By Quinn Graves
Special to The Star-Herald
The old adage “hard work pays off” is something many of us try to pass on to those in the next generation, hoping that they will take the advice and see what they are able to accomplish. One local teen listened to this advice early on, and it’s paying off greatly now.
Presque Isle High School hockey goaltender Jillian Flynn had a phenomenal year. She helped the Wildcats reach the Eastern Maine Class B championship game and last fall was selected to represent New England as one of four goalies on the U17 team.
This isn’t the first time Flynn has made the select squad, as she has only missed the cut once in all her years of eligibility. The team is used to identify male and female hockey players in Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut who are felt to be qualified to go on to the national Olympic camp held each summer. This is also a great place for the young athletes to be seen by colleges, as scouts from across the region attend the games to see potential recruits early on. The tournament will be held March 27-30.
Success like this doesn’t come easy. The Caribou resident has spent years honing her skills, and is constantly training throughout the year.
“I started skating when I was 3 on a rink in our backyard. Ever since then it’s been my love,” she said. “I’m always thinking what will be best for my upcoming game or my hockey career in general. I’ve never known different than loving hockey, so it really is my life.”
During the season, Flynn spends four days a week at the rink and one day training at County Physical Therapy. When the off-season rolls around, she doesn’t slow down, spending her time attending camps and getting trained by professional goalie coaches, which her father and coach, Carl Flynn, says has benefited her both physically and mentally.
“I think that not only improved and refined her skills, I think it also gave her a lot of confidence,” he said. “Especially when it relates to her playing with boys who are bigger, stronger and often older than she is.”
All the work paid off this season, as she stopped 89 percent of the 379 shots she faced with a goals-against average of 3.0.
One of the challenges Flynn faces that is inherent of being the only girl on the boys’ team is standing out a little more.
“I’m not the regular guy on the team. I have to work a little harder to keep up with the training that the boys do, but I keep up,” she said. “I’m held at a higher standard physically than most girls … I have to be able to perform at the same level the boys do. It’s worth it — it’ll get me further with my hockey career. It challenges me.”
There are a few people that have inspired Flynn to accomplish all she has in her hockey career, including her father, family members, friends, teammates and coaches. One of the bigger influences, however, has been her brother Adam, a former Wildcat standout player.
“[He] graduated last year but has been my supporter all along. It was a dream come true to be on the same team as him last year,” she said. “When I was little, I wanted to be like him so I started playing hockey. He started it all and kept it going. He has shot pucks at me for hours on end ever since I was little. He’s always pushed me to be successful and I owe a lot of my hockey success to him. He’s my No. 1 supporter, and isn’t afraid to say so.”
The other big influence for her was her grandfather, who would watch her play in the backyard as a kid. “He passed away in 2006 when I was only 9. He was a hockey lover, and I would love to see him at my games now. Now I know he’s with me at every game, giving me the lucky bounces I need.”
Jillian Flynn doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. She wants to continue playing hockey in high school, as well as soccer in the fall and softball in the spring. When it’s time to graduate and pursue her college degree, she hopes to play at a Div. I or Div. III NCAA program.
If she keeps working as hard as she is now, her future in the sport is a bright one.
