Beyond the Dashers News

Beyond the Dashers to Chat with College Coaches!

2011-07-17T19:12:00.000-04:00

As summer continues to roll on and teams begin gearing up for the coming season, Beyond the Dashers is proud to open up the new year with a series of live chat question and answer sessions using both Twitter and CoveritLive.

Our chat schedule kicks off on Monday June 18th at high noon eastern time as we will chat on Twitter with University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, Head Coach Brian Idalski. On Monday evening we will welcome Jim Ingman, Head Coach of the NCAA Division III, Concordia University Falcons for a 7:00pm eastern time live chat.

On Tuesday, June 19th our chat schedule continues at noon eastern time as St. Lawrence University Saints Head Coach, Chris Wells joins us for a Twitter chat. On Tuesday afternoon we will welcome St. Catherine University Head Coach, Brad Marshall for a live chat at 3:00pm eastern time. Finally, on Wednesday we welcome Western Ontario Head Coach Chris Higgins for a chat at noon eastern time.

Additional chats planned for the remainder of next week and beyond will be announced once times are finalized with the respective coaches based on their availability.

All chats can be followed online by visiting our live event coverage page or by clicking here.

Fans are invited to submit questions in advance via email.

Edit: Just confirmed for Thursday June 21st. We will chat live via Twitter with St. Norbert College Head Coach Rob Morgan at noon eastern time.

Stevenson University looking to field a DIII program!

2011-06-06T18:32:00.003-04:00

With all the focus going towards new national collegiate programs that have sprung up at Lindenwood University and Penn State University, one new D3 offering has been overlooked by many it appears.

After seeing a job posting for Steveson University on the NCAA and AHCA job boards and having no knowledge of them or the fact they were planning to field an NCAA Division III entry, I contract the school. A helpful lady in the athletics office confirmed their intent to recruit and field a team for the 2011-2012 season. She pointed me to there website were perspective student athletes can signup to join the inaugural squad. There intention is to hire a coach, and begin play in early December. She was unaware of who they had under contract to face in their first season or what league they would plan on joining in the future.

Reisterstown Sportsplex in Baltimore County, Maryland is the intended home rink for the program that will be the 21st sport in the Division III university's list of offerings. The program will be the first south of the Mason-Dixon line and has other programs in the area looking to field teams of their own.

In a time where so many schools are evaluating their offerings it's our pleasure to say welcome aboard to Stevenson University!

Wayne State Officially Discontinues Women's Hockey Program

2011-05-27T10:28:00.002-04:00

As discussed yesterday, Wayne State made the heartrenching news official last night, ending their offering of Women's Hockey in a roughly three paragraph release. No comments from former players or coaches were given, only a brief quote from Director of Athletics, Rob Fournier stating:

“With all the successes we have enjoyed recently with championships, high academic achievement and graduation rates this action leaves an empty feeling and is a disappointment for our women’s hockey student-athletes, our alumni and the department,” stated WSU Director of Athletics Rob Fournier. “This last resort consequence only underscores the economic reality that confronts higher education in the State of Michigan today. In the end, the cost and expenditures of our most expensive operating program determined this difficult decision. Importantly however, the educational objectives of our women’s hockey student-athletes will be protected.”

The school also stated that all current student-athlete scholarships will be honored, provided they meet satisfactory progress standards under NCAA guidelines. Releases will be offered to those who wish to transfer to other schools this summer, where they will be eligible to participate immediately as the normal residency requirements of the NCAA are waived.

The timing of this announcement is especially troubling from a player's standpoint. With schools already out for the summer and most programs already focusing on the 2012-2013 recruiting class finding a new home for the 20+ current and formerly incoming recruits will be a huge challenge.

In addition with most coaching openings filled or candidate lists being narrowed finding new coaching gigs for the upcoming season could also be a large undertaking on the staff from WSU. In eight seasons at WSU Head Coach, Jim Fetter compiled a 117-123-24 record with the school in addition coaching Hockey Canada programs on multiple occasions.

