We Did It!!

After a big win, hockey players will often remove their gear, enabling you to photograph their exultant faces.

Yale's Courtney Pensavalle (19), Mallory Souliotis (14) and Kaitlin Gately (20) celebrate with teammate Eden Murray (8) after clinching playoff spot with 2-0 win over Quinnipiac.

 

The Photo

The Yale women’s ice hockey team needed to win its final game of the regular season at home vs. higher-ranked intrastate rival Quinnipiac, in order to make the ECAC playoffs.  Players were charged-up, fans were loudly enthusiastic, and the game was intensely played, with Yale clinging to a narrow 1-0 lead after a 2^nd period power play goal, and Quinnipiac almost typing the game several times.  With 1½ minutes remaining, Quinnipiac pulled their goaltender, and Yale scored an empty net goal to finally clinch the crucial victory.

 

After the big win, Yale players streamed onto the ice to celebrate, and I captured many photos of hugs and raised arms in a “v” for victory.  Unfortunately, as with many hockey photos, the winners’ joyous faces were hidden beneath the players’ helmets and face shields.  However, because this was the final home game, it was also Senior Day, when the school celebrated the graduating senior women’s hockey players on the ice after the game. So when the players remained on the ice, removing their helmets and face masks, and continuing the celebration, I was able to photograph several powerful close-ups of the happy players. 

 

3 Tips

1.     Look for opportunities to photograph hockey players’ reactions without face masks hiding their facial expressions.

2.     After an important victory, watch for players removing their helmets and face masks to celebrate.

3.     Use a long lens to photograph their happy reactions and expressions up close.