A Year to Wait

A Review of the 2024 Jonny Wookey Game

The night began aboard a bus speeding through the rural towns along the West coast of Scotland. Students crammed together reminiscing about distant ice hockey memories, soon to add tonight among them. Approaching the rink the buses passed through two columns reading “Fife Ice Rink.” It suddenly feels like passing through the gates of tradition. It is the night of the 2024 Jonny Wookey Memorial Varsity Game. Whether it is a person’s first hockey game or their 100th, everyone knows this is going to be something special. St Andrews’ students crowd the stands anticipating an exciting game against rival Edinburgh Eagles. It is a colorful rivalry that brings out the best and worst of both teams. Everything is on the line tonight. The winner will walk away with a year of bragging rights while the loser will succumb to a year of waiting to meet again for redemption.

The stadium begins to fill with students who bring with them an atmosphere of earnestness. It is a big game for both teams as the St Andrews’ Typhoons threaten to overtake the Edinburgh Eagles on the Checking 1 North Cup Competition leaderboard. St Andrews is coming off an invigorating five-game win streak, including a 4-0 win against the Eagles, while Edinburgh closed a game against the Sheffield Bears with a tie. They had beaten St Andrews early in the season and hold onto hope of repeating the success. Each team approaches the game with a substantial win, ready to prove their exceptional technique and supreme agility.

As fans roar, the St Andrews’ Typhoons skate onto the ice in their white sweaters. “Pay attention to our jerseys with the JW and maple leaf,” states Kenneth Worden. He is talking about the insignias that honor Jonny Wookey, a founding member of the ice hockey club at St Andrews who sadly passed away shortly after his graduation. Kenneth Worden emphasizes that the game is “both trying to win the game and what the game is about…playing for the memory of someone.” The annual match was created in Jonny Wookey’s memory, as he expressed that a long-time dream of his was to see the club host a big event. He envisioned a thrilling future for this club where fans and players could come together for the love of hockey. Tonight, at the annual match, players and fans gather in his honor to watch a sport he loved and wanted to share with those around him.

The game begins with an intense face-off between the two teams. In this moment, before the puck drops, the game could go either way. The fans, sensing this strain, cheer vehemently and bang on the sides of railings, releasing their own anxieties. The beginning of the first period is a rude awakening for the St Andrews’ Typhoons as the Edinburgh Eagles score the first goal of the game. “We didn’t come in with a particularly focused attitude,” comments captain Tristan Long. Edinburgh quickly took advantage of the unfocused St Andrews team scoring another goal putting them ahead 0-2. “We had a mistake in the second one, just something you can’t do in that game,” says Tristan Long reflecting on the shocking moment, “Lose focus for ten, twenty seconds it will cost you.” The team was able to quickly recollect itself and scored shortly afterward. “It was good to get a goal back right away,” remakes Tristan. The St Andrews’ Typhoons were able to tie the score 2-2 ending the first period. 

At the end of the period, fans disperse to friends, the bathroom, or to grab food and drinks, while the St Andrews’ Typhoons make their way to the locker room. “We stressed a lot that each period was a different game,” states Tristan. It was important “getting everyone to reset and calm down a bit.” The Typhoons saw hope in the second period as they took their first lead of the game with a score of 3-2. This hope was quickly snatched away with an Edinburgh goal tying the game, 3-3. However, there was a silver lining for St Andrews, as Grace Flatow scored her first goal, coming out as a strong and reliant player. There are strong aspirations for many of the rookies moving forward as they have proved they are a strong advantage to the team.

At the conclusion of the second period fans began to grow anxious concerning the outcome of the game. Whispers and giggles carried through the arena as anxious eyes darted up to the scoreboard showing a frustrating 3-3 score. Moving into the third and final period there was a dramatic shift in the crowd’s mood. Friends quickly turned to foes as St Andrews was unable to capitalize on game shifts and power plays. Feeling that compliments and advice had failed them fans turned to insults. “Keep it moving!” screamed fans. “It’s time to lock in!” repeated a gaggle of boys.

Coming into the third period, St Andrews fought to find momentum and slowly petered out. “We ran out of gas,” concluded Tristan, “We lost that extra grain of focus.” The Edinburgh Eagles broke away in the third period, doubling their score and leaving St Andrews in the shadows. The fans, disheartened, moved on to more promising pursuits, building a mountain of over fifty beer cups collected from the audience. While Edinburgh opened the defensive line of the Typhoons clobbering them in the third period, dissolving all hopes of a win as the clock ticked down to the final minutes.  The game ended in a 3-6 loss for the St Andrews Typhoons.

Kenneth Worden and Tristan Long reflect on the game together. Tristan says he felt “disappointment” after the game, “it was my first year being captain coming in after the past two years and winning it.” Kenneth Worden, a fourth-year student states, “It was my last one I am a bit sad to lose but we got a good turnout.” Showing up in the stands were Worden’s parents to watch their sons Kenneth and Eric Worden, like the ice hockey Hughes brothers of St Andrews, who enjoyed some time together on the ice. Kenneth Worden smiles saying, “It was fun,” to play alongside his brother.

After the game the team “was quite emotional,” says Tristan, we said “goodbye to a lot of fourth years.” After the loss, the team felt the need for a drink. They met the fans at the After Party at The Rule. “We did lose and we accepted that,” comments Kenneth Worden, “We still had a good night with our friends.” Tristan remarks that the game was not a total loss, “I think it was just really fun to lead them…see them persevere through this and work hard this season which was a lot of fun.”

This is far from the end of the team’s saga as they approach Nationals. Tristan hopes they “get a good performance going for Nationals.” They have taken some important things from this experience, “you can’t take anything for granted,” reflects Tristan about his first year as captain. Now “[we have] more motivation to win next year,” says Tristan positively. “This year has been a year of ups and downs…next year will be an improvement.” Kenneth Worden describes it as "sweet and sour” for the team as they make their way to Nationals and say goodbye to their teammates. “Thanks to the people. Thank you to the fans,” says Kenneth Worden in his final statement.

Image by Derek Young