There is a line in Scripture that reads, “Iron sharpens iron.” Proverbs 27:17 probably was not talking about the iron at the bottom of hockey skates, but the passage certainly fits for the Methuen/Tewksbury Red Rangers girls’ hockey team. This juggernaut of a program claimed its second Massachusetts D1 State Championship defeating fifth seed Archbishop Williams 2-0 at TD Garden to cap a 23-0-2 season. This year was a little different, however.
In July 2025, the team lost its beloved head coach Dave O’Hearn after a battle with cancer. A loss like that can send a program in one of two directions. Thanks to some terrific coaching by Ryan Sheehy and Assistant Coach Brenna Greene, and two incredible team leaders, O’Hearn’s passing only served to further ignite and inspire this dedicated group of players.
Those two terrific leaders were senior captains – goaltender Lydia Barnes and center Ella Duffy. In the wake of the championship, I had a chance to get both of their thoughts on the various aspects that constructed a championship season to be remembered.
Barnes talks about winning the state title and goals heading into this season.
“It was one of the most exciting moments of my life,” says the 17-year-old who has committed to play hockey and study elementary education at UMass Boston. “It was more than just a win for our program; we played for our ‘Why’ – Coach Dave. Winning a state championship in his honor represented resilience, unity and the impact one person can have on so many others.”
Duffy, 18, will attend Worcester State University (Honors College) and play volleyball and study occupational therapy. She is hoping to play hockey as well. The epitome of the phrase “student-athlete,” Duffy has more academic and athletic honors than Meryl Streep has Oscar nominations. She talks about her goals heading into the 2025-26 season.
“I wanted to be a good captain, to be able to help my team when they really needed me, getting goals and playing good defense in front of Lydia. I wanted to be the voice that calmed everybody down in the locker room. When things got tense, I made sure to remind everyone to keep breathing, work hard and have fun. That is how we came back and rallied in third periods when we were down, having fun!”
Barnes is a Principals’ List/Honor Roll student who also plays lacrosse and is involved in DECA, NHS and Captains Council. She discusses the impact of Red Rangers’ Interim Head Coach Ryan Sheehy: “He is a one-of-a-kind person and coach, one of the most humble people I know. When he won Coach of the Year, he didn’t even want to announce it.
“He consistently checked in with players, whether someone was having a rough practice or just didn’t seem like themselves. He stepped up in a difficult situation, and I truly don’t think there was anyone better for the role. I have no doubt that Coach Sheehy has a bright future ahead of him as a coach.”
While it is clear that the Red Rangers had talent on the ice, it takes off-the-ice camaraderie to win it all.
“I love this team more than any other team I’ve been on,” says Duffy. “We are so close and all like each other. We all get to the locker room as soon as we can to be with each other. Before practices, we would take naps on the rug or dance depending on our energy levels.
“We had pasta dinners at different players’ houses before games. Our warmups were full of dancing and singing. We basically spent as much time together as possible because we enjoyed each other’s company more than anything else.”
The dancing was often a part of O’Hearn’s routine to loosen up players’ emotions. Both Barnes and Duffy talk about his legacy.
“Even while facing his illness, he continued to show up for us with strength and a smile, always reminding us that what mattered most was supporting one another,” says Barnes. “He was someone who completely brought back the love I had for hockey, so I was inspired to lead with the same compassion and strength he showed us.”
Duffy adds, “All season I felt like I was waiting for Coach O’Hearn to show up. He had an amazing coaching style, fostering the team’s goofy side while also expecting nothing but the best from his players. We all had purple laces on our right skate for him. Some of us had purple tape on our sticks and would write things that he would say on it.
“In the playoffs, some of us wore purple ribbons for him and of course our DO (Dave O’Hearn) patch on our white jerseys. His strength through a horrible illness is the most inspiring thing when I need to keep going.”
Indeed, the memory of O’Hearn and the work of Sheehy in keeping that memory alive will stay with these players forever. Says Barnes, “I have a never-ending list of memories from this season as well as my four years on the team. We were always a very close team and I would call many of the girls I’ve played with my best friends.
“Winning a state championship will definitely be something I’ll cherish forever. I will always remember how we always supported each other and came together during our hard times. I’ll remember our silly dancing and how loud we sing. And I will forever remember the impact Coach O’Hearn, as well as the rest of the team, has had on me.”
