Under the bright lights of the ice rink, #93 Molly Hawkins is always sure to stand out. Hawkins demonstrates why she is one of the best players in the league with each movement, play, and shot. But something else sets Hawkins apart from the rest: her dedication and unmatched passion that drive her to be the best player possible. Currently, Hawkins is playing on the Pennridge Girls Ice Hockey Club and Junior Flyers. She has also previously played for the Lady Patriots. When Hawkins was little, she was playing soccer as her main sport. She was always very physical during the games, pushing people around. Her dad told her that maybe soccer wasn’t her thing and that she should try ice hockey. From there, Hawkins has gone on to play for multiple teams and dominate in all aspects. Hawkins does an amazing job keeping up with her grades, hockey practices, and games. Sometimes, it isn’t the easiest, but if anyone can do it, Hawkins can. As she balances sports and school, she never forgets to see and talk to her closest friends and family. Hawkins is the type of person who always checks up on everybody, as she wants the best for everyone. She is one of the most caring people in the world and would do anything for her best friends.
Throughout Hawkins’s career, she has had many phenomenal achievements and accomplishments. Since 2021, Hawkins has been an all-star for the Pennridge League and continues with that accomplishment this year. In 2022, again for Pennridge, she made second team in the PIAA. Another award Hawkins won for Pennridge and Lady Patriots was the most points in 2021. Not only did she get that award, but she set the Pennridge school record for scoring on the girls’ ice hockey team! Also, in 2021, she received the Most Valuable Player award while playing for the Lady Patriots. Hawkins’s determination and grit are what pushed her to be able to achieve all these awards and accomplishments. Along with that are some of her biggest challenges during her career. As every player goes through a slump of not scoring or just not playing their best, it’s always hard for everyone. It is very tough to get out of the slumps, but determination and self-discipline are things that Hawkins has found to get her out of those slumps. The biggest challenge Hawkins has faced was not making a team she was 100% supposed to make. It was hard for her, and she started working harder and harder, proving her worth to the coach and herself. Every athlete has challenges and will figure out how to get past them.
Hawkins comes from a family of four: her mom, dad, sister, and herself. Mike Hawkins, her dad, has been playing hockey for a very long time. He is the one who got Hawkins to start playing and ended up being her biggest role model. Hawkins says, “My dad is one of the hardest-working people I know. Having someone I can easily go to for help with anything is amazing.” She and her dad have the same work ethic, so it is very helpful to have her dad there to talk her through things the way she needs to hear them. As every athlete does, sometimes Hawkins will get angry and start to struggle with certain moves or plays. As her father, he is always there to help her when she struggles, and she wouldn’t want to hear help from anyone else. When Hawkins struggles, Mike Hawkins says, “I try to remind her of times she has played well and had good practices. And remind her that this is supposed to be fun. If you’re not having fun, then what’s the point?” The last part of what Mike Hawkins said is something kids must constantly hear. Sometimes, athletes get so tied up in what’s going wrong that they forget to have fun. Hawkins also said, “If you’re having a tough time, focus on the fundamentals. And that goes for any sport, not just hockey.” Hawkins highlighted the key things she does while trying to get out of a rough patch and wants to give that advice to any future athlete.
As Hawkins continues her career in high school, playing for Pennridge and Junior Flyers, she is forced to look at what she wants her future to be in hockey. Hawkins has the goal to play in NCAA Division 3. As Hawkins gets older, she definitely wants to play rec leagues in adulthood. While Hawkins is winding down her high school career as a student-athlete, she is ready for the next chapter and ready to see what comes next.
