Doren commits to U-Mass Dartmouth

Doug Doren’s hockey career has come a long way in just two years.

The Lakewood, Ohio, native (near Cleveland) arrived in Fort Erie just before training camp in August of 2021 never having played at the junior level and not knowing anyone.

“I was definitely very nervous,” Doren remembered. “I was the only American kid on the team at the start of the year and I didn’t know a single person there but they welcomed me and made it a home.”

Doren, who played two seasons with the Meteors, recently committed to play at U-Mass Dartmouth, a Division 3 school in Massachusetts. 

Doren was quick to give credit to Meteors general manager coach/Nik Passero and assistant coach Anthony Passero for their assistance in extending his career.

“Nik and Anthony obviously helped me out a lot. They were watching me throughout the season and obviously liked what they saw and put in a word for me,” he said. “They really helped me develop as a player.”

Doren said the school made contact and a deal was quickly worked out.

“They called me and we worked out the finances. They seemed very interested in me,” he said.

Doren wasn’t able to visit the school in person — the transmission in his car recently broke.

“Obviously, I wanted to go there (for a visit) but the coaches were very nice and helped me financially to get there,” he said. “It just seemed like the right fit.”

Doren, who plans to study business, is hopeful he can step into the lineup right away.

“They said the ice time is there and I just have to work for it. I spent the last two years in Fort Erie working hard there and I think I’m ready. I think I just have to put in the work in the off-season and I’ll be good,” he said.

Doren scored just three goals his first season with the Mets, but that didn’t deter him from finding other ways to help the team.

“Honestly, my first season I struggled offensively so I just learned to be good defensively because I was already good on face-offs,” Doren said. “It worked out and I really developed the last few years.”

Doren said accepting the role is a key to becoming a solid defensive forward.

“It takes the buy-in to know you’re not going to score every shift,” he said. “You just have to buy in, play defence, keep the puck out and keep it moving up the ice.”

Doren became a favourite of the coaching staff.

“So happy for Doug and his family,” Nik Passero said. “Doug is a kid that just stuck to the process with us, believed in the coaching staff and the organization and put the work in. 

“He is one of the players that came here as a young boy and left as a man. He was great for us.”

Doren leaves the Meteors with fond memories of his time in orange and black.

“Honestly, I don’t think there was anywhere else I would have rather played those two years than Fort Erie,” he said. “Met so many good people — obviously coaches Nik and Anthony were great to me — but everyone else was excellent, the billets were awesome.

“It was a great experience.”

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