Mikaella Rollie-Murph '25 Recruiting Profile

Living in Georgia, I’m often asked, “How’d you get into hockey?” My automatic response is, “My dad is Canadian.” 

Those four words imply enough about my upbringing to stop a follow-up conversation. My response sometimes precedes a slow nod of the head in my direction and tacit understanding.

But, what Georgians don’t realize is that my passion for hockey transitioned to my own as a teenager. Somewhere along the way, I stopped playing because it made my dad happy, and I started playing because I enjoyed the challenge. The adrenaline in a game and the camaraderie of the team built up my own enjoyment of the sport. 

Soon I was able to pick up skills and begin to see my improvement impact my entire team on the scoreboard. Boys on the team who pretended I didn’t exist suddenly told me that I made a good goal, gave me unsolicited fist bumps, and quickly came to my defense when the competition got physical or nasty. Proving myself to the team gave me a goal to strive towards since, I was the only girl, I felt that I had to earn my place. 

On the Lady Warriors travel team, we have a similar goal to strive towards, the player of the game. Each game our coaches will award one player for an outstanding performance or hard work in the form of a Viking hat. The first time I got the hat I remember feeling so excited since I had been pushing myself each game not only because I wanted our team to win, but also partially for a chance at getting the hat. 

Similarly, on the Lady Warriors, at the end of the season, the Southern Girls Hockey League (SGHL) gives each team a grit award given to a player who showed effort, skill, hard work on and off the ice, and a positive attitude. I was shocked and overjoyed to have been granted this award for the 2023-2024 season! This meant the world to me since there are so many talented and amazing ladies on our team who would have been amazing candidates for the award, and yet Coach chose me.

During travel team season, every weekend is a visit to a new town, another state, and more breakfast buffets with the team. It’s bonding camaraderie and personal growth. Sometimes our team will go out to dinner, Escape-the-Space, or play cornhole at a restaurant in Nashville. At times, I’ll admit, balancing it all was difficult, but I could not be happier for all the friends and experience I have gained.

Fast-forward to today, and I’m glad my dad is Canadian. Although I grew up in the U.S., his culture has given me the passion and ability to play a sport I love. Playing in college would be a dream come true, not for him, but especially for me.  

See my website for a more in-depth look at what I do off the ice: 

https://sites.google.com/athensacademy.org/mikaella-murph-rollie?usp=sharing