PI girl transferring to Kents Hill

8 years ago

PI girl transferring to Kents Hill

Theriault will continue her career in hockey

Amelia Theriault is taking her hockey talent to Kents Hill School in Readfield and will attend the school beginning this fall 2016.

Theriault, the daughter of Donald and Ariana Theriault of Presque Isle, is transferring after having completed her freshman year at Presque Isle High School.
“We were at a spring tournament in 2015 in Hooksett, New Hampshire, which was hosting a prep school fair,” said her father, Donald Theriault. “A couple of schools there took an interest in her and began correspondence with us in November. After visiting a few schools, Kents Hill School felt like the best fit.”
Kents Hill School has approximately 250 students and is located near Augusta. Kents Hill is a three-sport school and Theriault plans to play soccer, hockey and a spring sport she has yet to settle on.
She will be playing hockey for Kim Nanof, a former goalie and coach at Northeastern University in Boston.
“Prep school had been something we were mindful of, although we thought it would come at least a year down the road,” said Donald Theriault. “Kents Hill pursued her very aggressively and at the end of the application process, they ended up making her an offer that we just could not refuse.
“Amelia wants to play Div. I college hockey and this is the best path for her to realize her dream. This year, she will have aged out of competitive female programs in our area,” he added.
In addition to playing with the prep school team, Amelia Theriault plans to compete with the Lewiston-based Maine Gladiators U16 Tier II girls’ team as well, which plays its schedule before and after the school season.
“This team made it to the regional finals this past year and feel as though they have the team to make it to the national tournament this coming year,” Donald Theriault added.
The past two winters, Theriault has played for a team based out of Fredericton, New Brunswick, but there is not a team available for her at the next level. While her father said she could certainly try out for the boys’ high school team at Presque Isle, the physicality of the boys’ game “makes us (and her) uncomfortable and body checking is not allowed in female hockey.”
“Too many hours have been spent in the car and too many personal sacrifices have been made,” he added, “and her love of the game put us in a position of having to explore alternate options for her to continue her career.”
Amelia Theriault recently participated in the New England District Festival in Northford, Conn. and this past spring, played for the VRed Prospects Female AAA Under-14 team based out of Fredericton. The VReds played in tournaments located in Quebec City, Hooksett, N.H. and Marlborough, Mass.
New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire was another option, but the proximity of Kents Hill and the fact that she knows or has played against three of her future teammates made it more attractive for the Theriaults.
“We have family and friends within minutes of Kents Hill, so we feel comfortable that she will be well taken care of while there,” Donald Theriault said. “The distance is such that we can reasonably drive down for a game and then drive back home. Most of the prep schools stream the games on the Internet, so we have the luxury of being able to watch from home no matter where she is.
“While we are not looking forward to the transition, we do take comfort in knowing that she is going to have people she is comfortable with right from Day One,” he added.