This has been a very special opportunity to reflect on my time at Harvard. It is a privilege to be inducted to the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Thank you for this honor. I still smile to think of the the many special moments that I was fortunate enough to experience during my time as a Harvard student-athlete. I am filled with gratitude. From my recruiting trip, to the National Championship win in overtime in my freshman year, to our NCAA Championship game during my senior year, it was an extremely special time of my life. I remember very clearly coming to visit the campus on my official recruiting trip. I called my parents from Harvard Square, and with an excited joy in my voice, I told them that I thought I could be really happy here!

I was filled with anticipation before arriving at the school for my freshman year. I didn’t fully know what to expect, but I had the sense this would be a wonderful adventure. From my first day as a freshman in Greenough to my graduation day as a senior, my expectations were always exceeded.

There is no question that life was busy while pursuing excellence in classes and with the hockey team, but I quickly learned the importance of time management. I always found that gratitude was a powerful emotion for me. I started to take what I called “moments of appreciation” as I would walk over the bridge from classes to the athletic facilities. Being a Harvard hockey player was exactly where I wanted to be.

Thank you to Coach Katey Stone for believing in me, and for providing me with the experience of a lifetime. Lessons I learned from the years of playing on your team are still lessons that I apply to my life and career to this day. I grew as an athlete and as a person more than I could have imagined. I always enjoyed your vision of searching for great people, not just talented hockey players. It was a valuable environment each day and I treasure the memories.

Thank you to my Harvard Hockey teammates. You are all exceptional. Thank you for the laughs, the support, and the lasting friendships. I am still thankful for the chance to be surrounded by you. We shared great times on the ice including practices, Ivy League Championships, ECAC playoff games, Beanpot games, and Frozen Four events. We always had laughs in the locker room, words of encouragement for each other on the bench, endless enjoyment of wearing our DHA tuxes on bus trips, enjoyed team meals or getting a slice of pizza from Noch’s, and super team even navigated winnebago adventures.

Thank you to my parents for encouraging me along this Harvard path. They provided tremendous support and guidance at every stage of my life. They always give me perspective, and I loved sharing Harvard moments with them. It was truly a highlight to see them watching a game at Bright Hockey Center, or walking to dinner with them at John Harvard’s after a weekend game. My brother Jason was also an inspiration for me. I had the chance to see him compete in the NCAA and that motivated me along my journey.

Thank you to my husband Adrian and our two young girls. We wish for our daughters to find friends as wonderful as the ones I was fortunate enough to find through Harvard hockey. We will encourage them to find a path they will thrive in. We hope they can find a similar enjoyment from experiences down the road as the love that I will always have for my Harvard days. It was fulfilling and rewarding.

Congratulations to the other inductees this year. Tiffany, Dominic, Carl, and Dan - pleasure to share this with each of you!