Family hat trick: Samoskevich’s siblings shoot and score on ice

In Newtown, the story of the modern Hanson Brothers is going to be among the Samoskevich siblings only much more sophistically and skillfully, and the long hair belongs to the women. Back after the movie Slap shot featuring Hansons, three long-haired brothers who were crazy (1977), women’s hockey was nowhere near as popular as it is today. It was not yet an Olympic sport; it will indeed last another 21 years.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and twins Maddy and Mackie Samoskevich, both 18, and their older sister, Melissa, 24, have made quite a famous name on the ice even during these hot summer months.

The National Hockey League Florida Panthers drafted Mackie at the end of July (see related story); Maddy begins her second year at Quinnipiac University; and Melissa, who had a successful career at Quinnipiac, is in her second year as an assistant coach on the Penn State University women’s hockey team.

This trio of hockey-loving siblings has made their collective mark by adding up goals and points, and every Samoskevich player has represented the United States on national teams. In fact, they all wear the red, white and blue Team USA shirt games on the same day, August 17, 2018. Maddy matched the U18 team, Mackie dressed for the US in the Five Nations Tournament in Piestany, Slovakia, and Melissa played for the U22 team.

This is the hat trick of the day for the family.

One of Maddy’s most memorable hockey experiences came when she traveled to Japan to represent the United States in 2019.

It was one of the greatest experiences ever, he said. It was such an amazing opportunity. It’s something I will remember for the rest of my life.

Every Samoskevich has had tremendous opportunities to travel and play against top-notch competition. It has been made possible by a combination of things, including, of course, natural skill and hard work. Thank Mom and Dad for helping them do it, not only by getting them on and off the track when they were kids, but also by offering one.

Parents Patty and Fred (who played hockey when he was in high school) built an ice rink with boards in their Sandy Hook yard when Melissa, Maddy, and Mackie were young. She knew the kids would fall in love with the game, Patty said of her husband.

Definitely did.

In winter it was used in hockey, and in other seasons it was used in street hockey. Kids still use this in the summer when they’re at home, they shoot almost daily, Patty added.

When I built the field in the backyard, it only happened when the concrete trucks turned up stirring the concrete, I said to myself: What are you doing? Fred said lightly. That was our savings from the pool. It turned out to be the beginning of a journey I could never have imagined.

He laid the groundwork for the ice surface and much more for starting three successful hockey courses.

All three Samoskevich skaters started on ice at a young age and played hockey with young teams in the area at the age of 5. They broke into the Brewster Ice Arena in New York with the Brewster Bulldogs / Westchester Express, and Maddie also skated on the Western Connecticut show from Danbury. They then moved to the Mid Fairfield Blues from Stamford Twin Rinks. Melissa, Maddy and Mackie continued to play at Shattuck St Marys Prep School in Minnesota.

Maddy has always played defense, but is a strong two-way player: He had the fourth most points among Quinnipiac defenders. Last February, he earned the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Weekly Rookie Awards.

The Quinnipiac defender’s ice rating was plus seven, meaning he was on the ice with seven more goals the team scored than allowed during the season. He also blocked ten shots. Maddys ’ability to help participate in both offensive and defensive areas has served his team well. When she’s home from school, Maddy finds time to serve clients as a waitress at the Blue Colony Diner.

When she was in elementary school, Maddy gave up hockey for a year to try other things like dancing and track, but soon she felt left out and returned to the ice.

He has good memories of that backyard field and got a lot of great practice as a lone defender trying to stop his offensive brother and sister.

We had a good system out there to grow in the backyard, a Quinnipiac defender said.

Mackies’ real name is Matthew. When the twins were little, Maddy couldn’t tell Matthewa, so he called him Mackie and it stuck, Patty said.

Mackie has liked hockey even before he learned to skate. You couldn’t take the stick out of his hands when he was 3, Patty noted.