As she nears the end of her academic and athletic career at MHS, Duffy also has some memories that will remain eternal. She relates, “Every moment I have with these girls is so fun. We watched the movie ‘Miracle’ the night before we played at TD Garden, such a remarkable experience that I will never forget. I will always be best friends with these girls and we will always be there for each other. All of the dancing in the locker room that we did before games is something I wish I could do with these girls for the rest of my life.”
Ryan’s run
The man who guided Barnes and Duffy along with their teammates is Ryan Sheehy. An assistant coach on the team for four seasons, Sheehy was named interim head coach this season. His entire year and mindset was dedicated to O’Hearn, and his team rode that emotion combined with immense talent and drive to a championship.
The 31-year-old Sheehy, an Edgenuity teacher at Methuen High School, deserves credit for keeping the team focused and leading them to a title, reason enough for a Sports Blitz Q&A
Sports Blitz: What was your immediate reaction to winning the state championship?
Ryan Sheehy: Winning the state championship is a dream come true. The girls worked so hard, overcame so much and deserved to win the state championship. I couldn’t be more proud and happy for them. We had so much fun this year and to top it off with the state title is icing on the cake.
SB: What were your goals coming into the season?
RS: Our goals coming into this season were to continue to play Red Ranger Hockey, to keep Dave’s memory and influence alive, to have fun as a team and to win hockey games. We wanted to make sure our defensive side of the game stayed strong and work on our offensive side of the game. Coming into the season, we believed defense wins championships.
SB: What are your thoughts on your captains Ella Duffy and Lydia Barnes?
RS: I can’t say enough great things about Ella and Lydia. They both are fierce competitors, hard workers, great leaders for this team, good hockey players and even better people. They are compassionate, trustworthy, super kind and very understanding. We can’t thank them enough for what they and their families have done for this team.
SB: Who are some other key players who stepped up for the team?
RS: Every person on this team played a role in helping us win the state championship. Leading our defensive core was Lyla Chapman, Kenzie Dunnett, Lauren Ryan and Maeve Burns. Sammy Ryan led the team in scoring with 31 points. Emily Barbosa, Sarah Marano and Sophia Barbosa also contributed greatly throughout the entire year. Hayden Reardon and Annalise Blais logged big minutes and scored clutch goals for us as well.
SB: How did this team mesh and get along personally?
RS: This team truly is like a family, two towns but one family. They get along so well and hang out so often that you don’t even realize that they all don’t go to the same school. They respect each other as teammates and love each other like sisters.
SB: How did Coach O’Hearn’s memory inspire you and the team this year?
RS: Coach Dave was a huge part of our success. He helped many young women become the best version of themselves. He taught us how to have fun, how to love the game, and how to win hockey games and be successful in life. He was in our hearts and minds on and off the ice this season. He was with us every step of the way. He was very defensive-minded and we used what he taught us and only let up 12 goals this season. He will forever be missed and never forgotten.
SB: How do you approach your responsibility in leading the team?
RS: I know that everyone is looking to the coaching staff to make the game plan, make sure it is being followed and handle whatever is thrown at us. If we are panicking and freaking out, that doesn’t help the team. We try to be as prepared as possible for whomever we are playing and make sure the girls are ready to go as well.
SB: Was there a point in the year when you felt like this team was going to win the State Championship?
RS: Crossing the halfway point of the season still undefeated made us really think it was possible. Coach Brenna Greene mentioned to the team that it felt and looked exactly like the Red Rangers did in 2019 when they won the state championship. It was pretty much then that we realized this group could be as successful as they wanted.
SB: As interim head coach, do you have to re-apply to get the permanent job and is that something you’d like to do?
RS: I’m not really sure what the process is to be honest, but I would love to stay if they’ll have me back. I love everything about this team and wouldn’t want to coach anywhere or anyone else.
SB: What memories will you take away and keep with you from this season?
RS: I’ll remember how much fun we had, how close we became, how successful we were and, of course, going to TD Garden and winning the D1 State Title. A huge thank you to everyone that supported us all season – the parents and families of the Red Rangers, my family and friends, and a big thank you to our assistant coach, Brenna Greene.
John Molori is an author, columnist, and a 2011 inductee into the Methuen Athletic Hall of Fame. Facebook: John Molori, Twitter @MoloriMedia. Email molorimedia@gmail.com
Coach Dave O’Hearn passed away in July 2025, but the impact he made on this team and coaches lives on!
Senior players are (from left) Emily Barbosa, Lydia Barnes, Ella Duffy and Meghan Petrone.
