Rivers’ Jillian Dempsey Hits Summertime Ice, Plays For USA Hockey

For Rivers senior Jillian Dempsey, a lifelong dream has been to wear a red, white and blue jersey and step onto the ice to play hockey for her country.  After years of drive, determination and diligence, Dempsey has made that dream a reality.

In late June and early July of this year, Jillian, along with eighty-eight other young women from across the nation, participated in try-outs for the Under-18 US Women’s Hockey Team.  She was one of only twenty-two players selected to join the Under-18 team, which traveled to Lake Placid, NY for training from August 12th through the 23rd.

“Putting on a USA jersey, representing my country and playing with the top talent nationwide—it was indescribable,” Dempsey said.

Calling the experience “really cool,” the humble and understated young woman from Winthrop spent eleven days in training camp during the Women’s National Festival and Under-18 Series at Lake Placid, (site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and the “Miracle-on-Ice” US Men’s Hockey Team) essentially living hockey full-time.  Not only did Dempsey have the opportunity to compete with her age group but the U-18 team also had the chance to scrimmage against both the Under-22 team and the US Women’s Olympic Team.

“It was unbelievable to be on the ice with players I’ve looked up to since I was little.  Being there with the top coaches, and players like Natalie Darwitz and Julie Chu, they are some of the best players in the world,” she said.

Jillian also participated in one of world hockey’s most storied rivalries, USA against Canada.  The U-18 team played three games against Canada’s Under-18 team, with the US coming out on top with two victories to Canada’s one.  Dempsey saw time on the ice in all three games at the center position and had one assist. 

But she isn’t satisfied.

“I want to make it to the Olympic level.  Playing with the Under-18 team made me want to play for the Olympic team even more,” she said.

Up next on that road are more training camps in December, where the U-18 team will be trimmed to a total of twenty players, and then the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 World Tournament where Team USA will battle the likes of Germany, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and, of course, Canada, among others.

“I’ve definitely got to dig-in and keep working hard and working towards the goal,” she said. 

We wish her the best of luck, but if her passion has anything to say about it, luck is the last thing she’s going to need.