There is no better feeling then getting a fresh start, and for hockey players, a clean sheet of ice and the optimism that marks a new season fit the bill perfectly.  So it was on Thursday evening, October 2, Mount Carmel Hockey took to the ice in a brand new arena, beating Marist 6-3 in their first CCL league at Morgan Park Ice Arena.

The new home for the hockey team is a beautiful rink with expansive stands for the hundreds of fans wishing to watch hockey. In addition to the Caravan, Marist will also consider the new park district facility its “home” rink, and St. Rita will play some games there as well.

Before the game, senior defenseman Austin Rein expressed his nervousness and excitement, saying that he “was ready to go.” Rein wanted a big loud crowd and that is what the Caravan got.

Afterwards, Caravan Head Coach Craig Ferguson stressed the importance of getting off to a win and the value of starting the season with a victory. “It’s nice to get off to a good start.  If we can finish top five in the Catholic League, we will play better talent. That is always the goal.”

The Caravan are excited for the upcoming season and hope it is the turn around year that Caravan hockey supporters have been hoping for. Playing at Morgan Park should bring new energy that the team and fans need to keep pushing forward.