Glynn is just one of the guys on the West Seneca East hockey team

“I hope people start too realize that girls are just as good as boys when it comes to hockey,” – Sydney Glynn

Sydney Glynn knows she is making history. She knows people will be watching her on a nightly basis seeing if she will crack under the pressure of the spotlight she is receiving.

She also knows her teammates have her back.

“They are all my very good friends,” said Glynn about her relationship with her teammates. “They are so supportive of me. They text me after every game telling me what a good job I did. I love everyone of them.”

The West Seneca East junior goaltender isn’t the first female goalie to play in the Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation. Others in the past, from Kenmore West and Clarence, have gotten into games – mostly in tournaments.

Glynn, however, is the first female in the league to be a starter. She started her first varsity game against Lewiston-Porter and played well enough to earn the win in the Trojans 4-3 victory.

Glynn freely admitted after the game that nerves got the best of her, and that she will improve as the season goes on.

“I was really nervous. They never had a girl on the team,” stated Glynn after their win over Lewiston-Porter. “I was the starter and there was a lot of pressure on me to do well. Lots of jitters.”

The decision to play for the boy’s team was a curious one, only because the West Seneca School District does have a girls’ varsity team.

Glynn, though, wanted a chance to prove her self on a higher level. Nothing to take away from girls’ hockey, but Glynn wanted to test herself against the harder shots and the quicker pace of the boys’ game.

“Better competition. Faster game. Harder shots,” stated Glynn on the reason for going out for the boys’ varsity. “

When she approached West Seneca East coach Daniel Goldie about coming out for the team, Goldie didn’t have a problem with it and neither did her teammates.

“I was a little surprised she was [going out for the team],” said Goldie. “She went trough all the New York State Athletic Association rules and classification test that she had to take and everyone was ok with it. I was fine with it. I have no hesitation with girl goalies.”

Goldie has always been a coach who lets kids tryout and if you are good enough to make the squad than so be it. He knew his team would have some media around it because of the fact Glynn is a female and the school and her are kind of making history.

But, to him, the best players play. And she happens to be one of the best players at this time.

“I told Sydney, listen that first game is up for grabs right now. Whoever is making the saves during warm ups and during practice will start,” said Goldie. “We thought Sydney would give us the best shot to win.”

Glynn is thankful for the opportunity, but she also knows she has to work at her craft if she wants to continue to see playing time.

That means working hard during practice to cut down angles better and to do a better job of controlling her rebounds.

It also means being more aggressive in general.

While nerves did play a big part in her first start, Glynn knows that if she isn’t aggressive teams will take advantage of it and crash the net more often.

“I need to be more aggressive. I need to get more stronger,” stated Glynn, “because, I am smaller than most of the boys and a lot weaker than them. So, I need to get stronger.”

She also knows there is a mental part this game. Which, at times, could work to her advantage. In the past when a female as suited up to play goal, the boys have a tendency to think it could be an easier game. They take it for grant it they will score at ease.

Glynn said that kind of mentality could work in her favor, at least in the early going.

“It kind of makes me feel good, because they are already kind of under estimating me,” she said. “I just have to go out and prove them wrong, which is what I plan on doing this year.”

As for the pressure of performing when they lights are on she knows it’s there. She also knows years down the road this might not be a big deal. Glynn figures if she plays well, this will be a statement that women can play the sport just as good as the men can.

“It’s huge honor. They obviously have a lot of faith in me,” Glynn said. “I hope people start too realize that girls are just as good as boys when it comes to hockey.”

Only a junior, Glynn still has college options and hopes a good year will open the door for her.

“That’s what I am hoping for,” she said on the prospect of college coaching looking at her game more. “It’s a huge honor to be on this team. And, I am hoping to get a scholarship and go off to college at play. It’s my dream.”

Sydney Glynn is being looked at as a pioneer in the sport of hockey because she is playing on a boy’s team. But, in reality, Glynn is just doing what every young man or women wants to do, play the sport that they love.

True, the spotlight will be on her this year, but this young woman seems like she will be able to handle the pressure that is a student-athlete.

She is no different that anybody who is playing in the WNY Varsity Hockey Federation this season.

She is just one of the guys.