Kelly Thorne of Old Town has found that the transition from high school to college has been much to her liking.

While in high school, Thorne and another girl disproved skeptics who didn’t think girls could be productive high school hockey players.

Now Thorne is making believers out of doubters who thought she’d get lost in the shuffle playing women’s college hockey.

The junior right wing plays regularly for head coach Russ McCurdy’s University of New Hampshire women’s team, the second-ranked team in the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

The 5-1 Wildcats are setting their sights on a second straight ECAC championship.

“The last three years have gone fairly well,” said Thorne. “We’ve had a lot of fun and I’ve gotten much more comfortable with everything.”

Thorne plays on the fourth line, but is working to move up to one of the top two lines.

“I just want to get more self-confidence. … be a little more daring,” said Thorne. “I need to get so I’m not afraid to fail.”

Right now, she’s content with the progress she has made as a full-time member of the fourth line and part-time member of the third.

The junior psychology major has made one assist in six games and hasn’t been called for any penalties. She is still looking for that elusive first goal of the season, however.

In her college career, Thorne has played in 52 games, tallying three goals and 18 assists.

The differences between high school hockey and women’s college hockey were even more pronounced than Thorne said she believed they would be.

Playing in the Old Town High School alumni hockey each of the last three years has made those differences obviously apparent.

“It’s not really physical at all; there’s no checking,” she said. “It’s also a little bit slower than high school.”

Slower?

“I noticed the speed difference right away.

“High school pace is a lot faster, even moreso than women’s college hockey,” said Thorne.

She further explained that the women’s college game is more of a finesse game, emphasizing skating ability and stickhandling.

The switch in emphasis from a physical game to a finesse game has forced Thorne to work on her passing and stickhandling skills.

“I wish I had worked more on my passing and skill work while I was in high school,” Thorne said.

Thorne’s academic transition has gone even more smoothly. She is carrying a 2.8 grade point average and is right on track for her degree in psychology.

“I like most of my classes. The professors are easy to approach for help,” Thorne explained.

“And I really think I made the right choice for my major. I’d like to concentrate either on child or sports psychology.”

Thorne has gained much from hockey.

Her triumph over the adversity she encountered as one of the few girls playing high school hockey should help to prepare her to meet even the toughest challenges – both in and out of college.