The heavy pads weigh down the shoulders of the players who are on the ice. Hands clasp tightly around hockey sticks, ready and prepared to go after the puck. Sticks slam against the ice, the slicing sound of blades scrape against the surface loud and erratic shouts and screams echo from everyone beyond the plastic. Distractions come and go, but the game is now.

    In this type of environment, sophomore Loren Fitzpatrick has played in for five years. She currently plays for Indy Fusion, she has been with that team since it became a blended team of Fishers Falcons and Indy Crush in 2010. Fitzpatrick is the only player on her team from NHS; the rest travel from Fishers or Carmel. SHe says her inspiration and reason for playing came from her family, her father and brother who play and who keep her going and striving to play better and be better.

    “I wanted to play hockey because my father and my brother play hockey,” Fitzpatrick said. “I figured; ‘Why not try something new?’ My dad is my inspiration to continue playing since he’s in his forties right now and is still playing.”

    Fitzpatrick’s hockey coach since the beginning of her hockey career, five years ago, Kris May, has watched her personality grow, on and off the ice.

    “She used to be very tentative on the ice, and not super competitive,” May said. “Now she really wants to learn, she’s aggressive on the ice. She really wants to get better and has a drive to play that I didn’t see when she was younger.”

    This year, Fitzpatrick became a part of the 19U team, meant for players nineteen years old and under. During the previous season, she primarily played 14U, which is fourteen years old and under. Attitude and desire helped her claim a roster spot on the 19U team instead of the 16U team.

    “Her greatest strength would be is she is very coachable, meaning she will listen and do want she is told to do, and every day we have a practice, I see a little more improvement,“ Indy Fusion 19U coach, Carey Wasem said. “Being coachable would be her greatest asset, as well as her desire to be there.“

    Fitzpatrick does have some challenges to work through. She only has 5 years [of experience] under her belt, but she is playing with and against players who have anywhere from 8 to 12 years of experience.

   “Experience would be a weak point. She doesn’t have that experience the other girls do, so she’s still learning [skating and shooting] skills,“ Wasem said. “Confidence would probably be her number one weakness and that is due to [lack of] experience.”

   Fitzpatrick is an offensive forward and plays left wing. She said she likes the opportunity to score goals. A left wing generally lines up on the left side of the ice and plays forward into the zone, tries to score goals, and Fitzpatrick does just that.

   “Even though she is one of the least experienced players, she still scores goals, she still gets to the right place at the right time,” Wasem said. ”You don’t have to be a super powerful shooter or skater. Sometimes you just need to be there.”

The Indy Fusion will be hosting the Heartland Girls Hockey League’s end of season tournament in March in the 11th, 12th, and 13th in Carmel. Times are TBA.