Paul Doherty

Paul Doherty finished his illustrious career with the Acadia hockey in 1998 with an impressive 1.24 points-per-game from the blue-line, making him one of the best to lace up for the Axemen.  

From 1994-1998 he finished with 25 goals and 104 assists, for 129 points in 104 conference games. His offence came to life each postseason as he scored nine goals in just 20 playoff games over his postseason appearances with Acadia.  

No goal was bigger for Paul than his AUAA series-winning goal in 1996. In the conference championship against the UPEI Panthers, with all three games going to overtime, it was Paul that scored the game-winning goal in the deciding game to win 7-6 and claim the Atlantic championship.  

He and the Axemen continued their momentum, defeating Trois Rivieres 4-3 in semifinal action and Waterloo 3-2 in the national final that same season to capture Acadia’s second CIAU hockey title in four years. Paul was able to score in both games, continuing his offensive streak in postseason games. 

Born in Sudbury, Ontario, it was that 1995-1996 season where Paul really started to make his mark in the AUAA with the Axemen. His rookie season was the only year he was not named an AUAA all-star or CIAU All-Canadian.  

During the 1995-96 CIAU championship season, he received his first recognition as an AUAA first-team all-star and first-team CIAU All-Canadian. He was also named a CIAU championship all-star following their victory over the Waterloo Warriors in the national final, which was held at Maple Leaf Gardens.  

He finished his career as a three-time AUAA all-star and three-time CIAU all-Canadian, while the Axemen recognized him as the 1997-1998 men’s hockey team MVP in his final year. 

Paul’s best offensive output came in his third season at Acadia, finishing conference play with six goals and 42 points in 28 conference games, while also amassing a career-high 106 penalty minutes. His final season he still averaged a point-per-game, scoring five goals with 22 assists over 27 conference games.  

After leaving Acadia, Paul attended training camp with the Florida Panthers before playing two seasons of professional hockey, starting with a year in the East Coast Hockey League with the Miami Matadors where he played 27 games, scoring five goals with eight assists.  

The next season he split time with the Amarillo Rattlers and Corpus Christi IceRays of the Western Professional Hockey League. There he finished with 19 assists over 51 games played.  

Married to Acadia grad Rina (Delnegro) Doherty, who was a volleyball player during her time at Acadia, they have daughter Kylie attending Boston University and son Jake who is at Hotchkiss Prep School.