As sisters, Seneca (Lamos) O’Bryan and Aiyana Lamos have many shared experiences. One of those includes being part of the Comet hockey team at BFA-St. Albans. Aiyana is a freshman at BFA-St. Albans and Seneca graduated in 2023 and is a senior at Champlain College where she’s completing a double major in Graphic Design and Interactive Design
This winter, Seneca spent lots of time at the rink, not as a player, but as a photographer, documenting Aiyana and her teammates’ incredibly successful season.
Q&A with Seneca O’Bryan and Aiyana Lamos
Perspectives
What did you love about playing Comet hockey?
Seneca: It was like a family, and I loved the connections on the rink. There were several instances in which teammates called the coaches “Dad.” I got to know the people I played with so well, and we pushed each other and grew as individuals. The legacy the Comets have through the coaches and the community is incredible. If I could sum it up in a word, I’d say ‘Family.’
Aiyana: All of my teammates are like sisters, and we’ll call each other sisters for fun. I can trust my teammates and coaches, and I know they have my back. If I need a ride, I know my coaches will be there to help. I’ve been here for one season, but all of us in the locker room are a tight-knit family.
What’s your favorite Comet hockey tradition?
Seneca: I don’t know if you can call it a tradition, but we do a senior dinner at Coach (Luke) Cioffi’s house. It’s just the seniors and the coaches. Cioffi cooks, and he’s a great chef; I’m pretty sure we had stuffed shells or lasagna. The class before mine wore their prom dresses to dinner to be funny. In my year, we did a Red Neck wedding. We got an old bridal gown and did a ceremony in his living room.
Aiyana proudly displays a sign at a Comet game.
Courtesy of Seneca O’Bryan
Aiyana: I love that we’re asked to coach a younger team, usually a girls’ team. We go to a practice once a week and help. I feel like that builds a bond and builds pride in the program. I also love our celebrations. We had silly string and balloons for Coach Cioffi and Coach Rouleau’s 400th win. We sprayed them with silly string after the game. Chelsea had her 100th win this season, and we sprayed her with a lot of silly string, had balloons, and loud music. We want to appreciate them.
Siblings Baylor, Aiyana, and Seneca Lamos (now O’Bryan) pose for a photo while all three were playing for the St. Albans Skating Association as kids
Courtesy of Seneca O’Bryan
What’s it like watching each other play?
Seneca: It’s exciting to watch her live out this dream I had as a kid. Watching her play hockey is so different for me, because we’re so different as players. She’s a big defenseman, and I was a gritty little center. When I watch her, I see myself, but I also look at her and think, ‘Is this my little sister doing all of this?’ It’s so cool watching her live this super cool experience.
Aiyana: When Seneca was playing, I loved being at the rink and practically lived there. I was so excited when she had a game, and I would make posters. I’d talk to my dad about the game she’d have. I saw her and how good a player she was, and I wanted to reflect that in my own play.
What are some of your memorable moment of the each other on the ice?
Seneca: There was one game where Aiyana scored. It wasn’t her first goal. I was taking photos, and she took a shot from the blue line and hit the net. It was perfect. I remember seeing her smile—I missed the glory photo because I was so into the moment. I got that smile, and that was pretty special.
Aiyana: For me, it would be Senny’s championship game in her junior year, 2022. They were all in the huddle, cheering, helmets on the ice.I was thinking I can’t wait to be here.
Seneca, what are you doing now?
I’m finishing my last year at Champlain College, while I take photos of Aiyana and my brother, Bayler. I’m graduating in May and going into the workforce, working in technology, with a focus on graphic and interactive design. I won’t be going too far because Aiyana has threatened—she wants to have me back to take photos of her teams next season.
Photography
What do you enjoy about photographing Aiyana’s games? I really enjoy capturing what Comet hockey is all about—the vibe and the feeling in the moment. There’s so much emotion and movement, it can be hard to remember to document the little moments—smiles, chit chat on the bench. I like to be able to capture that—freeze the time and keep it safe. It’s important to remember what it felt like and what it was.
What do you enjoy about seeing your games through Seneca’s lens? She really captures the little moments on the bench or on the ice—that smile, a joke tossed between two people. Maybe an angry face. She’s giving me my own history book of my first year with Comet hockey. It’s perfect for me; it’s exactly what I want.
Family ties to the Comets
Seneca: We had a cousin, Morgan Lamos, who played Comet hockey. I always looked up to her. She wore number 8, which was the same as mine. I wanted to be a Comet because of her, and that sparked my interest.
Aiyana: I don’t remember Morgan playing, but I remember Morgan and Seneca playing at the alumni game. I couldn’t wait to be out there. I had that experience this year at the alumni game. It was great. It was the first time I’d played with or against Senny or Morgan.
Seneca: I totally dangled Aiyana on the blue line and scored. She’s not going to beat her older sister.
Aiyana: All through hockey, growing up, I played with the boys, and my dad was my coach. He was always there and had my back. He was a great human being as a coach. My mom was always there—bringing me to hockey, bringing me a snack—they had my back no matter where I went in life.
The Lamos family poses for a photo at Seneca’s senior game.
Courtesy of Seneca O’Bryan
The game
What do you love about the game of hockey?
Seneca: Everything! I love the community, especially in St. Albans. The community rallies behind the sport. I love the bonds you form with your teammates. I feel really lucky to have experienced that. I loved the people and their commitment to the game. That really fostered my passion for the sport.
Aiyana: I love the competitiveness. I’ve been competitive since I was born, like my dad. I love being on the ice. I go out there, and it calms me—I can think. I love being on the ice with my teammates and coaches. Playing hockey is one of my favorite things in the world.
What’s your favorite quality you see in each other on the ice?
Seneca: One quality I admire is Aiyana’s calmness on the ice. We’ve said about her since she was a toddler: you can never tell if she has a care in the world. She’s always steady, and that shows in how she plays and who she is. She’s either got a gritty, strong look on her face, or she’s laughing her butt off.
Aiyana: Seneca was always gritty and smart; she always came out of the corner with the puck and always put it in the right spot.
The Lamos family celebrates the 2022 Comet hockey state championship with Seneca.
Courtesy of Seneca O’Bryan
Grattitude
Thank you to parents, Kelly and Shane Lamos
Seneca: I want to thank my Dad for getting me engaged in hockey. As the oldest, I was the first person on the ice and started skating at three. He had me try all the sports, and I hated the others. I loved hockey. My little brother Baylor is an amazing hockey player, and he’s so passionate about the sport. He’s inspired me in hockey and life. I also want to thank my mom. As a three-kid household, there was a lot of dividing and conquering. We spent many hours driving to tournaments. I was on the ice with my Dad and on the road with my mom.