Leaders lead by example. And St. Paul's girls hockey has quite the leader.
Senior forward and Yale commit Cami Bell (Barre, Vt.) could eclipse 100 career points for the Big Red, a massive milestone and testament to her dominance on the ice for the Concord, N.H., program. But the only number Bell is interested in exists in the win column as the team chases NEPSAC hardware.
Heading toward the end of the regular season, the Big Red boast a 13-8-0 record with a championship appearance in the always-loaded Harrington Tournament. Bell credits much of the success to the new additions to the team and assistant coach Caroline Jenkins.
"It's been great. We have a great group of kids this year. We owe it a lot to our new kids. And especially Coach Jenkins," Bell said. "They've just stepped in to help the team so much. They've already made such a big impact. Just a hardworking group of girls all around.”
While Bell attributes much of her team's success to her teammates rather than herself, head coach Kelli Mackey understands how impactful Bell is to the group. As a senior on the team and future Division 1 college hockey player, Bell sets an example and backs it up with her play.
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"Everyone looks up to Cami," Mackey said. "She's just an awesome kid, an awesome friend. She's the first one to practice and the last one to leave. I think that's an example of hard work — being in the gym, doing her homework and being a good student and community member at St. Paul's. I think kids just look up to her in different ways. She's just a really special kid.”
As a leader, Bell is always looking to evolve. While her play on the ice speaks for itself, she also tries to bring along younger players, offering words of encouragement and guidance.
"I like to work hard, and I think that rubs off on a lot of the girls. I like to be competitive, and I like to show up," Bell said. "But also, I've found myself being a vocal leader. I’m trying to find that balance. I think what kind of makes our team successful is finding that balance. Knowing when to step up and say something or put your head down and do work.
"I've always played under a lot of really fast, really talented elite hockey players. I think realizing it was my senior year, I had to step up and be the leader. It was kind of surreal to me. I think that was the biggest realization, being excited to lead the way and show the other girls that are younger how we play at St. Paul’s."
Setting a good example for others also involves self-betterment and growth as a player. Bell is always trying new things on the ice to get an edge. She’s working on improving her puck-moving abilities and on-ice vision.
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"As the competition gets better and you get older, it gets a little harder to put the puck in the net,” Bell said “(It’s) trying to find different ways to score and move around. Just trying new things and being creative. That's important to me, figuring out how to work with new players and help the girls under me get to the next level."
Looking ahead, Bell will join a Yale team ranked top 15 in the nation after making an impressive run to the NCAA quarterfinals last season. The Bulldogs, for two straight seasons, notched 25-win seasons and routinely found themselves in the mix for an NCAA tournament berth. The prestige of the program fuels Bell's desire to help the team win and take Yale to the next level.
"I'm psyched. I'm so excited," Bell said. "I’m psyched to play for such an amazing program. I want to win a national championship. I want to add to that program in every way I can."
But Bell's work at St. Paul's is still far from finished. With the remaining regular season, postseason and potential 100-point milestone for Bell to reach, there is still hard work to be done for the Big Red. Finishing the season strong is top of mind for the senior, but also an opportunity for the senior forward to reflect on her career, teammates and coaches at St. Paul's.
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"I'm excited. I love to win games, but like Coach Mackey, I'm just proud of our team," Bell said. "I play with really great kids. Coach Mackey's been great. To have the privilege of playing for St. Paul's has been amazing for me. I couldn't have done it without the girls on our team. I couldn’t have done it without Coach Mackey. She's put everything into this team.
"I'm just excited to wear the jersey and enjoy every game I have left. Hockey can be competitive, and obviously, there can be a lot of pressure. And if you're not having fun, then what's the point of playing? I'm doing whatever I can to make sure the girls are having fun and making sure we're winning games."
