Make the safe play and try to blend in – that’s what a lot of freshman hockey players think to themselves in their debut seasons.

But St. Mary’s Bella Freitas isn’t any old freshman. She’s more of a ‘score a hat trick in your first game’ addition to the team.

“That felt really good,” Freitas said after making it look easy against Bishop Fenwick back in December. “I was really satisfied with the first goal, but I knew I could get more, so I kept pushing.”

The right-handed sniper from Everett – born in 2009 while coach Frank Pagliuca was in his fourth season helming St. Mary’s – has settled into the powerhouse program (14-1-1; No. 2 in MIAA Division 1) quite nicely.

“She is extremely coachable, is a great teammate, and has a very high compete level. Bella has a dynamic skill set. Her skating and edge work looks effortless,” Pagliuca said. “She has the unique ability to accelerate out of tight spaces. Bella possesses excellent vision, a quick shot release, and is an excellent passer.”

He could’ve gone all day about Freitas, who has registered 26 goals and 11 assists through 15 games. 

“It was pretty easy,” Freitas said about adjusting to the high school level.

But her journey began at 5 years old when she first learned to skate.

“A year later, I started to learn to play and stuff like that,” she said. “I played with my town, from mites all the way to my first year of bantams. A couple years into playing with the girls, I started playing with the boys.”

As the ice time racked up, so did her skills. Freitas believes her skating, shooting, and stick-handling are her top attributes.

“She is really working hard in becoming an elite 200 foot player,” Pagliuca said.

Perhaps more importantly, she developed a passion for the sport.

“I really liked when I got the puck and could just skate with it. I loved how the breeze would hit my face,” Freitas said. “And when I was growing up, my favorite player was Sidney Crosby.”

Don’t worry, Bruins fans.

“Now, David Pastrnak,” she added. “He’s growing on me.”

St. Mary’s, which fell in last season’s Division 3 state championship against Shrewsbury, is poised for another deep tournament run.

“We won the league title, so that’s the first step to the state championship. We can’t take it for granted yet,” Freitas said. “I think we need to really keep up our confidence, but not get too overconfident. That doesn’t go well for any team.”

True, even when her Spartans have a +2.13 margin of victory this season.

And win or lose, a coach remains proud of his player.

“Bella is a great kid on and off the ice,” Pagliuca said.