Growing Pains
Despite expansion and growing parity, women’s hockey remains saddled with a four-team national tournament — but perhaps not for long.
Lee Urton
Big Finish
Minnesota wore down Dartmouth, or found its own legs. You decide.
Friars Repeat As HEA Titlists
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Last year at this time, Providence finished first in the inaugural year of women’s Hockey East play, and went on to shut out New Hampshire 1-0 in the title game in the postseason tournament. “The change” this year was that New Hampshire won the regular … Read more
UNH Storms Past Northeastern
This game was decided in 20 seconds. That’s because at just 20 seconds after the opening faceoff, New Hampshire freshman Nicole Hekle roofed a shot from the right post that beat Northeastern star goaltender Chanda Gunn. The goal eventually stood as the game winner in a 5-0 New Hampshire victory. “20 seconds into the game? … Read more
(Under)Dog Day: Terriers Shock Top-Seeded Eagles
Boston University has seen this David-Goliath story before. It’s better from David’s point of view. The No. 8 seeded Terriers upset top seed Boston College 4-2, to win the best-of-three series and advance to the FleetCenter and the Hockey East semifinals for the 13th time in 20 seasons. BU needs to win the tournament to … Read more
Complete Effort Gives BU Big Win Over UMass
“This is refreshingly different.” So said Boston University head coach Jack Parker following a 6-1 BU victory over No. 14 Massachusetts that saw one Terrier — Brian McConnell — get his first career hat trick, while three teammates lit the lamp in addition. A previously anemic power play came up with four goals, a game … Read more
Notebook: Women’s Beanpot Championship
Kazmaier Meeting One of the matchups everyone was eagerly awaiting in the championship was the battle between Patty Kazmaier finalists: Angela Ruggiero from Harvard on defense and Northeastern’s Chanda Gunn in goal. Each was one of ten finalists for the award, given annually to the top women’s collegiate hockey player, announced earlier this week. That … Read more
Notebook: Beanpot Championship
The Title’s The Thing Boston College will potentially play for five tournament titles this season. With a victory in the Beanpot, the Eagles have already captured three. BC won the Ice Breaker in October with a shootout win over Minnesota-Duluth after a 2-2 tie, followed by a 4-1 win over Findlay. In December, the Eagles … Read more
Notebook: Boston College-Harvard
Winds Of Change If Harvard’s schedule looks a little different from previous years, there’s a reason. Two items had changed from Beanpots in the Crimson’s past. First, Harvard was playing in the late game in the Beanpot. In the last several years, Harvard has played in the early semifinal on the first Monday in February, … Read more
Gordon’s Trick Subdues Friars
At the beginning of the season, a lot of people circled January 31, 2004 on the calendar. When the date finally arrived, the battle of last season’s Hockey East titans, New Hampshire and Providence, wasn’t quite the matchup everyone expected in October. But you couldn’t tell that by the intensity on the ice, as this … Read more
Black Bears Start Fast, Then Hold Off Wildcat Rally
A dominating performance by the Maine Black Bears almost went for naught as a determined New Hampshire team rallied from a four-goal deficit, only to fall short with a 5-4 final score. You could hardly blame Maine fans for rushing to warm up their cars on a cold Maine winter night, with the Black Bears … Read more
Bigger (And Better?)
The NCAA tournament’s expansion to 16 teams has gotten positive reviews.
First Time For Everything
Minnesota may have consecutive national titles, but tourney MOP Thomas Vanek has just one.
Michigan-Minnesota Notebook
In each of his first 17 seasons behind the bench at Michigan, head coach Red Berenson has allowed the players to select which teammate will wear the “C” that signifies the captain of the Wolverines. Jed Ortmeyer has been the two-time captain of the Wolverines (Photo: Talya Arbisser) Last year, however, for the first time, … Read more
Secret Weapon
The odds didn’t seem to favor New Hampshire in Thursday’s NCAA semifinal. The opponent? Top seed and No. 1 ranked Cornell, which had succeeded in shutting down the potent Boston College offense in the East Regional in Providence little more than a week ago. UNH’s top scorer? On the shelf, as Lanny Gare, with his … Read more
Big Green Stun Gophers Early, Cruise To Third Place
With three shocking goals in the first period, Dartmouth jumped out to an early lead it would not relinquish on route to a 4-2 win. With the loss, Minnesota remains winless at the Frozen Four, despite four bites at the NCAA apple. The goals were scored just a minute and 29 seconds apart, the fastest … Read more
Botterill Claims Second Kazmaier Award
On the eve of the NCAA championship game, Harvard’s Jennifer Botterill received the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award for the second time in her career. The award, given annually to the top collegiate women’s ice hockey player by the USA Hockey Foundation, was also won by Botterill in 2001. Botterill becomes the first two-time Kazmaier winner … Read more
UMD Outskates Dartmouth, Moves To Title Game
Minnesota-Duluth was playing in the NCAA Tournament in front of a hometown crowd of 4,800 fans, and it was a role the Bulldogs relished. They outshot, outhit and outplayed Dartmouth to take a 5-2 decision, and landed a spot in Sunday’s championship game, where they will face Harvard. Both teams agree that the crowd was … Read more
Hockey East Semifinal Notebook
Old and New This is the inaugural season for women’s Hockey East, and with a 13-1-1 conference record, Providence became the first regular season champion for the new league. The Friars will try to repeat the feat, attempting to become the first Hockey East postseason champion with two wins this weekend. Even though the league … Read more
Providence Claims First HEA Title In Defensive Struggle
In a tightly-played defensive battle, top seed Providence took a 1-0 victory over second seed New Hampshire to win the inaugural Hockey East championship. The game featured terrific scoring opportunities for both squads, but also stifling defense and great goaltending that kept the score low. “That’s [New Hampshire] a tremendous team we played,” Providence head … Read more