While students returned to school after winter break, Emi Biotti ’25, one of six co- captains of Girls’ Varsity Hockey (GVH), flew to Finland to represent Team USA in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s U18 Women’s World Championship.
To claim her spot on the team, Emi initially attended an open tryout last spring. She progressed through multiple selection camps while simultaneously battling an ankle injury. Eventually, the team was narrowed down to just 25 girls out of the 28 who played at October Festival, the final selection camp.
Weeks of tryouts were no easy feat, Emi said.
“The process is very tough mentally and physically,” she said. “Not only is it a lot of camps and a lot of ice time, but it’s hard to stay mentally tough through it all. It’s difficult to stay grounded and to push through all the tryouts and outside noise. It’s not easy, and it takes a lot to keep picking yourself up again and continuing to move forward.”
Shortly after completing the try out process, Emi learned she had a spot on the team. The news fulfilled her childhood wish, Emi said.
“It was like a dream come true. Making this team is something I’ve always wanted ever since I was super little.”
Upon her arrival at the World Championship, Emi still felt shocked, she said.
“It was surreal to walk into the locker room and see the jersey with your name on the back and getting to wear it.”
Emi’s team won three round-robin games, quarterfinals, and then semifinals, playing against Japan, Sweden, Finland, and Slovakia. Finally, Team USA faced Canada in the finals. With a score of 3-0, Emi’s team lost, taking home the silver medal. Despite not winning, Emi still considers the final game a highlight of her trip due to its fast pace and intensity, she said.
“The final game was a high even though we didn’t end up winning,” she said. “It was still such a fun game, and it was super high pace and very back and forth both ways and super intense.”
Emi hopes to return to GVH with improved leadership skills to benefit the team, she said.
“Logo over ego,” she said. “You have to put your teammates before yourself and do the dirty work, and maybe you’re not the one to put in the goal, but your work doesn’t go unnoticed. Every person is important on the team, and you have to embrace your role.”
GVH Head Coach Ed Bourget acknowledged the honor of playing for Team USA.
“She played in an event that is similar to the Olympic Games. Every hockey player dreams of putting on the stars and stripes in world competition, and that is something Emi has worked hard to achieve over the course of her lifetime.”
Coach Bourget said Emi is a leader on GVH.
“Emi brings a quiet intensity to the GVH team as a player and is a fearless leader as a captain. She embraces her role as an elite player, but also is mindful that she has the responsibility to lead her teammates in the proper way.”
GVH Co-Captain Brenna O’Reilly ’25 has played hockey with Emi since they were seven years old.
I couldn’t be more happy for her because she’s really put the work in and she deserves it more than anyone… As a teammate and a leader, Emi is probably the most humble person in the locker room.”
Still, Emi takes time to help her younger teammates, which Brenna said she admires.
“She’s been playing with an eighth grader this year, and you can tell by the way she talks to her on the bench that it’s super positive. She’s giving so much advice, and I think the eighth grader is learning a lot by being with a player like Emi.”
GVH Co-Captain Izzy King ’25 hopes playing in the Women’s World Championship helped Emi realize that her hard work has paid off.
“She’s definitely wanted to make this team for a while, and it’s great to see her there,” Izzy said. “It’s important for her to show everyone how good and talented she is, and also just for herself, to prove that she is capable of making Team USA and that she deserves to be on this team.”
