Olivia Sorlie, Peighton Walker still loving college hockey

Aug. 1—JAMESTOWN — After graduating from Jamestown High School, Olivia Sorlie packed up her hockey stick and moved to the southwest part of the United States.

Right now, she's loving her decision.

"Since graduating from JHS, I have had amazing time experiencing life in a completely different part of the country," Sorlie said. "Going to a large university has been a big adjustment, but it has also given me many opportunities to grow as a student-athlete."

Sorlie was one of three Jamestown High School Class of 2024 athletes who made the decision to play hockey at the collegiate level. The former Blue Jay goalie committed to the University of Arizona in her senior year. She completed her second season at Arizona in February.

"I have loved every minute of it and can't wait for these next two seasons," Sorlie said. "We just completed our second season as a program and were pretty successful. It's rewarding to see even little improvements since we are still a relatively new team."

As a team, the Wildcats went 9-9 in its second season as a program.

"We were able to set the standards of what we want the team to be now and in the future," Sorlie said. "We have also given a lot of our time back to the community, which is always an amazing opportunity. In the spring, we worked with a former pro hockey player to organize an all-girls camp to allow local girls to try out hockey in hopes of growing the hockey community in Tucson."

University of Arizona competed as an ACHA Divsion 1 Independent team last season.

"We were allowed to play top-ranked teams from across the country," Sorlie said. "Playing these programs makes us a better team and helps us with the national rankings as well. While we didn't make nationals this year, we improved our standings from the prior year. The goal of this year is to make nationals and I think we have a strong incoming class that can help us reach that goal."

During the season, usually between mid-September and late February, Sorlie and her teammates have on-ice practice five times a week from 7 to 8:30 a.m. The team does strength training three times per week during the season.

In the offseason, the team still practices five days a week and increases the training done in the weight room.

"From March to May, we are in the weight room or on the field for sprints five days a week," Sorlie said. "Coach (Caitlin) Hogan puts together a structured workout plan for the team that we follow and log our stats so we can continue to build from there. We follow a similar structured workout plan in the summer as well."

In addition to the physical workload, Sorlie has had to improve her mental game as an athlete.

"The increased level of physical competition from high school to college was expected, but I didn't realize how much impact it would have on me as a goalie from a mental standpoint," Sorlie said. "At the college level, you have to think a lot quicker, since the players are faster, smarter and more skilled.

"As a goalie, I need to be aware of all players on the ice and understand where the shot options can come from," she said. "As I have practiced and played more at the higher level, I gained a lot of confidence in myself and that helps me make quicker decisions without overthinking."

Sorlie played in all 18 games for a total of 1,054 minutes of hockey last season. She posted three shutouts and a 92.5 save percentage. She allowed an average of 2.5 goals per game. The former Blue Jay was named one of the assistant captains for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity to help lead the team," Sorlie said. "We have built a strong program, and I want to help contribute to the success in the next couple of years as well."

Sorlie's former teammate, Peighton Walker also wants to get back to contributing for her collegiate team.

"My first season went really well, it helped me gain a lot of confidence," Walker said. "As a freshman I earned the opportunity to start several games, I saw a good amount of playing time, and was able to contribute offensively by getting a few points.

"While there was definitely an adjustment to the speed and competitiveness of the college game, I felt like I continued to improve throughout the season," she said. "It was overall a great first year that helped me grow as a player and build a strong foundation for the rest of my college hockey career."

With one season under her belt, Walker was feeling good headed into her sophomore season.

Then things took a turn.

"I was only able to play the first half of the season because I had to undergo surgery on my foot, which unfortunately ended my season early," Walker said. "Missing the second half was difficult for me, especially because I wanted to be helping my team and I feel like I couldn't.

"I focused on recovering and trying to support my teammates from the stands," she said. "Even though my season was cut short, I was proud of the progress I made while I was playing. I finished the first half of the season with more points than I had in my freshman year, which showed the growth I had made as a player. Although the injury was a setback, it motivated me to work even harder so I can come back even stronger next season."

Walker will be going into her junior year at the University of Dubuque (Iowa).

"One of the biggest things I have learned since starting collegiate hockey is that success comes from consistency and not just talent," Walker said. "Everyone who is at the college level was one of the best players on their high school team, and the difference is often made by our work ethic, discipline and mental toughness.

"I have learned the importance of showing up every day ready to compet...

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