The Vineyard girls hockey team season ended sooner than planned Thursday, with the girls losing 5-2 at home to Norwood.

The Mustangs came charging out of the gate and rattled the Vineyarders early with two goals in the first six minutes. Having played each other in the final regular season game, the Vineyard girls were eager for redemption but Norwood had an answer for purple’s attack.

The Vineyard boys hockey team successfully defended home ice Wednesday with a 5-1 victory over Fitchburg in the opening round of the playoffs.

The boys hockey team, girls hockey team and boys basketball team have made it into the winter sports playoffs and have their first matchups this week.

Coach Mike Joyce has led the varsity basketball program for 20 years. His team is 17-2 this year, and ranked number one in the league.

On the hardwood and on the ice, in the pool and on the track, the regional high school winter sports teams have excelled in every arena this year.

It’s been more than 40 years since anyone has laced up wrestling shoes at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. But Coach Jerry Kadien is working hard to bring the program back.

The Martha’s Vineyard Regional School District filed a motion for a summary judgment with the state Land Court last month, requesting the court make a ruling on the case without having to go to trial.

Winter sports feels the heat as swim team sends five to sectionals, boys basketball rolls to 13-1 and boys hockey win their 13th straight game.

It was the battle of the Islands on the ice last weekend as the Vineyard boys and girls hockey teams trekked to Nantucket to defeat the Whalers dramatically and defiantly.

The Vineyard boys and girls high school hockey teams began the winter sports season last weekend with a flurry of scrimmages against teams from all over New England.