Many a teenage male hockey prospect has noted the need to add more physicality to their game in the hopes of moving on to the next level.

In the girls game, where body checking is penalized (though body contact is rampant, especially at elite levels), it's not nearly as common a refrain.

Olivia Carriere has no issue whatsoever in being the exception.

The 16 year-old defenceman who grew up playing (Sudbury) Lady Wolves hockey and signed on with the Cambridge U22 Rivulettes last year recently announced her NCAA commitment to the Bemidji State Beavers, beginning in September of 2027.

"In past years, I really relied on my speed, but in this league (Ontario Women's Hockey League), everyone is fast so I had to develop other parts of my game," said Carriere, who plans to return to Cambridge for the next two seasons, pre-university.

"Becoming a more physical player this year, I felt that helped me separate myself from other players. It's all about taking time and space away from opponents, making them uncomfortable, which was good because I am undersized."

That said, that minus could be a plus as one tries to straddle that line between using the body effectively and taking unecessary penalties.

"I focused on keeping it clean, keeping my hands down so I wasn't getting cross-checking penalties," said Carriere. "Being smaller, I could often lay into some of the bigger opponents."

Finding a line of studies that she wished to pursue (Exercise Science), Carriere then began to check off the remaining key boxes before settling on the fit with the Minnesota-based school.

"I could really see myself fitting in there for the next four years, both on and off the ice," she said. "The style that their defense plays really aligns with the style that I play."

As she looks to fully utilize the next two years to ensure she is ready to step in and contribute as a freshman, Carriere has identified where her focus will lie, all while acknowledging that every single part of her game can always be fine-tuned.

"Puck management was definitely a big thing in past years (with my coaches) but this year, with how fast the game was played, it had to get even better," she stressed. "We focused on that a lot with my team this year."

"At the next level, every play matters so being able to make a smart decision is huge."

As for the Rivulettes, Carriere noted that the 2025-2026 edition includes much of the same team that competed in the OWHL last year, simply with one more year of experience.