With the end of their season two weekends ago, the seniors on the women’s hockey team now finish a chapter of their life and begin to move on. Sarah Daniel and Ciara Libaridian have played their last game for the Engineers, and, while they will miss being a part of the growing program, they are both thankful for the time they have had with the team.
“I can’t even picture my life for the past four years without hockey,” says Daniel, who was the captain for the past two years. “It was my life.”
Libaridian, who is also from Canada, transferred to RPI after a season playing in Division I for University of Findlay in Ohio. “It’s hard to put into words what I’ve experienced in the last three years here,” she said.
Here, hockey became their life and the team, their family. “Generally you come to find that hockey is its own family … it’s like a language that only hockey players understand. I can imagine that it’s similar when you’re a part of any team. Although I am a member of greek life, I found that hockey here at RPI was that family I needed. This team, these 22 girls, have been my family here away from home for the last three years. I’ve made amazing friends and gone through life-altering experiences with these women.”
“Everyone works their tails off every day just to make themselves better,” Daniel said of the team’s collective work ethic.
Over the four years, the two have acquired many memories and highlights. During its sophomore year, the team took on and beat Manhattanville during the regular season and had a good shot at the ECAC’s.
Their junior year held many surprises as the team was elevated to D-I. “Surprising everyone with our long-winning streak,” was among the highlights for Daniel.
“This team have helped me mature as an individual, socially and professionally. I couldn’t imagine college life without hockey. What would I have done with the extra 40-60 hours a week?” said Libaridian on her time with the team.
After the year is done, Daniel will be heading to Calgary where she can work full time and still play in a league that feeds into the Canadian national team. Libaridian will be able to follow the team next fall as she finishes up her dual degree. “Lucky for them and me, of course,” said Libaridian, “I will still be here for an extra semester to finish off my dual major, so I will be graduating in December. Ideally when I graduate though, I would love to continue coaching hockey, at least through grad school, as a means of a good transition into a world without hockey—which I don’t think can ever really happen.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a better senior partner to go through this with,” said Daniel of her classmate Libaridian. “She shows a really good example for all the freshmen and is a big part of this team this year and in past years ... When you have such a small class, it’s important to have such a good person like Ciara,” she finished.
Libaridian shares the same sentiments, “Sarah has led this team on and off the ice and I am lucky to have shared these memories, and hopefully many more to come, with her. If it wasn’t for her, who would still be calling me “Hollywood” till this very day?”
Head Coach John Burke has spent the past couple years teaching and motivating these two athletes and now steps back to look at their careers at RPI.
“Sarah was the whole package,” he summarized, “She does an unbelievable job on the ice, and at class, and in the community,” he explained.
“Ciara works behind the scenes to help the program grow, and hopefully some of the younger kids have learned some things that they can take and be successful in their future endeavors,” said Burke. “She is a great teammate, a hardworking kid, and valuable in her own way.”
He cautioned not to read the numbers too closely, “Sarah might have gotten the recognition, but Ciara did things for the team that were just as valuable.”
The team has come quite a distance during their time at RPI and will hopefully continue to improve, taking from these two’s experience and leadership. “Seeing our capability this year only makes me eager to see what the team has in store for next year,” Libaridian said. “With the same drive, perseverance, and talent, I definitely see the team winning the ECACs, at least.”
I only see the team getting better in the next few years,” said Daniel. “I have a lot of confidence in this year’s juniors stepping up, and with such a young team this year I think the team is going to go far.”
“All in all, I’m glad to have been fortunate enough to have been part of such an astounding program that has impacted and shaped my life,” said Libaridian.
“We can play with them now, but I don’t think it’ll be long before we can beat those top level teams,” Daniel said. “I’ll be proud as hell when they win that championship.”
