Great Britain defender Lucy Beal left UK shores in 2021 to go and pursue hockey and schooling in North America.
The journey hasn’t been a smooth one for the 22 year-old but the experience has served her well.
“I think the opportunity presented itself and I just thought I might as well take it. You only get one opportunity [to play college/Uni] and I wanted to develop my game more. I felt that although at home it was quite competitive, I wanted more competition, so I might as well do this while I was young.”
Beal spent one season at Hoosac Private School before heading to Norwich University in NCAA Division III. There wasn’t much difference in making the switch besides a step up in hockey education.
“Not too much [difference]. Schooling becomes an individual thing. I had to do a lot more work by myself, on time management, instead of being in the classroom more.
There is more ice time. I was practising every day. So that was really good to get on the ice [more] to work on my game. Then it’s two games at the weekend, which is sometimes hard but it’s nice at the same time.”
Not one to sit on her laurels, Beal became somewhat disillusioned during her time at Norwich and opted to transfer mid-season.
“At Norwich, it wasn’t working out for me hockey-wise. I wasn’t really playing and I wanted to work on my game more. So I went to Kings University because I knew the coach (Josh Hoff was Lucy’s coach at Hoosac). I knew that he knew my game and I just wanted to get some more ice time. Knowing him just made it an easy decision.”
Beal took on a leadership role at Kings’ and thrived in the extra responsibility, enjoying team success more than her own. The Kings program has perennially struggled but with the GB defender’s influence, the Monarchs notched a new season-high of six wins.
The Reading native set several new King’s Women’s ice hockey program records, including goals (nine), goals per game (0.41), shots (106), shots per game (4.81), power-play goals (4) and points per game (0.73) in a single season.
Last month the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) announced its 2024-25 All-MAC Women’s Ice Hockey Teams, with Beal selected to the Second Team for the second straight season.
“I found it more than useful playing a main role [at Kings]. Helping others develop their game because a lot of them look up to me for playing for Great Britain. I enjoy playing that supportive role, giving them the type of advice I’ve had from playing with GB and previous coaches.”
“I think the team has come such a long way, especially with our power play this season. When I joined the team struggled, so this year it’s been great to help the team score more special team goals which has helped us have success.”
Beal is set to return to Kings University for one final season but is also pondering her next move post-NCAA. That could include choosing to play in highly competitive European leagues.
“I’ve got one more year in the NCAA. I’m debating going to Sweden or possibly somewhere else.”
“I’ve been speaking to an old teammate from Norwich [I assume Wilda Öhman is the player in question] whose gone back to Sweden and Leanne Ganney who I know quite well (former GB captain and played six seasons in SDHL). There is also the option to return home to do my master’s and then go back overseas. I’m going to start reaching out to teams soon.”
It’s a different coaching set-up to what the Reading native has been used to at the senior level but only had positive things to say about new assistant coach Beth Hanrahan.
“It’s been really good [to have Beth involved]. It helps that she knows the American way of playing [as GB is adopting that style]. Obviously, it’s a lot different but her experience gives us that extra benefit and boost. She has a high hockey IQ from her time in the NCAA and sees the game differently.”
When Beal began her GB senior career she was a teenager and the roster is only becoming younger as more talented players are making a push for the senior squad. There are four teenagers on the current roster and six others are 24 or younger, excluding Beal.
“It’s definitely a positive to see how much competition we’ve got coming underneath (from U18s), which will push our current group more. Obviously, we’ve still got the older players to give us experience so we have calm heads in games. I do see myself a bit as a role model for the younger players but it’s a difficult one as I still see myself as young being only 22! I sometimes forget that this is my fifth world championship, but I always definitely try and help the younger squad members, especially if it’s their first tournament.”
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