by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Long Island University played its inaugural season of NCAA DI women’s ice hockey this season on 2019-20. The Sharks schedule included 29 regular season games and four exhibition games. The Sharks competed in the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance, a league comprised of two NCAA DI and four NCAA DII programs.
The LIU Sharks defeated the No. 3 seed Saint Anselm College, 1-0, to win the 2020 NEWHA title.
Carrigan Umpherville plays ice hockey for Long Island University Post. She is Cree from the Pimickikmak First Nation in Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada.
Carrigan played for Pilot Mound Academy, Manitoba, Canada. Several native hockey players have learned advanced skills at this school. They are continuing to be a feeder to outstanding hockey colleges.
Harry Mahesh, Head Varsity Coach of Pilot Mound Hockey Academy said: “During the 2018-2019 season I had the pleasure of coaching Carrigan. It was easy to see early on that she was going to be a special impact player on the ice for us. It was obvious what she would be able to provide for us on the ice, but off the ice her character and leadership were two very unrated areas of her game. Carrigan led a lot by example, I remember her always being the first one on the ice, she loves the game and that was contagious. Teammates could see her drive on the ice and when she was on her game, every ones’ level was raised. As a coach it made my job easier, as she took both praise and criticism well. When a coach can hold their top player accountable at all times it makes others follow suit. I can recall many times where I was tough on her and no matter the outcome of the game she was able to reset and move on.”
“Many players at that age hold grudges or carry their emotions on and off the ice, but her greatest attribute was to leave the game on the ice. For my first season coaching females at this age, I quickly learned there were a lot of fires to put out inside that dressing room. Carrigan was a very low maintenance superstar that is a rarity. A very low key, low drama player that made my life a little bit easier. Another example of her character was when I asked her how she felt with Saige McKay possibly joining her in Long Island. This seemed like an easy question, but throughout that year a few of the graduating players were hesitant to commit to schools that their current teammates were also considering. I remember her looking at me a bit confused and saying, “I’m so excited! She’s my best friend, why would I not be? I want the best for her.” I’m sure she would have had that same response had I said anyone’s name, because that’s just how she was. She’s a very confident mature young woman, who truly would be happy to help any teammate,” added Coach Harry.
“Being indigenous in New York and as a student athlete doesn’t really make me feel any different from anyone else because I don’t think people realize that Saige and I are aboriginal,” said Carrigan. “Our team knows and they think it’s really cool, but besides that I want to be here to pave a way for young indigenous youth, and I want to make sure that I get my education. I am also here to let anyone know that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. You just have to believe and know that everyone around you will support you through it all. The values behind being an indigenous student-athlete is knowing that I am a role model for my home community and to other communities who know of me and I feel all the support.”
“My community influenced me and I look up to Pam McLeod because she was a student-athlete,” said Carrigan. “I thought how great that was and at that point I thought about doing the same thing. She does great things and she’s still an awesome hockey player who has better deception than me I would think. She also has some positive things to say and great advice and it really helps.”
“Beginning of my freshman year of high school everything was going smooth and I had everyone there that I grew up going to school with,” said Carrigan. “Then everything started going down hill due to the suicide crisis. I lost someone very important to me through suicide and it still hurts today, but when I think about that I really hope that never has to happen again. When I first moved out of Cross Lake in transition to the really big city of Boston, Mass. it was really hard to gain social skills considering I came from a tiny reserve. I struggled in hockey when I began to feel discouraged and felt like I wasn’t enough anymore. Before moving I also lost my grandpa like in three days. I was supposed to be leaving for Boston and I didn’t get to attend his funeral and I still really regret today. Sometimes it gets to my head because he influenced me in so many ways through hockey and supporting me every step of the way. He was someone that was always there to watch me and drive me to practices and even there he would watch me practice and he would always come to visit my siblings and I, I really miss that about him.”
“My student-athlete accomplishment are winning the Championship in this first year program, knowing that we’re all freshman and beating well established programs in the playoffs,” said Carrigan. “It really was amazing being a part of history and Saige McKay and I being named to the all-tournament team.”
“Carrigan showed tremendous growth over the course of the season,” said Rob Morgan, Head Coach of the Long Island University Sharks. “She has exceptional offensive talent that proved to be among the top players in our conference as she finished at top of all first year players and was a top 2 finish overall.”
“Carrigan’s calm demeanor coupled with her strong desire to win made her a key part of our team’s success and overall run to winning the NEWHA Championship,” added Coach Rob.
“The advice I would give is to just continue being yourself as a person and in your sport, no matter what it is just know that you can do anything if you have goals you want to achieve,” said Carrigan. “Be respectful if someone gives you advice and staying away from the bad stuff helps with a positive mind set and attitude. For me, growing up I’ve always felt the support and I respected others and I listened.”
Photo Credit: Carrigan Umpherville
I knew her grandparents and am from Pimicikamak and reading her story is a delight. My two grandchildren are near her at Post University in Waterbury, CT. Joseph is a Sophomore and Mikayla is a Freshman and both are in finance and management and Joseph is a goalie and Mikayla is a Volleyball player in an NCAA School.. Sport seems to build character, discipline focus because Joseph is on the Deans list while Mikayla’s marks hover between 90 and 100%. I wish the best for these athletes mentioned and the many others who are blazing the trail to recovery of being the best we can be.