Going into the 2025-2026 season, the Lakers were looking to have a major turn around from the year before. The year before they didn’t have very much success finishing with a record of 1-23. This year they have made major turnarounds accumulating a record of 17-5-2 and being in third place for the Varsity Gold division. Many players have had success, but two players have really contributed to this success.
Cooper Buckingham has been a part of Lakers for 3 years. He has contributed to the Lakers turnaround this year with four goals, seven assists, and eleven points. Buckingham is an assistant captain this year, and his leadership has provided a spark to the team.
“I like to lead by example,” Buckingham said, when asked how he leads the team.
Buckingham has seen a difference in himself from his freshman year to his senior year, being able to be a person that the younger people can look up to.
“During my freshman year, being the younger one, I kinda looked up to the seniors and as I’ve played, I’ve gotten better and just being in that role as a senior, I wanna leave a lasting impact on the younger guys,” said Buckingham.
Being a senior this year isn’t easy for Buckingham.
“I’m gonna miss all the friendships I’ve made, many of the seniors on the team I’ve been playing with since around third grade, and we’ve grown really close because of that, so I’m gonna miss seeing them every night at practice,” Buckingham said.
Buckingham wants to be remembered as kind and hard-working, along with being a good leader.
Brody Greig has been a part of the Lakers only for his senior year. He has contributed to the Lakers turnaround this year with 2 goals, 6 assists, and 8 points. This is Greig’s first year on the Lakers.
Greig found himself a place on this team through being able to play with friends from years past, allowing him to have confidence with the team.
“I’m playing with a lot of people I’ve played with my whole life and playing with familiar people, which boosts my confidence,” said Greig.
Greig has felt, for being a senior, that he wants to be remembered by the younger kids as a role model.
“[I want to be remembered] as a role model and someone they can look up to and ask questions,” said Greig.
This really shows what kind of person Greig wants to be like to the people around him on the team, and how he has grown from when he started playing hockey. The Lakers hockey team has given Greig a different perspective.
“It definitely made me a better person because it made me take accountability for my actions,” said Greig.
Another thing the Lakers team has given Greig through his experience are the memories, Greig stated one thing he will miss the most from the team.
“One thing about the locker room I will miss are all of the jokes the team tells because we like to make fun of each other,” said Greig.
Greig and Buckingham have been a steady force for the Lakers this year, and now they will help lead the Lakers through the playoffs, seeking their first championship in program history.
