By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough – In many ways, Emme Ostrander is a typical preteen girl. The 12-year-old Westborough resident attends Venerini Academy in Worcester. She has two supportive parents, Laura and Al, an older brother, Nick, with whom she shares a bit of sibling rivalry, and two small dogs that she dotes on. She is also an excellent athlete. Emme's story is a bit different because her chosen sport is ice hockey, she's a goaltender, and she plays primarily on boys teams.
Her talent has taken her on a journey all over the United States and Eastern Canada. This spring it will take her to Prague in the Czech Republic, where she will participate in the World Selects Invitational as part of the East Coast Selects (ECS-O) elite girls team.
Emme currently plays with the 99 Providence Capital AAA Elite Boys team, in North Smithfield, R.I. Playing with all boys does not faze her, she said.
“They all accept me and try to protect me during the games,” Emme said. “I also like playing with them because the shots are harder and faster. They are more competitive so that makes me work harder.”
Laura said Emme got her start in hockey when she was seven, playing on a mites team. Each player had to take a turn playing goalie.
“Once she had her turn, she didn's want to give back the pads,” Laura said. “She's been a goalie ever since.”
Although she looks formidable in net, once out of her pads and skates, Emme is a mere 5″3″.
But it's her determination and steady focus, her mother said, not physical stature that helps her excel in what at times is a very rough game.
“She's not flashy,” Laura said. “She's very even-keeled. If she gets scored on, she doesn's let it get to her,” Laura said. “She just puts it behind her.”
Emme said that although she is a Boston Bruins fan, it is not their unorthodox star goaltender, Tim Thomas, whom she strives to emulate. Rather, she prefers the classic styles of the New York Rangers net minder Henrik Lundquist or the Detroit Red Wings Jimmy Howard. In fact, one of the many camps she has attended was run by the Red Wings goalie coach, Jim Bedard.
Emme's coach for the World Selects Invitational will be Manon Rheaume, the only woman (and herself a goalie) to sign a National Hockey League contract.
Kathy Pippy, the director of girls hockey for the Selects Hockey program said it was Emme's work ethic and talent that earned her an invitation to try out for the team.
“I had the pleasure to learn about [Emme], a young girl playing goalie at the highest boys” level, about a year and a half ago,” Pippy said. “We invited her to our 99 Junior Selects last summer where she displayed outstanding skill for a 12-year old. I was happy to invite Emme as one of only eight goalies to our 99 East Coast Selects tryouts and excited for her that our coaches selected her for the team.”
Off the ice, Emme said she enjoys being with her friends and playing golf when time allows. Her friends do not think it odd that she plays a predominantly male sport.
“They think what I am doing is great,” she said. “They come to a lot of my games and cheer for me.”
No one is probably a bigger fan than her father, Al. He is an on-call Westborough firefighter, and is now retired from IBM. Life as his daughter's chauffeur, travel companion and secretary of sorts keeps him busy, he said. But it is clear that he enjoys every moment.
“We are very fortunate that I can do this,” he added. “Not everyone can take two weeks to travel to the Czech Republic for a tournament.”
Although she is only 12, it is natural for Emme and her parents to look forward to the future. Several prep schools have taken an interest in her daughter, Laura said. Playing for a Division 1 college and perhaps, the Olympics might also be possibilities for Emme.
For now though, she is looking forward to playing hockey this spring in the Czech Republic.
“I's really excited,” she said. “I's really looking forward to it.”