![French teacher Marieme Toure serves a plate of the Senegalese food she prepared for her AP French Language and Culture class, to senior Faiza Syed. “I never had Senegalese food before,” Syed said. “I thought it was so cool that she was able to bring a part of her culture [and] background to us.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0798-1200x906.jpeg)
![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
On Friday Jan. 10, the boys varsity combined Phoenix and Heritage Pride hockey team conquered the combined John Champe Knights and Lightridge Colts in an 8-3 win.
The night was special, as the Phoenix/Pride celebrated their seniors playing their final season for the team. From the Pride, there were seniors defenseman and captain Grant Brosnan and forward Avery Schiffert, and from the Phoenix, there was senior forward John Lunn, all playing their final senior night game as the stars of the show. “[The game] was pretty awesome because we played and won really well. I had a good game, [and] so did the other seniors,” Lunn said. “Going from 17th in the league to second in the league is pretty [darn] good and I think we’ve improved in every aspect of this.”
Once each senior was introduced with a personal bio pertaining to their childhood hockey endeavors and their future career goals, the Knights/Colts and Pride/Phoenix game finally started. The Pride/Phoenix quickly asserted their offensive power, paired with major saves from goaltender Daniel Williams, finishing the first period strong with a 3-0 lead.
The second period showed no less energy, with the Pride/Phoenix putting up five more goals, including a final wrist shot by Phoenix defenseman Connor Bultema, scoring his first of the season within the final 50 seconds of the period, ending second with a score of 8-2. “[The goal] felt great, I knew I wanted one for the season and I got it. I didn’t want to leave the season without a goal,” Bultema said. “I think my [defensive] partner kept it in [the offensive zone], and then I had some room to shoot so I was like ‘let’s get a shot on net,’ and it went in.”
The third period was heavily reliant on defense and goaltending for the Pride/Phoenix, allowing one more goal for the Knights/Colts, but regardless turning out victorious with a solid 8-3 win, slowly inching them closer to playoffs.
Though the Pride/Phoenix came out with the win, tonight was still a reminder that it would be some players’ final season. Forward and Captain Brosnan was proud to see the legacy he’d eventually leave behind. “This season I’m most proud of seeing a lot of these guys improve, I mean, some of these people like John who got a goal in his first full season,” Brosnan said. “The whole game was kind of one big memory. I was really happy we could get some points up and walk out of here with the win.”