Moving forward, Mackie competed in the U.S. Five Nations Tournament and also in the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament. He has played for the last two years in the United States Hockey Association (Chicago United). Last year, Mackie served as assistant captain and they won the league championship, bringing home the Clark Cup. Mackie played 36 games with Steel in the 2020-21 season and scored 37 points (13 goals and 24 assists) and scored ten points in eight post-season games. Florida selected him in the first round.

He attended the U.S. Hockey Worlds Junior Camp in Michigan this summer, a showcase event featuring players from different countries, and will attend the University of Michigan in the fall.

The Samoskevich twins have followed in the footsteps of their older sister. Mackie said helping her sister work shaped her.

Melissa said she tried not to influence the decisions of her younger siblings, but encouraged them.

Definitely had so much fun growing up and watching them play because they are so good. That’s why I ended up in hockey, said Maddy about Mackie and Melissa.

Melissa made her debut for the U.S. women’s national team in the 2018 Four Nations Cup. As a member of this team, she competed in the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women’s World Championships and earned a gold medal in 2019. As a member of the U.S. U18 women’s national team, Melissa participated in two women’s IIHF Women’s World Championships, earning gold in 2015 and silver in 2014. She was triple in the U22 member of the women’s women’s selection team in the U22 series compared to Canada (2015, 2016, 2018), three times the member of the U.S. U18 women’s selection team at the U18 series v. Canada (2012, 2013, 2014) and five times the number of participants in women’s national festivals (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018). Melissa participated in the 2018 U.S. Women’s National Team Evaluation Camp World Championships.

Melissa was second on the team with 23 points in the 2018-19 season at Quinnipiac. At a younger age, he scored 15 goals and 25 points at the team level. Melissa scored 29 points in as many games as a sophomore and 32 points (a complete division of 16 goals and 16 assists) to earn the ECAC Newcomer of the Year first. He finished second in the country with eight game wins in the first year.

Succeeding on the ice may have been rewarding, and Melissa enjoys competitiveness, but one of her favorite parts in hockey is building friendships along the way. He describes his teammates as like family.

Mackie, Maddy and Melissa and Patty and Fred enjoy each other’s company. When they find time, the trio playing hockey plays a round of golf together. Mackie describes returning home when everyone is there, with the opportunity to be close to her four best friends.

Hockey has taken a unique turn for each of them in recent years. After graduating from a rather impressive college career, Melissa has turned her attention to coaching at the collegiate level and joined the Penn States coaching staff two years ago and is on her way to a master’s degree in educational management. Melissa has found ice age at different levels when she has time for coaching. In fact, he signed with the Connecticut Whale Professional Team for the playoffs last spring.

Coaching requires a lot of travel for games and recruiting, but Melissa still plays hockey in the men’s league in Pennsylvania and at home in Connecticut when she has the chance.

I am very grateful for the opportunity, Melissa said of joining the Penn State team behind the bench.

Just like everyone else, Samoskevich appreciated the opportunity to play hockey in his backyard. It certainly paid off.

It makes a huge difference when you try to heal and grow, Melissa said.

Mackie remembers being on the ice at six before school and again in the afternoon after. Her sisters remember spending countless hours on the ice.

It was a place where I could be myself and not worry about anything, Mackie added.

Hockey has taken all the Samoskevich kids very far from the backyard, all over Connecticut fields, the Midwest, Europe and Japan.

It’s pretty unique, Mackie admitted.

Sports reporter Andy Hutchison is available at [email protected].

Maddy Samoskevich is a Quinnipiac sophomore this season. photo: Rob Rasmussen

Mackie Samoskevich dominates the puck at Chicago Steel. He helped Steel win the USHL Clark Cup.

Melissa Samoskevich had a successful career at Quinnipiac.

When they don’t compete on ice, Samoskevich’s siblings go to the golf course. Pictured from left are twins Maddy and Mackie and Melissa.

Maddy Samoskevich earned the ECAC Weekly Rookie Awards on her Quinnipiac freshman list. photo: Rob Rasmussen and graphic photo: Maggie Pruitt / Quinnipiac Athletics

Melissa Samoskevich is an assistant coach on the Penn States women’s hockey team. photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics