It’s not a UIL sport, and the closest place to play it is in Richardson. Even with these challenges, several SHS students are dedicated to the sport of hockey.

“I put in a lot of work and time into hockey,” sophomore Alex Lam said. “I have been involved for 12 years now.”

Lam plays for the Dallas Stars Elite program in Irving.

“We practice about three hours on weekends and around five hours on weekdays,” he said. “Tournaments are usually every weekend as well.”

He has been putting time into hockey since he was much younger.

“When I was little,” he said, “we drove by a hockey rink, and I thought it looked cool, so I wanted to play.”

He said he loved hockey the moment he started playing.

“When I play hockey, I’m at my happiest,” he said.

Along with Lam, freshman Vy Dang is one of the few females to take on the sport.

Dang plays for the Ny Elite Tier 1 Girls team.

“Hockey is pretty small here in Texas, but it is getting bigger,” she said. “I want it to get the recognition it deserves.”

Dang has a lot of friends that play, but she wishes more people knew about the sport.

“I put so much work into this sport,” she said. “I practice three times a week for an hour or two hours each.”

Hockey isn’t as well known in Texas, but is becoming more popular.

“I love hockey, but I don’t put as much time into it as I would football,” freshman Case Lee said. “Football is bigger here in Texas.”

Lee plays for Plano East Hockey Club.

“Our team only practices for two hours on Saturdays,” he said.

He said he might put more dedication into the sport if more practices and ice rinks were available.

“Hockey is so fun, but I wish Texas had more ice,” Lee said.