photo: Matt Zambonin / IIHF
Hockey parents are a special breed, and Kendall Doiron’s are no exception.
Before Kendall even started elementary school, the Doirons were driving from their hometown of Boylston, Nova Scotia to the Sport and Wellness Centre in Membertou for hockey — roughly two hours and 15 minutes each way if the fickle Nova Scotia weather was cooperating.
“They could drive six hours for an away game or an away tournament,” Doiron said Monday, after suiting up for Team Canada at the same rink where she fell in love with the game. “They don’t really mind it. Or, I guess they’ve just gotten used to it.”
When families log all those miles, the main goal is to give their kids a chance to play the sport they love, building relationships and learning valuable life lessons along the way. In Doiron’s case, it quickly became clear that she had the skills and desire to compete at a high level.
As a 14-year-old in 2023, Doiron led her Northen Selects AAA team in scoring in both the regular season and the playoffs as they punched their ticket to the Esso Cup with an Atlantic Championship win in Membertou.
“I have lots of memories here, but I’d say that's definitely the biggest one,” she said. “Having to win Atlantics to move on to Esso Cup was definitely a special moment.”
This week, at age 17, Doiron is adding to that memory bank. As a first-timer with Team Canada, she scored two goals and added two assists as her team rolled through the preliminary round of the 2026 U18 women’s world championship with a perfect 3-0 record.
On a deep Canadian roster that’s looking to defend its gold medal from 2025, Doiron has used her energy and her puck skills to cement a spot on right wing for coach Vicky Sunohara.
“She’s somebody that is a big part of our team on and off the ice,” Sunohara said. “She’s got a very positive attitude and a great teammate. She works hard and you know what you’re going to get from her. She can play both ends. She's very thoughtful — like, thinking about the game and reflective.”
Doiron’s idols on both the men’s and women’s side of the game have ties to her home province.
“Before women's hockey got so big, it's definitely Sidney Crosby,” she said. “My favourite team is the Pittsburgh Penguins because of him and also Marc-Andre Fleury. He played in Cape Breton in juniors, and then Nathan MacKinnon played in Halifax.
“Those three were definitely my favourites. But now also, with the PWHL being so big, Blayre Turnbull. Funnily enough, her dad actually coached me for two years. She's definitely an idol for me.”
In the fall of 2024, Doiron followed in the footsteps of Turnbull, Crosby and MacKinnon by choosing to continue her development at the Shattuck-St. Mary’s hockey program in Faribault, Minn.
“Playing in Nova Scotia, it was good hockey,” she said. “But I think the jump, moving away to a to a school where you're on the ice every single day as opposed to two times a week, and then two games, has made my game dramatically improve.
“I'm really happy for this decision, even though it's not the easiest decision to make. I give lots of credit to Shattuck and everything they’ve done for me to improve me as a hockey player and a person.”
Doiron has thrived in her new environment.
On the 16U squad in 2024-25, she finished seventh in scoring nationally at the U.S. high school level, with 18-39-57 in 38 games. This year, she sits fourth in scoring at the 19U AAA prep level, with 11-20-31.
Two of the three players ahead of her in the scoring race are the top two scorers through the preliminary round here in Cape Breton: U.S. stars Jane Daley and Kylie Amelkovich.
They also go to Shattuck.
“They’re actually my linemates right now,” Doiron said. “Hopefully, going back, I stick with them. They're great players, great teammates. I love playing with them. I've also learned so much from the both of them. Obviously, as you can see here, they're kind of tearing up. It's super-cool watching them.
“Also, something I find really cool is them being able to see what my province is like. That’s something I never really thought would happen.”
If history is any indication, a head-to-head matchup against Daley and Amelkovich is virtually inevitable as the scene switches to Centre 200 in Sydney for the playoff-round games this weekend. Between them, Canada and the U.S. have captured gold at all 17 previous incarnations of this tournament.
For Doiron, the new rink is another familiar barn.
"I actually just saw some video of when I couldn't even remember of me playing, because I was so young, in a little jamboree in the Centre 200," she said. "Really a full-circle moment, for sure."
Doiron will be wearing the maple leaf on her chest when she returns to Centre 200 for Canada's meeting with Finland in quarter-final action on Thursday.