During nine seasons in the CHA and twelve as an NCAA program WSU complied a 138-209-29 record overall and a 48-59-7 mark in conference play. The Warriors tied for the CHA regular-season title in 2007-08.

The void left by Wayne State will be felt across the nation as conference schedules will have to be redrawn, travel arrangements changed, and for the athletes the wounds of having your make shift family ripped apart and spread across the nations landscape.

While the school states that this was a decision made purely for economic reasons the timing of this decison could have easily been handled in a better manner and shows that Wayne State has a long way to go if they ever strive to be a well respected NCAA institution.

Wayne State rumors appear to be fact

2011-05-26T08:56:00.003-04:00

Rumors circulating the past few days surrounding the Wayne State Women's Hockey program appear to be fact. In an effort to seek financial savings the school will end it's program. WSU eliminated it's men’s hockey program after the 2008 season and as of this April hoped that further program cuts would not be necessary.

Several current and graduating WSU student athletes have voiced their displeasure on social media outlets over this shocking revelation. As we await any official announcement from the school one has to question the timing of this news. The school less than a month ago named captains for the 2011-2012 season signaling that at that time there was no plan to eliminate the program from the school's offerings.

In an April story by The South End, WSU athletics director Rob Fournier noted that team schedules and travel costs are already set for 2011-2012 season and those cannot change. However in terms of cuts, everything is on the table, as far as cutting sport programs.

With most other NCAA programs already firm on next seasons rosters this news, if truly fact comes at one of the worst possible times I can think of. Further what options would other NCAA programs have as far as filling the scheduling gaps left by this void?

more to follow

Ohio State tabs RMU's Handrahan as their Head Coach

2011-05-23T19:30:00.001-04:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State has hired Nate Handrahan as the head coach of the women's hockey team, Chris Schneider, associate athletics director and women's hockey administrator, announced Monday. Handrahan is the second women's hockey coach in the 12-year history of the women's hockey program.

"My family and I are grateful for the opportunity athletics director Gene Smith and the hiring committee has given me to be the head coach of the Ohio State women's hockey team," Handrahan said. "This program has great people and players and we are going to put together a recipe of success that will result in winning on and off the ice."

"We are excited to have Nate Handrahan join the Ohio State family," Schneider said. "He has a great work ethic and philosophy about developing the entire student-athlete; not only has hockey players but as people.

"Coach Jackie Barto did an outstanding job in building this program from the start and I look forward to working with Coach Handrahan as he works to continue the growth of Ohio State Women's Ice Hockey," Schneider added.

Handrahan joins Ohio State after serving five years as head coach of the Robert Morris women's hockey program. Taking over the team following its inaugural season in 2005-06, Handrahan's coaching style has established a young program that has shown great strides of growth each year.

Under his direction, the Colonials contended with some of the top teams in the nation as the squad has picked up key victories over nationally-ranked opponents. During the 2009-10 season, Robert Morris knocked off the eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth, 4-1, on the road. The Colonials followed with a 3-1 upset over defending national champion Wisconsin.

Several student-athletes have reached exceptional levels during their careers under Handrahan's guidance. Among those was goaltender Brianne McLaughlin who became the NCAA Division I all-time career saves leader in 2009. She also earned a spot on the U.S. National Team and competed for the U.S. Olympic team at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, winning a silver medal.

During his time at Robert Morris, Handrahan has produced two All-CHA First Team, three Second Team and three All-Rookie Team selections. The Colonials have also had success in the classroom as Handrahan's teams have earned 46 CHA All-Academic team honors.

Before taking the helm of the women's program, Handrahan served as an assistant coach to the RMU men's hockey team for two seasons under head coach Derek Schooley. He assisted in the day-to-day operations of the team as well as instructing on and off the ice.

