While most freshmen are just trying to find their place, Barzak has already found hers–on the ice.

When she’s not skating for the co-ed Patriots, Barzak wears a St. Louis AAA Blues jersey. Barzak plays for the 16U AAA Lady Blues–a highly competitive hockey team that travels all over the country.

Barzak first laced up a pair of hockey skates at the age of 7.

“Me and my dad went ice skating and I kept falling. I initially didn’t want to play [ice hockey] but I thought it was cool that there weren’t many girls playing and I wanted to be different,” she said.

Barzak played for the all-girls Lady Liberty team for two years before moving to the AAA Lady Blues at 11. Barzak travels all over the country with her Blues team, especially to cities like Detroit and Chicago.

“For AAA, we travel about two times a month, and that’s a lot of stress, but it’s a lot of fun. We go to Michigan a lot. We got to go to Montreal, Canada, for a tournament one time, and that was probably the best experience,” Barzak said.

She said she often has to miss school because of all the traveling.

“I really try to get all of my work done at school, but I’m really good at keeping up with teachers and letting them know when I’m going to be gone for hockey. When I’m home I force myself to block out time for homework before I hit the gym or the ice,” Barzak said.

While Barzak’s AAA team is all girls, she said she had to adjust to being on a coed team when she joined the Patriots hockey team. One major difference in the two teams is there is no checking allowed on her Blues team–even though the style of girls hockey can still get very physical.

“This season I got hit really hard and I just started laughing because I was so not used to it I didn’t think it was real,” she said.

However, Barzak didn’t take too long to adapt to the new rules of high school hockey.

“I’ve laid out some big hits a few times. Those have been big moments for me because it doesn’t happen often,” she said.

Barzak explained how it felt when she found out she made the varsity Patriot hockey team.

“I was just excited,” she said. “Being on the ice with them for the first time was a really cool feeling.”

Actually, there are two other girls on the Patriot hockey team this season, but Barzak is the only non-goalie, the only freshman and the only player who attends South. She said as a freshman girl on a primarily boys team, it’s harder to earn respect and easy to be underestimated.

“You can usually find a way to prove yourself, so it pushes me harder,” Barzak said. 

Support from her family, teammates, and coaches has helped her transition. Barzak’s father and grandfather also played hockey. Barzak’s sister, Taylor, is a junior soccer player for the Patriots. 

“The team is really accepting, and the coach has always pushed me to go the extra mile,” said Barzak. 

But even with all the acceptance she’s felt from her South High coaches and teammates, Barzak said she quickly learned that high school hockey is much different from AAA all-girls hockey.

“Their personalities are so different. The boys are so angry all the time. It’s definitely eye-opening when you see all the guys screaming.

Barzak said she has goals for her season and herself.

“I try to be first line and try to make the biggest impact I can. And for me, the end goal is to play NCAA in college, whether that’s at the D1 or D3 level,” Barzak said.

As a defenseman on both teams, Barzak said she has qualities she hopes will push her to the next level. Her dream would be playing for the University of Michigan in the future.

“I love being an instigator. I like getting in other peoples’ heads. I talk a lot on both teams. The boys don’t scare me,” she said.

Also, as the Team USA women’s hockey team faces Canada in the gold medal game on Thursday, Barzak said she will be watching–St. Louisian Joy Dunne is on the team and is a favorite player of hers.

“I believe the U.S. will win and I’m excited for them to beat Canada again,” she said.

Sophomore Will Garthe is a teammate of Barzak’s on the Patriots.

“She plays really good defense, and she’s provided us with a lot of good depth, which we need. She’s been really helpful to the team,” Garthe said.  

For other girls wanting to join a co-ed high school hockey team and are scared to take on all the business of school and sports Barzak has advice.

“Just push yourself, because it’ll feel awkward at first, but it’s so fun, and if you love it, your love should drive you more than the people who play with,” she said.