Alana Bouthillette excels on and off the ice, which is why the Broomfield native’s recent commitment to NCAA Division III Western New England checked all the boxes.

WNE is a Commonwealth Coast Conference school located in Springfield, Mass., about 90 miles southwest of Boston.

“I first met Coach (Katie) Zimmerman at the Haverhill NA Elite Prospect Showcase in July of 2022,” explained Bouthillette. “I really liked her coaching style and her demeanor. We kept in touch and she invited me to visit the campus and meet the team. The energy and the culture of the team really made it feel like home. That’s when I knew I loved WNE.

“WNE has an amazing science program at their school which caught my attention. WNE’s hockey is a somewhat new program that rose from their amazing head coach Katie Zimmerman that she built from the ground up. I loved how the school made me feel like home and how welcome I felt around the team itself.”

Academics have always been a big priority in Bouthillette’s life, she said.

“I’ve always strived for high academic achievements,” Bouthillette said. “I’m planning on going into Forensic Biology at WNE.”

Going back, Bouthillette said hockey has always been a family tradition.

“My dad is the reason why I started playing hockey,” Bouthillette said. “My father has played the sport his whole life and passed his love for hockey down to my brother and I. I began playing and developing the love for hockey ever since I was five in my hometown of Broomfield.”

Playing this season for the Team Colorado AAA program, Bouthillette has also played for the Rocky Mountain Lady RoughRiders, Hyland Hills Jaguars and Jr. Buffs.

“I’ve loved every hockey program I’ve had the opportunity to play at,” said Bouthillette. “Karen Rickard has coached me ever since I was 12 and has seen me grow as a hockey player and has been such a positive influence in my development and love for the sport. I also got the opportunity to play for Chris Lockrem. He’s pushed me to my limits, helped me gain my confidence on the ice, and made me a smarter hockey player overall.”

Looking forward, Bouthillette wants to stay involved with the game as long as she can.

“Some short-term goals in hockey and life are being able to transition from Tier I hockey to NCAA Division III college hockey, to be successful in my college studies, and continue to grow and develop as a hockey player under Coach Zimmerman,” she said. “Some long-term goals in hockey and life are to give back to the hockey community by continuing to coach and mentor young hockey players, especially girls.”

Photo/Be Feral Media

— Matt Mackinder

(March 24, 2024)