Kathleen Twomey
Induction Year: 2012
Birthday: June 30, 1986
City/Town: Derry, NH
Growing up in Londonderry with four brothers and sisters, the rule in Kathleen Twomey’s home was that the kids could play on no more than one travel team a year.
So when she wasn’t on a travel hockey squad, which was always her first choice, Twomey played every sport she could at Trinity High School in Manchester, enjoying plenty of success. She won state championships in soccer and basketball, and also ran track and cross-country.
It wasn’t until she arrived at St. Anselm College that she turned all her attention to hockey. By the time she wrapped up her four-year career there, she held school records for goals (75) and points (124).
“Going from playing five sports in high school to just focusing on hockey was when I grew the most,” she said.
She had high hopes for her college career, but to graduate as the program’s all-time scoring leader wasn’t something she was sure she’d ever accomplish.
“I think everyone dreams of that,” she said, “but I didn’t even know how much playing time I’d get. I spent a lot of time practicing by myself.”
Twomey put on a pair of skates for the first time at the age of 2, joining her older brothers in the family’s backyard rink. She played youth hockey with the Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association, Manchester Flames, Chelmsford (Mass.) Lions and the Hooksett-based Lady Monarchs. When she was in middle school, her Chelmsford team won a national championship.
After scoring 24 goals and 33 points in 27 games as a freshman, she had her most productive year as a sophomore, putting up 25-17-42 totals as the Hawks won the ECAC Open championship; in the title game against Sacred Heart she scored two goals and set up another in a 6-3 win. “One reason I loved hockey so much at St. A’s was that the girls I played with were awesome,” she said. “We played so hard and had a great time.” Twomey was named ECAC East Rookie of the Year and second-team All-Conference as a freshman in 2005-06, and ECAC East Player of the Year the next season.
Twomey counts Lenny Rowe, who coached her with the Chelmsford Lions, and former St. Anselm coach Dave Flint as her biggest influences. As a high school senior, she was named MVP of the annual Make-A-Wish game pitting the best girls from New Hampshire against those from Vermont.
After college Twomey got into coaching herself, serving as co-coach for the Trinity/Bishop Brady girls club team for a season and the Hudson-based Northern Lady Cyclones for another two.