teams. I think what makes hockey really special is that girls can be on a boys team, and it just makes [hockey] more for everyone.”

As the season moves forward toward the playoffs, Whaley said her focus remains on improving and balancing her long-term goals. She said her passion for the sport has kept her motivated throughout challenges and opportunities alike.

“If you love a sport as much as I love hockey, [then] it’s something [you want] to do every day and enjoy it,” Whaley said. “In college, I do want to play at the next level. I’m looking at some Division I schools, which is really exciting. That’s always been my dream since I first started playing.”

This story was originally published on The Kirkwood Call on March 27, 2026.