Aspen product Dolan uses strong USPHL season to earn NCAA commitment to D-III Anna Maria

BY MATT MACKINDER COLORADO HOCKEY HUB

Larkin Dolan made the rounds in junior hockey, eventually finding hs fit this past season with the USPHL’s Motor City Gamblers.

Next year, the Aspen product and talented goaltender will head to college hockey after recently committing to NCAA Division III Anna Maria College in Paxton, Mass.

“I knew a few guys that had committed there and they had a lot of good things to say, so I sent an email asking if they needed goalies for next season,” Dolan said. “It seemed like the hockey program has grown a lot in the last few years and talking to the coach (David McCauley), I realized it could be a great place to grow. Academics are definitely a priority. It’s part of the dream of playing college hockey, to leave with a degree. I think I’ll go with a Business major, but I’d love to maybe explore something else if the opportunity is there.”

This past season, Dolan went 112-0 with a 2.53 GAA, a .919 save percentage and two shutouts.

“I was playing a lot in Motor City and was able to build consistency,” said Dolan. “We were a younger team, so I learned how to lead better.”

Before Motor City, Dolan saw previous time in USPHL circles with the Lake Tahoe Lakers and Charleston Colonials. He also played for the NA3HL’s Missoula Jr. Bruins and the EHL’s New York Applecore.

Back home, Dolan played for the Aspen Leafs, Vail Junior Hockey, Colorado Thunderbirds and Rocky Mountain RoughRiders.

“I grew up in Aspen and there was a really strong youth program there,” Dolan said. “A few of my friends started playing pretty young and by the time I was seven, I was obsessed and finally started in the Mite program in Aspen. The Avalanche defi-

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