Jillian Dempsey ’09 Named to National Hockey Team

This is Dempsey’s second stint on Team USA; she helped the team earn a gold medal at the 2011 Four Nations Cup last November.

"It's wonderful to see Jillian's dedication and determination paying off at the highest levels of the sport,” said Rivers’ girls’ varsity ice hockey coach Melissa Dolan ’98. “She's such a humble and hardworking player. During her time at Rivers, she never rested on her talent. She was constantly looking for ways to improve her game."

A four-time all-ISL selection, All-ISL MVP, and Boston Globe All-Scholastic, Dempsey totaled 98 goals and 80 assists while at Rivers, helping Red Wings earn the number one seed at the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) tournament in 2009.

As a Rivers senior, Dempsey received the prestigious John Carlton Award from the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden. Named after the late Bruins scout and administrator, who passed away in 1982, the award is given annually to outstanding male and female student-athletes in Eastern Massachusetts who combine exceptional hockey skills with academic excellence. Dempsey was also the recipient of the Faculty Prize at Rivers and was elected a member of the Cum Laude Society at graduation.

Dempsey made her mark as a freshman at Harvard, being named to the All-Ivy League Second Team, the All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team, and ranked tenth among freshmen nationally. As a sophomore she finished the year as Harvard’s top scorer with 28 points on 14 goals and 14 assists. She was also named to the All-ECAC Team and the All-Ivy League Second Team for a second year.

This year, Dempsey was named to the All-ECAC First Team and was a finalist for the ECAC Player of the Year Award. She was also unanimously selected for the All-Ivy League First team.