College Bound Athlete: Mary McKiernan

Mary McKiernan, a 2022 graduate of Glastonbury High School, will continue to play ice hockey at Assumption College in Worcester, MA.
           
McKiernan, who first started playing ice hockey at the age of three, was a four-year starter for the Storm co-op ice hockey team—which includes players from Glastonbury, East Catholic, South Windsor, Tolland, and Rockville.
           
Storm head coach Frank Usseglio praised McKiernan, calling her “an extremely selfless player.”
           
McKiernan starred as an all-state defender for Usseglio and was also impactful on the offensive end this past winter, filling to fill a team need and scoring a dozen goals.
           
Usseglio referred to her as “clutch”, saying most of her goals were either game-tying or go-ahead goals late in regulation.
           
“She is a great person and great leader,” added Usseglio. “She is a natural defender and has the ability to score and make plays when it counts.”
           
The Storm won 14 games this season, advancing to the semifinals before losing to the eventual state champions from New Canaan.
           
Following the season, McKiernan earned her second straight all-state selection and all-conference selections.
           
McKiernan said she loved the dynamic of the co-op team, adding. “It’s not just Glastonbury, it’s other towns too so you get to meet a lot of other kids.”
           
McKiernan was also an all-conference player on the lacrosse fields at GHS, starring as an attacker this past spring 
           
She said she chose Assumption because of the competition, size of the school, and the proximity to home.
           
At Assumption, McKiernan will be part of the foundation of the ice hockey program. The Greyhounds are slated to be elevated from a club sport to an official NCAA Division II varsity sport with official competition scheduled for the fall of 2023.
           
“I’m just excited about the college experience,” stated McKiernan. “Most kids don’t even get to that level, so being able to do that is such an honor.”