Foulem ready for Boston
Boston University checked all the boxes for Catherine Foulem.
The 18-year-old, Grade 12 student at Ridley College has accepted a scholarship to the school to play hockey.
“I’m so excited,” Foulem said from her home in Moncton, N.B. “We’ve had a couple of team meetings already and I can’t wait to be in Boston and play with these amazing people.”
Foulem was blown away on her visit to the campus in downtown Boston.
“The coaches made me feel like I was home,” she said. “I could be completely honest with them, I didn’t feel pressured. I felt very comfortable and felt like I had a connection.
“Also, the campus was beautiful and they are one of the top 10 universities for women’s hockey, so add that to the coaching and the city and the campus, it was just the right fit for me overall.”
Foulem had hoped to go back this summer for a visit.
“I love the city of Boston. It’s sad I can’t go now but I don’t think it’s (pandemic) going to affect us because we figured out other things we can do with our team,” she said.
Foulem said the team is conducting workouts together on line and also meeting in smaller groups with the strength and conditioning coaches in order to prepare as best as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Foulem, who was a member of Team Atlantic that competed at 2019 National Women’s Under 18 Championship in Manitoba, is well aware it’s a big jump to a NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I program.
“The coaches said to keep working on my speed because the game is a step above,” she said. “They said to work on my hands and my shot. If I have a better shot I would have an advantage as a rookie and they gave me a couple of tips.”
Foulem feels her two years at Ridley prepared her for what is sure to be a hectic schedule on and off the ice.
“It was the right fit in terms of academics,” she said. “You have a busy schedule, three hours of homework a day and then practice. With that busy of a schedule, obviously that is going to prepare me to be disciplined and be ready for a lot of work and hockey.”
Foulem also acted as a prefect (senior student advisor), which she feels was a key in her overall development.
“It was an opportunity I wouldn’t have had anywhere else. It definitely made me grow as a person,” she said.
Foulem plans to major in biochemistry/molecular biology.
“I always wanted to be a teacher. When I was a child I would put all my stuffed animals on the ground and teach them,” she said. “It fascinates me how the body works and I want to understand it more.”
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