SPECIAL K: Princeton Day School girls’ hockey star Kristi ­Serafin heads up ice in a game last season. PDS will be relying on skilled sophomore defenseman Serafin to be a force on the blue line this winter. The Panthers get regular season action underway this week by hosting Summit on December 2 before playing at the Hill School (Pa.) on December 3 and hosting Pingry on December 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

While the Princeton Day School girls’ hockey team doesn’t boast strength in numbers with just 13 players on the roster, it does feature some high-quality talent.

Many of the Panthers play club hockey outside school and their love of the game is contagious.

“We have a lot of younger players that bring a lot to the table,” said PDS head coach Lorna Cook, who guided the Panthers to an 11-8-1 record last winter.

“I am also impressed with the older players and how much they have improved. We have more travel players than we have had in the past. They all seem to have a good time and get along with each other. The high school team is their time to have fun with it.”

Cook is having fun watching sophomore defenseman Kristi Serafin progress into a force.

“Kristi looks great, I love the intensity she brings,” said Cook, whose team gets regular season action underway this week by hosting Summit on December 2 before playing at the Hill School (Pa.) on December 3, and hosting Pingry on December 5.

“She is very skilled, she has a lot of upside. She sees the ice better this year and she is more comfortable with the puck on her stick. In our system, the d-men take more of a role in the offense. We have been looking to move the puck more.”

Two newcomers, freshman Malia Leveson and sophomore transfer Kiely French, have been looking good on the blue line.

“Malia is a center playing defense; she is really good with the puck and she is a really good skater,” said Cook.

“Kiely is a really great girl to coach. She wants to learn and wants to get better. She will help us, she is very aggressive.”

PDS will be looking for some aggressive play from sophomores Ashley Cavuto and Daphne Stanton in the middle of the offense.

“Ashley and Daphne are the two centers,” said Cook. “We need to have that strength in the middle. They will be good for us, they will make the wingers better.”

On the wing, the Panthers have a number of good options in junior Emma Stillwaggon, senior Anna Williams, senior assistant captain Sophie Jensen, freshman Emma Latham, and senior assistant captain Sophie Ward.

“Emma Stillwaggon is always a grinder for us; she doesn’t have a lot of size but she is a tough kid,” said Cook.

“Anna sets a great example with how hard she goes at plays. She draws penalties and aggravates the other teams. She has shown improvement in her stick skills. Sophie Jensen has impressed us with her positional play. She is putting herself in position to be a good option. Emma Latham has a lot of potential. She has good instincts. Once she gets the puck, she knows what to do. Sophie Ward is still coming back from being out, she is really good at being positionally sound.”

The tandem of sophomore standouts Annika Asplundh and senior captain Katie Alden gives PDS some depth at goalie.

“Annika is looking really good, she has been playing girls’ travel hockey for the first time after just playing with the boys and that has helped her adjust to the speed,” said Cook.

“You see a wide range of shooters in high school hockey. She is getting better in the one-on-one situations. Katie seems to get better and more confident every year. It really helps us to have two goalies at practice.”

In order to have a big season, the Panthers will need to thrive in scoring situations.

“I think it comes down to capitalizing on opportunities, the power play has to step up,” said Cook.

“They need to be aggressive and be in shape. In order to capitalize on opportunities, they have to go at 100 percent and fight for all of the pucks.”