(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) SELECT LOCATION: Sasha Sherry chases down the puck in action last winter for the Princeton University women’s hockey team. This week, senior defenseman Sherry will be skating with the U.S. Under-22 Select Team at the USA Hockey Women’s National Festival in Lake Placid.

PU Hockey Star Sherry Pursuing Olympic Dream; Aims to Stand Out at U-22 Women’s Select Camp

Bill Alden

Sasha Sherry came within an eyelash of making the U.S. women’s hockey team that earned silver at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The Princeton University defenseman was among the last players cut from the squad last summer.

“I was very close,” said Sherry, recalling the selection process. “They brought in 12 people for seven spots. I played with several defensive partners. It was a lot of fun; it is always fun to play with that group of girls.”

It wasn’t fun for Sherry when she got the bad news. “They brought us into a room and announced who had made it,” added Sherry. “It was a very tense moment. It was tough because I really wanted to make the team.”

This week, senior Sherry will start her push to make the 2014 Olympic squad as she skates with the U.S. Under-22 Select Team at the USA Hockey Women’s National Festival in Lake Placid.

The 6’0 Sherry is primed to stand out at the camp and in the three-game series with Canada’s U-22 team that will follow.

“Every time, they invite me, I want to show them that I am committed and that I keep improving,” said Sherry, a three-time All-Ivy League and All-ECAC selection at Princeton. “I want them to see that I am doing the things they have told me to do.”

Sherry acknowledges that she didn’t show as much improvement as she would have liked in an uneven junior campaign.

“Personally, I wasn’t happy with my season,” said Sherry, who scored 12 points last winter after having more than 20 in each of her first college campaigns.

“The numbers show that I wasn’t as involved in the offense as I have been. I was not as aggressive in the right situations. I also took a lot of penalties; I didn’t have the best decision-making.”

The Tigers collectively couldn’t find a rhythm as they went 13-14-4 and got swept 2-0 by Harvard in the ECAC Hockey quarterfinals.

“It was very up and down,” said Sherry. “We played well against good teams but didn’t always bring our A-game against mediocre teams. We need to stay focused and play together all the time. We needed to play a full 60 minutes. We got in trouble in the middle of the games too much last season.”

In preparing for Lake Placid, Sherry has focused on getting plenty of game action.

“I am trying to get on the ice as much as possible,” said Sherry, a native of Lehighton, Pa. who has been working out this summer at a rink in Wilkes Barre.

“I played two tournaments in Canada. I am doing more game stuff. I worked on developing my skills. I want to get into as many game situations as possible.”

At the camp this week, Sherry is looking to demonstrate some positive developments in her fitness level.

“I want to improve my numbers in the conditioning exercises and the weight lifting,” added Sherry. “I want to improve my foot speed. We have conditioning skating drills and speed skating drills. They list the times so you know where you stand.”

With time rapidly slipping away in her college career, Sherry is looking to make an inspired last stand this winter for the Tigers.

“It is going so fast,” said Sherry wistfully. “Going into each season, you have a different mentality depending on your perspective. This year, it is all or nothing. I have to leave it all on the ice and be the best I can for the team.”

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