Jillian Dempsey ’09 never imagined that she would one day be
standing next to a living legend. And yet there she was, at TD Banknorth Garden
on March 31, at center ice in front of 17,000 fans, receiving a prestigious
high school sports award from none other than former Boston Bruins forward Cam
Neely.
“They rolled out a red carpet and everything,” said Dempsey.
“It was such a great experience and one that I will never forget.”
Between the second
and third periods of the Bruins game, Neely presented Dempsey with the John
Carlton Award. Named after the late Bruins scout and administrator, who passed
away in 1982, the award is given annually by the Bruins to outstanding male and
female student-athletes in Eastern Massachusetts
who combine exceptional hockey skills with academic excellence.
A four-time all-ISL
selection, Dempsey had 43 goals and 20 assists this season, capping off a
prolific career in which she totaled 98 goals and 80 assists. This year the ISL
MVP helped lead Rivers to a 17-5-3 record as well as a #1 seed at the New
England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) tournament.
Despite these
accolades, nothing could prepare her for the call from Bruins general manager
Peter Chiarelli that came to her house during spring break.
“My grandmother
first received the news, and was so happy that she started to cry,” Dempsey
said. “When she told me, I was stunned. I just felt so honored and humbled to
be selected out of all of the talented hockey players in the Boston area.”