Fourth-year Hockey Mountie EmmaRae Murphy chose Mount Allison for its academic reputation, small town, and the close-knit hockey team.

“When I came to visit, I could tell the team was super close and I am also from a small town, so I liked that part too,” she says.

From Petitcodiac, NB, Murphy started playing hockey when she was four. She played minor hockey until Grade 10 and then began travelling to Moncton to play with the Midget AAA Rockets women’s team.

“I met a lot of friends there and coaches who played in the AUS and helped me look for schools,” she says.

Murphy says her greatest strength in the game is her defense in the corners, not giving up shots and goals, and protecting the zone.

Her most memorable moment as a Mountie is the team’s 2018 OT win vs. UNB at their home opener after an extended absence from the league.

“There was a huge crowd and we ended up winning the game in overtime. It was so much fun,” she says.

In her first year she was named the team’s Rookie of the Year. She was recently named Athlete of the Week for her solid defensive performance vs. UNB.

“It was really special to win this award,” she says. “Especially with so many great athletes at Mount Allison.”

An honours chemistry student, Murphy is also on the SAMHI executive focusing on student-athlete mental health.

She plans to pursue a career in healthcare administration or chemical engineering.