BIDDEFORD ”“ She’s picked up right where she left off.
Biddeford’s Sara Grover is pumping in goals just as she did last year, when she tallied 46 times and led the Tigers to the first-ever Maine girls hockey state championship game.
Two games into the new season, Grover, a junior center, has already fired in four goals, all of them in Wednesday’s 6-4 win over Scarborough.
She may be the most explosive ”“ and most dynamic ”“ skater York County has to offer.
With her acceleration, her accurate shot, and her ability to make opposing goalies blink, Grover is just plain fun to watch.
Although last season ended in disappointment for the Tigers, it did nothing to dampen the diminuitive Grover’s taste for the the game.
If anything, she’s come back hungrier than ever.
“Like last year,” she said, “I’m just going to do my best, and see where that takes me this year.”
In Grover’s case, there really is no offseason.
Soon after the loss to Lewiston in the Final, Grover was flying down the rink again, with the Lady Breakers as well as in Hockey Night in Boston.
“I’ve been playing hockey ever since March,” she said. “It kept me on the ice.”
For a short while, it wasn’t clear which ice she would be zipping around on.
Instead of returning to Biddeford this year, other schooling and playing options ”“ prep school, junior ”“ were considered, then rejected.
“They were, about the end of last season,” Grover said. “But then I realized that I’ll develop the most through Biddeford. That’s where my parents felt the need to keep me. I’m plenty happy.”
So are the area’s hockey fans, who will get to appreciate her talents for one more year, at least.
— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.
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