From Ridley College to the NCAA, Summer-Rae Dobson is one step closer to her hockey dreams

Summer-Rae Dobson

Four years ago, Summer-Rae Dobson was struggling under the conflicting demands of school work and playing the sport she loves. This May, she emerged a confident young woman when she graduated from Ridley College, headed for MercyHurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania on a full-ride hockey scholarship. Her post-university hockey goals include a spot on an NWHL or CWHL team, along with qualifying for Team Canada and the Olympics.

Getting to this point might never have happened if Summer-Rae and her family had continued on the same path – spending hours on the road to hockey practices and games for the Aurora Panthers, missing school and losing friends due to the time commitment. That’s when her parents, Al and Connie, decided something had to change. Enter Ridley College.

They chose the coeducational independent school in St. Catharines as much for the strength of its academic program as its sports achievements. And although sending a child to boarding school is difficult for parents, they knew that it would prepare Summer-Rae for the future.

“We felt safe. They knew how to deal with conflicts and faced them head on,” recalls Connie. She also appreciated the disciplined environment. “It’s been a great experience. Ridley teaches you to utilize your time well and I really think it has done my little girl a world of good. You can’t let things slide. She is more responsible, better at meeting deadlines and doing better academically.”

Summer-Rae adds that living without her parents and having to balance school and sport – including frequent travel to the U.S. for Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL) games – has prepared her for university life.

Summer-Rae Dobson (centre) fights for the puck for Ridley College in a JWHL game (Photo: Ridley College)

“Ridley taught me how to stay on track (with a busy schedule),” says Summer-Rae. “Even living in a dorm, doing my own laundry and keeping my room clean is preparation for being away at university.”

She admits that being a boarder was hard at first. “You will get homesick, but the Ridley community is like family. They all help you if you are in need, and you create friends that you’ll have forever.”

To parents considering life at a boarding school for their kids, she says, “One hundred per cent take the opportunity. It only comes once in a lifetime. My parents were empty nesters early but you have to think about the opportunity your kids are getting. You’ll have people to help.”

Ridley is truly a global community – it’s an International Baccalaureate school with students from 44 countries, and the only IB Continuum boarding and day school in Canada. Summer-Rae’s friends come from near and far and she’ll remain connected as she and other alumni move through post-secondary studies and into careers. And they’ll cheer each other on – Ridley College has already asked for her MercyHurst hockey schedule so that they can bring a busload to watch her play.

Summer-Rae has earned her success, putting the same determination into her studies as she does on the ice. Ridley helped her get there.

“She started grade 10 kind of timid and shy,” recalls Connie, “but on May 27 she was so confident. She has grown up so much and she knows what she needs to do to succeed.”

If you wish to learn more about a Ridley education for your child contact Admissions at 905-684-1889 ext. 2297 or email [email protected] or visit ridleycollege.com.

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Ridley College has a deep Muskoka connection which was evident at the lakeside reception held recently to reconnect Muskoka alumni with the school. “We had 150 people register for the event in Muskoka,” said Julie Cameron, Director of Admissions for Ridley. “It’s hard to believe so many lifelong connections in Muskoka, coming together in one perfect venue.”

The reception provided a perfect opportunity for Headmaster Ed Kidd to introduce long-time Muskoka residents and teachers Lance Postma and Kim Postma to the team. Lance will be assuming the duties of Dean of Students while Kim will take on responsibility for Gooderham House as the Head of House.