“It’s always been my dream to come here,” Amy Doherty said.
The first-year Carleton Ravens forward has already left quite an impression on the women’s hockey team after scoring three goals and one assist to end the preseason. She scored twice in the 3-2 win over the Laurentian University Voyageurs on Sept. 15.
“Usually I start off pretty slow in the season and work it up, and last year, I ended my season on a high, so it was good to continue it instead of taking a couple of games to get into it,” she said.
Doherty was the second leading scorer in the Junior Women’s Hockey League last year as a member of the Ottawa Jr. Lady 67’s Interim.
She praised her teammates for her quick start: “They always give me a good pass and that’s why I’ve been scoring.”
Despite fulfilling her dream, playing at Carleton wasn’t always inevitable.
Growing up, the Stittsville native tried many other sports before she found her passion in hockey.
The 18-year old also dealt with hip and back problems during the past two years.
“It’s been really hard to do some activities training-wise,” Doherty said. “Squats have been a challenge for me, so even just getting weights high enough to get it in my legs, just in my hip—it’s been a huge setback.”
She said perseverance and positivity has helped her overcome it. “Trying to get over that and train as hard as I can and keep up with everyone else has been hard,” she said. “Hopefully I can do it.”
Doherty also credits her work with strength and conditioning coach Nick Westcott since she’s arrived at Carleton—“a good challenge,” she calls it.
“He’s so awesome,” she said. “Even if you have a small injury, he will just completely change something slightly so you get all the muscles worked in, so it’s really good.”
Doherty has also received praise from head coach Pierre Alain since arriving on the team.
Alain said “it’s her hockey sense” which makes her unique. “She knows where to go to get the puck and she knows where to move the puck and where to be to get the puck. And she finishes well.”
Doherty’s first goal came against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees in the frosh week game on Sept. 6, as she slotted home the puck in front of a roaring sellout crowd.
“I was just so stressed, just coming out and seeing everyone,” she recalled. “Especially my first year, I know a lot of the people. Some of my best friends were standing right next to the bench.”
“It was a lot of stress, but being able to get that first goal and just the crowd went crazy—it was really awesome experience,” she added.
She committed to Carleton due to the welcoming atmosphere and because it was close to home.
“Even when I came for the first time just to practice with the team [before she chose Carleton], I knew everyone was super friendly,” she said. “Everyone was coming to talk to me, to ask where I played and if I want to come.”
“When you’re actually joining the team, it just kept going,” she said. “We’re already a family and it’s been [over] a month together so it’s easy to communicate and play well together when you’re basically best friends.”
Doherty said while the transition to university hockey hasn’t been as difficult as expected, she hasn’t played McGill or Montreal yet.
That’s in the future. For now, she’s enjoying living out her dream.
“The team is so awesome—the rink is awesome,” she said. “It’s such a privilege to wear that Ravens jersey that I just hope I can continue playing well and show them that I deserve to be here.”
Provided Photo
