Worcester State twins Amber, left and Brandi Lee of Nashua are enjoying their college hockey careers together. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Amber Lee made a choice a while ago: Hockey first.

That’s why she and her family moved down to Nashua a few years ago from Scarborough, Maine, so she could play goal for the Northern Cyclones in Hudson in junior hockey. In fact, she even went to school on line, via Maine Connections Academy, so she could have more time to focus on the game she loves.

But as much as the Patterson, N.J. Native is used to being on the move, nothing could have prepared her or her twin sister teammate Brandi, for the fact the college they played for in Worcester, Becker, closed down at the end of last year.

But the team then transferred almost en masse to Worcester State, following their coach, Eliza Kelley, to start a whole new program.

“It was really nice having the whole team come over,” said Lee, who is studying sports management and would love to work for an NHL team in marketing. “Made things 10 times easier. Easy choice. … It’s been a little difficult as a transfer, but other than that, hockey’s been the same, we’re off to a good start. Pretty proud of it.”

“Obviously that’s disappointing, nobody wants to be in that situation when they have to transfer, find a new place,” Kelley said. “But we ended up in a great situation.”

And just like she was at Becker, Lee has been solid in goal, with a .935 save percentage and 2.11 goals against in nine games.

“I love the pressure it puts on me,” Lee said. “I’m out there by myself, it’s fun. Help the team win. … I just like helping out the team, being the last line of defense.”

“This year she’s had the weight of the whole team on her back, and she’s done a nice job with that,” Kelley said. “She sees the ice pretty well, moves the puck better than anybody that I’ve seen play at our level. She can make a breakout pass, and hit center ice from her crease, which can keep the game moving in our offensive direction.”

And in the crease, Kelley said, Lee is “really good down low, good on second saves, she’s got good lateral movement. She’s really strong and kind of coming into her own a little bit.”

What don’t people know about goalies and their task?

“It’s really hard mentally,” she said.

And when she was at Conway Arena last weekend, she had to stay mentally sharp while her team dominated puck possession vs. Rivier and she only had to face 10 shots to earn a shutout.

“These nights are much harder than when you see 40, 50 shots,” Lee said. “It’s hard mentally, lot of pressure on you to not mess up. These are harder nights than anything else.”

Lee has won a few Goalie of the Week awards in her career – twice this season already for the Easter Collegiate Hockey Alliance – and says she’s just as happy when her teammates win them as well.

The two sisters played a little bit together last year, “and hands down, it’s the best thing to play with a twin,” Brandi Lee said.

“It’s nice having someone on your side all the time, honestly,” Amber said. “The support is really what makes everything worth it.”

In youth hockey, Brandi scored on Amber a couple of times.” And she’s a valuable forward, when healthy, for the Lancers.

“She’s got a ton of speed,” Kelley said. “She has a lot of energy for us. We’ll be looking forward to having that energy back. A traditional sparkplug type of player. She’s finding ways to contribute even when she’s not on the ice.”

Amber Lee would love to keep playing hockey after college, but time will tell on that.

“We’ll see where it goes,” she said. “I’d love to keep playing, but you know, we’ll see how everything ends up.”

Lee’s family was able to see her play at Conway Arena last weekend, but seeing her even during the season in town is nothing new as she comes back for her job as a manager of a local chain pizza restaurant.

“We love it, it’s quiet,” Brandi said of Nashua.

Except, of course, during hockey season, when the Lee sisters love to make noise.

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