MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester girls hockey captain and defender Carly Drew has been lacing her skates up since she was five, and she’ll be lacing them up a few more times after she signed on to play for the Anna Maria College Amcats on Dec. 20.

“It’s nice to know that this won’t be my last season playing hockey,” Drew said in an interview with Sippican Week. 

The senior from Rochester has been on OR’s joint girls team with Bourne, Mashpee and Wareham since the eighth grade, and has also played field hockey and softball for the Bulldogs. 

Hockey is in her family and has always loved being on the ice, but she said it really wasn’t until this year that she dived into the recruiting process.

“It’s definitely exciting and it’s a weight off my shoulders,” Drew said. “Knowing where I’ll be next year is definitely stress-relieving.” 

However, the process to choose Anna Maria was unconventional due to covid. 

Drew said she was interested in different colleges, but she wasn’t able to visit the campuses. That is, except Anna Maria. 

The college, located in Paxton, was able to give her a tour of the campus.

“Walking around, it felt like I could be there,” Drew said.

She said she was drawn to playing on the team after hearing what Anna Maria head coach Mike Cox told her about the program there. 

But before she takes to the ice for the Amcats, Drew will have one final season playing for the Bulldogs in February. 

In September, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association voted to move fall sports to a floating season that will last from Feb. 22 to April 25.

She’ll be able to lead the co-op team with players from the Tri-Town, Bourne, Mashpee and Wareham one last time before heading to Central Massachusetts.

“I’m excited to see all the faces I’ve missed over the summer,” Drew said, adding that she’s looking forward to getting back into the sports grind again.