Before Kendall even started elementary school, the Doirons were driving from their hometown of Boylston, Nova Scotia to the Sport and Wellness Centre in Membertou for hockey — roughly two hours and 15 minutes each way if the fickle Nova Scotia weather was cooperating.
“They could drive six hours for an away game or an away tournament,” Doiron said Monday, after suiting up for Team Canada at the same rink where she fell in love with the game. “They don’t really mind it. Or, I guess they’ve just gotten used to it.”
When families log all those miles, the main goal is to give their kids a chance to play the sport they love, building relationships and learning valuable life lessons along the way. In Doiron’s case, it quickly became clear that she had the skills and desire to compete at a high level.
As a 14-year-old in 2023, Doiron led her Northen Selects AAA team in scoring in both the regular season and the playoffs as they punched their ticket to the Esso Cup with an Atlantic Championship win in Membertou.
“I have lots of memories here, but I’d say that's definitely the biggest one,” she said. “Having to win Atlantics to move on to Esso Cup was definitely a special moment.”
This week, at age 17, Doiron is adding to that memory bank. As a first-timer with Team Canada, she scored two goals and added two assists as her team rolled through the preliminary round of the 2026 U18 women’s world championship with a perfect 3-0 record.
On a deep Canadian roster that’s looking to defend its gold medal from 2025, Doiron has used her energy and her puck skills to cement a spot on right wing for coach Vicky Sunohara.
“She’s somebody that is a big part of our team on and off the ice,” Sunohara said. “She’s got a very positive attitude and a great teammate. She works hard and you know what you’re going to get from her. She can play both ends. She's very thoughtful — like, thinking about the game and reflective.”
Doiron’s idols on both the men’s and women’s side of the game have ties to her home province.
“Before women's hockey got so big, it's definitely Sidney Crosby,” she said. “My favourite team is the Pittsburgh Penguins because of him and also Marc-Andre Fleury. He played in Cape Breton in juniors, and then Nathan MacKinnon played in Halifax.
“Those three were definitely my favourites. But now also, with the PWHL being so big, Blayre Turnbull. Funnily enough, her dad actually coached me for two years. She's definitely an idol for me.”
In the fall of 2024, Doiron followed in the footsteps of Turnbull, Crosby and MacKinnon by choosing to continue her development at the Shattuck-St. Mary’s hockey program in Faribault, Minn.
“Playing in Nova Scotia, it was good hockey,” she said. “But I think the jump, moving away to a to a school where you're on the ice every single day as opposed to two times a week, and then two games, has made my game dramatically improve.
“I'm really happy for this decision, even though it's not the easiest decision to make. I give lots of credit to Shattuck and everything they’ve done for me to improve me as a hockey player and a person.”
Doiron has thrived in her new environment.
On the 16U squad in 2024-25, she finished seventh in scoring nationally at the U.S. high school level, with 18-39-57 in 38 games. This year, she sits fourth in scoring at the 19U AAA prep level, with 11-20-31.
Two of the three players ahead of her in the scoring race are the top two scorers through the preliminary round here in Cape Breton: U.S. stars Jane Daley and Kylie Amelkovich.
They also go to Shattuck.
“They’re actually my linemates right now,” Doiron said. “Hopefully, going back, I stick with them. They're great players, great teammates. I love playing with them. I've also learned so much from the both of them. Obviously, as you can see here, they're kind of tearing up. It's super-cool watching them.
“Also, something I find really cool is them being able to see what my province is like. That’s something I never really thought would happen.”
If history is any indication, a head-to-head matchup against Daley and Amelkovich is virtually inevitable as the scene switches to Centre 200 in Sydney for the playoff-round games this weekend. Between them, Canada and the U.S. have captured gold at all 17 previous incarnations of this tournament.
For Doiron, the new rink is another familiar barn.
"I actually just saw some video of when I couldn't even remember of me playing, because I was so young, in a little jamboree in the Centre 200," she said. "Really a full-circle moment, for sure."
Doiron will be wearing the maple leaf on her chest when she returns to Centre 200 for Canada's meeting with Finland in quarter-final action on Thursday.