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By John Meagher
(reprinted from The Gazette)

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With the Coach is a weekly series featuring a conversation with a local coach.

Coach: Amey Doyle, 31-year-old Lachine resident and physical education instructor at Champlain College in St. Lambert
Team: ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Martlets women’s hockey team
Years coached: Seven
Playing experience: ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Martlets goaltender
Best coaching tip: Give positive reinforcement and lots of feedback.

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Amey Doyle grew up in Smiths Falls, Ont., and came to Montreal to study and playÌý hockey at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥.

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She never left.

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Doyle was recently named interim head coach of the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Martlets, the two-time defending national champions.

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She replaces Peter Smith, also of Lachine, who is serving as an assistant coach with the Canadian senior women’s team that will be trying to win a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

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How do head coaching duties differ from your previous role as assistant?

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Doyle: So far it hasn’t been too different from the hours I’ve put in the past. The difference is more responsibility in terms of practice planning and recruiting and all that stuff. Being able to manage my time is becoming more and more important.

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Did you play hockey growing up in Smiths Falls?

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Doyle: I played for six years. Then my last year, before going to ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, I played senior double-A in Brockville because Smiths Falls didn’t have that level of play at that time. I was recruited to ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ from Brockville.

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What was it like growing up in Smiths Falls?

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Doyle: It was great. I love the small town atmosphere. We have a cottage 20 minutes from there and I now spend my summers up there. My sister lives in Toronto and I live in Montreal and every weekend we seem to get together in Smiths Falls.

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Where did your learn to speak French?

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Doyle: Just by living in Montreal for the past decade. I came here (from Ontario) in ’97. I was a roommate of Kim St. Pierre’s for several years at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ and I learned a lot from living with her. After my first two years at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, I decided to stay in Montreal during the summer and work at the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ summer camp. I did other jobs around Montreal that allowed me to learn more French.

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What makes St. Pierre such a great goalie?

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Doyle: I think her work ethic. No matter what the level of play, she was always making sure of things. Attention to detail was important to Kim.

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Should girls play boys’ hockey?

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Doyle: I get asked that question all the time from parents. TheÌý answer really depends on the individual player. Girls hockey is much more finesse oriented. Girls who play girls’ hockey have an advantage as long as they work hard, even if they’re the best player on their team.

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What was it like at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥?

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Doyle: I played my first year at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, then Kim came in and I was basically her backup for three years. Then Kim left during the 2002 Olympics and moved to Calgary. That was my fifth year at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ and I was the starting goalie. I made the Quebec First All-Star Team that year.

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If you had to chose a Team Canada goalie to play in the Olympic gold-medal game, would it be Kim St. Pierre or Charline Labonté?

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Doyle: I can’t answer that question. (Laughs.) I’d like to put them both in, to be honest.

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Did you have a favourite goalie growing up?

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Doyle: Well, I’m a Leaf fan. So I grew up loving Curtis Joseph. He wore No. 31 and so did I.