Meet the captain: Janelle Ferrara
‘I wear the same sports bra every game, and have since high school’
This Saturday is Senior Day, which means the Yale Women’s Ice Hockey regular season is coming to an end. Before she prepares to skate in The Whale for the last time, The Tab sat down with Silliman senior and YWIH captain, Janelle Ferrara, to talk about her last four years as a Bulldog.
What position do you play?
I’m a left wing.
What is your favorite game day/night before the game meal?
That would have to be a big bowl or pasta. It’s not super original, but I’m Italian so I love to eat pasta.
If YWIH were a drink, what drink would you guys be?
It would definitely be a Cup; our team loves Mory’s. We usually do the Gold ones.
Why the gold ones? There has to be a pun in there somewhere.
I don’t know, they’re just the best ones. Also, we’re #1 on the ice and #1 in your hearts.
Do you have any weird pre-game traditions?
Yeah, I actually have a few. One is, I wear the same sports bra every game, and have since high school. Another is that I tie my left skate before my right, but I think that’s pretty normal. But the weirdest one is, I eat a different color gummy bear in between each period.
YWIH is known to be quite a squad. Do you guys have any squad names?
None that are appropriate.
What’s your favorite memory from your time on YWIH?
Besides just generally being a part of the team, it would probably be the Harvard playoff game my sophomore year. I scored the game winning goal in double overtime, so that was pretty exciting!
If you could play any other varsity sport, what would it be?
I think it would be basketball because my mom played in college and she always wanted me to play when I was younger. My dad played hockey, though, so I didn’t have much choice there once he got my older sister to skate.
What’s the best part about being on Yale Women’s Hockey?
I would definitely say it’s being a part of a group of girls that are best friends. It’s the best of both worlds because you get to play the sport that you love, but at the same time you’re making connections with people that you’re going to stay close with for the rest of your life.
Finally, what advice would give to the next generation of YWIH members?
I would probably tell them not to take themselves too seriously. You obviously have to work hard and remember why you’re here, but don’t forget to have fun and appreciate your teammates, because your time at Yale goes by way too fast.
Be sure to come out and support Janelle and YWIH tonight at 7 against Colgate, and tomorrow at 4 for the Senior Day game against Cornell!