GAME ON Mount St. Charles Captain Is Skating Strong
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Skating on just one healthy leg last season, BriAnna Narodowy willed her way to the girls state ice hockey championship. Now, as a senior captain for Mount Saint Charles, she is aiming to double-up her titles, supported by two healthy knees for the first time in her career. The Mounties have overcome every early-season obstacle on route to a perfect 6-0-0 start, with a determined perseverance that comes from their senior leader.
Ever since she first gripped a hockey stick, practically nothing could keep BriAnna Narodowy off the ice. A native of North Smithfield, she fell in love with hockey at age 6, when she first played for a local team coached by a friend’s Mom. It wasn’t long before the sport became her passion and she began practicing each day. Although BriAnna excelled in hockey, gliding from blue-line to blue-line always brought consistent pain: “I’ve had knee problems ever since I can remember,” BriAnna says of the persistent strains she has experienced since youth.
BriAnna overcame nagging injuries to become a standout player at Mount Saint Charles. Throughout the Mounties’ 2009-2010 RI state championship run, she was hampered by a bad right knee: “I played my whole season on one leg,” she says. “I had to dig deep. At times, I didn’t want to push through, but I did.” Her teammates motivated her to push forward and together they became champions.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTUnfortunately, the playoff grind took its toll on BriAnna’s weak leg, and she required major surgery on her black-and-blue right knee following her junior season. Last April, doctors performed an operation to re-align her knee-cap, along with adjusting her ACL and MCL in order to execute the surgery. Thankfully, the procedure went smoothly, preventing the need to install additional plates in her right knee, which could have sidelined BriAnna indefinitely.
Although her doctors voiced confidence in a full recovery, they did not expect such a quick return to the ice. Just three months after the operation, BriAnna was back in skates, although hesitant and rusty at first: “I was fearful that I wouldn’t be the same player.” Free from aches, BriAnna itched to play ice hockey again and test her rehabilitation: “It was amazing to be back on the ice. Finally, I was playing without pain.”
With a repaired knee, she trained relentlessly in the off-season to regain her stamina little by little. Mid-way through her senior campaign, BriAnna has emerged as a whole new player and the inspirational leader behind the Mounties success. Beyond the physical renewal, overcoming injuries has fortified Brianna’s appreciation for the game and strengthened her bond with teammates. Now, as the team’s senior captain, BriAnna is determined to show her newfound appreciation and strength on the ice: “I feel like I can do anything now.”
BriAnna has aspirations to play hockey in college, but is focused on the present, concerned with defending the Mounties’ state championship and continuing their undefeated streak. “There is a lot of pressure and we have a target on our back. We’re definitely the team to beat.”
