Sydney Belinskas ’14 has had an outstanding season in net for the Trinity Bantams Women’s Ice Hockey Team. She recently posted two shutouts in two days against Colby College, earning her the New England Small College Athletic Conference Player of the Week Award.
Belinskas made 29 saves in a 2-0 win and 17 stops in a 6-0 blanking of the Mules the next day. She has not allowed a goal in her last 246-plus minutes of play, giving her four straight shutouts. The series sweep of Colby helped Trinity move ahead of them in the NESCAC standings.
“It’s not surprising that Sydney is playing strong down the final stretch here,” said Williston Girls Ice Hockey coach Christa Talbot-Syfu about her ex-goaltender. “I have no doubt she will continue to be a difference maker as the stakes get higher.”
Trinity currently sits mid-table as the playoffs quickly approach in early March. The Bantams are defending NESCAC Conference Champions.
Sydney was able to carve out some time from her busy schedule to speak to Williston about her keys to success on and off of the ice and to acknowledge the people from our community that made a difference in her life.
What have been the keys to your success during your current shutout streak?
I actually had no clue I was on a shutout streak. The biggest key to my success these past games has been keeping my mind clear. I don’t think about what I am doing, I just do it. Because if I think about the shot coming at me there are two outcomes: one, I save it, or two, I’m going to get scored on. Keeping my mind clear doesn’t even give negativity the chance to affect me. There is no room for doubt. I know I just have to focus on keeping the puck from crossing that red line and will do everything and anything to win that inch. I can train and practice all I want, but mental preparation has been my number one priority this season.
Is there a particular moment that you remember from your time at Williston?
I would have to say playing Winchendon my sophomore year. We had to play them three times in a row to move on to the semifinals. It was nerve wracking – playing a team three times in a row is tough – but we played an amazing game and pulled out a win. We moved on to play Lawrence Academy in the semifinals at Berkshire. We worked every second of that game, but we ended up losing in overtime. It was the moment I learned I truly loved the game. I was ready for next season. The fight, hard work, determination, and the will to win that game made me realize why I stayed with the sport for so long and how I never want to stop playing.
Was there someone at Willison who inspired you to be at your best?
Coach Talbot was most definitely my biggest inspiration at Williston. Of course while at Williston I was unaware of all the little things she said or had us do would impact my future self. As a coach she never took a day off. She always believed in us. We could be losing terribly, but she always pushed us to play at our best. Her intensity and positivity brought me confidence on and off the ice. I would never have become the person I am today without her. I would not have become the hockey player I am today without her saying, “Fight and battle for every inch!”
How did Williston prepare you for Trinity College, both academically and athletically?
Study hall every night from 8 pm to 10 pm is the sole reason I actually complete the abundance of homework I have in college. I was taught excellent time management at Williston. I was also taught to not be scared to ask for extra help, so now in college I have no fear asking a professor for help to better understand the material. Williston’s academic atmosphere was also very acceptable. I never was nervous that a classmate would laugh at my simple question. I learned that any question is a good question. My senior English classes prepared me for my future college essay writing. This year I have written at least ten personal essays, one fifteen page anthropology research paper one the, “Druid Identities with Stonehenge,” three lab reports, two essays in Spanish, and numerous detailed paragraphs. I found my love to write in high school, and I could never have done so without being taught construction, fluidity, and how to show not tell.
Williston prepared me for athletic success as well. Through strength training I was able to continue my love of lifting. I also played three sports: field hockey, ice hockey, and softball. I loved all three. I learned to appreciate every sport by attending different games. I also believe the continuous competitive edge I had playing sports the whole school year helped me preform better in the classroom. There was always a constant drive in my head to be successful. That got me up in the morning and motivated me to do well academically. I miss field hockey and softball. Don’t get me wrong I love hockey, but softball at Williston gave me the meaning of “team.” There are no breaks to really get into a sulking mood. You have to be on the fence cheering for your teammate when your team is up to bat. Everyone always has your back. If there was a ground ball someone was running behind you just in case it got past you. If you couldn’t get the ball all the way from the outfield to home you had a cut-off. If you were going to steal a base your teammate up to bat would sacrifice a strike and show a bunt just to get you farther on the bases. Being loud on the field, seeing people sacrifice for a teammate, and the joy softball brought me definitely translated to my college hockey career. I only play one sport now… It’s very weird to me, but I’ve come to learn that if I want to succeed, I need to incorporate everything I have learned from every sport that I played at Williston into hockey to make it an experience of a lifetime.