When the puck flies toward the net at full speed, Becca Perlot does not flinch. Instead, she stands strong and guards the pipes with confidence. The Olympia High School sophomore has found her home on the ice as a goalie, combining focus and fearlessness in one of hockey’s most challenging positions.
Practicing twice a week at Snoqualmie and Renton Sno-King ice rinks, Perlot works hard for hours at a time on and off the ice. First stepping onto the ice as a figure skater, everything changed for Perlot once her dad accidentally purchased the wrong kind of ice skates. “I really enjoyed Hockey,” Perlot said, remembering the moment that started her hockey journey. She has been playing hockey since sixth grade, and since then, she switched to being a goalie in eighth grade, a decision that has shaped her role on the team.
Many people say that hockey is one of the hardest sports to learn and play, and Perlot agrees. “It combines a lot of skills,” she said. “You have to skate fast and with balance while also using your stick and keeping your head up so you don’t get rocked.” That challenge is part of what keeps her love for the sport alive.
On-ice practices focus on game-like situations as well as basic skating skills, while off-ice training includes weightlifting and stick handling. As a goalie, Perlot enjoys drills where she is constantly under pressure and is repeatedly getting shot at. Her favorite drill is a rebound drill that includes players circling the crease (an area in front of the goal where opposing players are not allowed in without a puck), firing shots until she gloves the puck or covers it.
Looking ahead, Perlot hopes that hockey will continue to be a part of her future. She plans to continue playing and aspires to compete at the Division III collegiate level in the future. Until then, she’ll stay locked in between pipes, stopping pucks and proving that passion and dedication can carry you far, on and off the ice.