SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Without a second of hesitation, Colby Amor recalls the date: September 23.

It was anything but a typical fall day for the Bishop Fenwick senior, who received some of the best news she'd ever heard on that fateful afternoon.

After more than three years of effort and some 14 years on the ice, Amor would finally be playing high school hockey in 2007-08 for the Peabody High School co-op team, she was told that day by Fenwick athletic director Bob Tierney.

"It was amazing news," said Amor. "I'd been working almost three-and-a-half years to get on this team. I was happy the entire day - nothing could've ruined that."

Amor's high school athletic career is not exactly one that has followed the beaten path. Bishop Fenwick doesn't offer a girls hockey program - and despite her best efforts, one couldn't be started there. That prompted Amor to try joining the Fenwick boys team, but she found out that door was also closed.

Neighboring Peabody did have a girls hockey team, however. Amor tried to join the Tanners last season, but couldn't.

Now, in her senior season and after cutting through a lot of red tape, Bishop Fenwick is officially in a co-operative program with Peabody that's allowed Amor to don the Blue-and-White.

"I've known Colby for years through youth hockey and coaching both her sisters. I'd been trying whatever I could to get her on the team and finally it's worked," said Peabody coach Larry Minehan. "This was really just something that had to happen for Colby."

To say that Amor is a bit of a hockey lifer might be an understatement. Inspired by a grandfather who played goalie and a pair of skating sisters, Colby was on the ice at a very young age and played boys' hockey until she was 13. At that point, with high school hockey seemingly like an impossibility, she joined the North Shore Vipers girls club team and expanded her efforts to find a high school squad.

Fast forward to her senior season, and the Peabody resident is finally on the ice for a varsity high school team. She was chosen as one of the Tanners' captains this season and has already found a place on the team's top line with four goals in just four games.

It's a spot that's been a long time coming, one that reunited Amor with Minehan (who coached her in youth hockey) as well as several teammates from the Vipers who also play at Peabody.

"I was ecstatic," Amor said of the time she found out she'd be seeing some familiar faces. "I've known (Minehan) and (assistant coach) Vinny (Patermo) forever.

"Being with these girls is awesome. It's like I go (to school) here, but I don't. They've been like a second family."

A strong forward with a hard, driving shot, Amor was honored to be selected a captain for the Tanners and has taken to those new responsibilities. While the Vipers are primarily seasoned veterans like herself, the Tanners are a mix of old pros and newcomers that Amor and the others spend time bringing along.

"She's very vibrant, almost bubbly and has a ton of energy," said Minehan of Amor. "As far as she's concerned, she's just another player on the team. She'll never tell you she's better than anybody."

Just over a month into the season, it's as if Amor was never not a member of the Tanners. Though she also plays lacrosse at Bishop Fenwick, hockey has always been her top priority, and to that end she plans to pursue a college career with Division 3 New England College or the prospective club team at Salem State, which are her top options right now.

Years after watching sister Rhiannon Amor play junior varsity for Danvers High (and go on to play women's hockey at Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac) and another sister, Rory, spend a season at Salve Regina, Colby has finally been able to skate for a high school team of her own. And she's enjoying every second of it.

"Hockey is in my blood - I love it," she said.

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Masconomet's on agan, off again co-operative relationship with North Andover is paying big dividends so far this season. North Andover's Jen Pino has been a welcome addition, and is tied for the Chieftains' (2-1) team lead in goal scoring with three tallies.

"She's been a great find for us," said Masco coach Bill Haines. "She's putting the puck in the net fairly regularly and has a really nice little top shelf shot."

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Beverly has been everything advertised and then some, sprinting out to a 3-1-0 start with an eye-popping aggregate score of 23-4. One of the biggest reasons for their success has been the play of senior captain Rachel Konaxis, who has taken on a new role as playmaker this season.

Konaxis came into the season with 70 career points and a career high of 13 assists in 2005-06. Through just four games this winter, she already has 12 helpers and leads all North Shore girls skaters with 16 points.

"We talked a little bit about that because in the past she's been our big scorer but this year her role has changed and she's much more of a playmaker," said Beverly coach Fiona Rice. "A point is a point."

The Panthers have been as strong in the defensive end, with sophomore goalie Brianna Jackson conceding just three goals in the first four contests.

"We've won a few of the games easily but there have still been strong shots (against Jackson)," said Rice. "Sometimes there's a big lapse between them and she's been able to stay sharp and make the big saves."

Meet Colby Amor

Class: Senior at Bishop Fenwick

Team: Bishop Fenwick girls hockey

Key Stats: Four goals through 4 games

Numbers game: Wears No. 3, the same one her sister Rhiannon wore in college

Favorite movies: "300" and "Mystery, Alaska"

Favorite hockey players: Ace Bailey & Bobby Orr

Pre-game superstitions: Must listen to heavy metal music and dress very quickly.

North Shore Girls Hockey Scoring Leaders

Player School G-A-Pts

1. Rachel Konaxis Beverly 4-12-16

2. Taylor Cross Beverly 4-4-8

3. Courtney McTeague Beverly 6-1-7

4. Hannah Koenig Masco 3-3-6

5. Clare Leathersich Beverly 5-0-5

5. Meg Twomey Masco 2-3- 5

7. Colby Amor Peabody 4-0-4

8. Five players tied with 3