A 2000 graduate of Niagara University, Handrahan assisted his alma mater in 2001 under Dave Burkholder and served as assistant coach for three seasons. His duties included recruiting, producing game strategy and practice plans, skill development, scouting, equipment management and strength and conditioning. While at Niagara, the team earned an automatic berth to the 2004 NCAA Tournament after capturing the CHA tournament title. While with the Purple Eagles, Handrahan recruited and coached four players who would see action in the NHL.

A standout defenseman for the Niagara, Handrahan was a two-time All-ECAC West selection for the Purple Eagles. He played in every game during his four-year career and led the team to a No. 6 seed in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. He finished his collegiate career with 13 goal and 68 assists for 81 points, ranking 10th on Niagara's all-time assist list.

At the conclusion of the 1999-2000 season, Handrahan was signed by the Roanoke Express of the ECHL. He played the remainder of the 2000 season as well as the 2000-2001 season with the Express.

Handrahan and his wife, Nicole, have three daughters, Haylee, Mara and Lila.

Coaching Experience
2006-2011 - Robert Morris head women's hockey coach
2004-2006 - Robert Morris assistant men's hockey coach
2001-2004 - Niagara assistant men's hockey coach

Playing Experience
1999-2001 - Roanoke Express (ECHL)
1996-2000 - Niagara University

Release Courtesy of OhioStateBuckeyes.com

Ottawa to host 2013 IIHF World Women's Championship

2011-05-19T08:29:00.003-04:00

OTTAWA, Ont. – Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that Ottawa will host the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship. Canada’s capital city last hosted the IIHF World Women’s Championship in 1990, the inaugural event.

The Ontario Women’s Hockey Association, in partnership with Senators Sports and Entertainment, was one of three groups to submit bids to host the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship and made a formal presentation to Hockey Canada’s site selection committee Wednesday, April 6 in Calgary, Alta.

The site selection committee consisted of Bob Nicholson (president/CEO, Hockey Canada), Ken Corbett (chair of the board, Hockey Canada), Scott Smith (chief operating officer, Hockey Canada) and Scott Farley (vice-president of marketing services and events, Hockey Canada). Following the presentation, the site selection committee recommended Ottawa as host of the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship to Hockey Canada’s board of directors, which has approved that recommendation.

"We’re excited to have this elite women’s hockey event come back not just to Canada, but to Ottawa, the city where it all started," Nicholson said. "Our organization looks forward to working with the Province of Ontario, the City of Ottawa, the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association and Senators Sports and Entertainment to make the 15th IIHF World Women’s Championship a complete success."

"Today’s announcement reaffirms my continued commitment to bring world class events to Ottawa," said Eugene Melnyk, owner and chairman of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club. "We have been strong supporters of women’s hockey for the past decade. The opportunity to host the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship is a culmination of that decade long commitment. Women’s hockey is one of the most exciting and fastest growing dimensions to the game and we look forward to using this world-class event to inspire young Canadian girls right across the country to play the game and dream big."

The 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship will take place at SBP Arena and the Nepean Sportsplex in April 2013, with more details to be announced at later dates. The last time SBP Arena hosted the National Women’s Team was January 1, 2010, when 16,347 fans filled the arena, breaking a women’s hockey game attendance record, and watched Canada edge the United States 3-2 in a shootout.

Beginning today, fans are invited to create an account with Hockey Canada to get all the ticketing news and information for the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship. By registering immediately, fans will receive priority access to purchase ticket packages when they become available. Only 3,000 tickets will be available in the 100 Level of SBP Arena, so fans are encouraged to register as soon as possible to ensure the best chance at the best seats.

This will be the final world championship prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, with many of the players who will represent their countries in Sochi, Russia expected to be on the ice in Ottawa. It will also mark the sixth time that Canada has hosted the tournament, joining 1990 in Ottawa, 1997 in Kitchener, Ont., 2000 in Mississauga, Ont., 2004 in Halifax, N.S., and 2007 in Winnipeg, Man., where a world championship attendance record of 122,152 fans was set.

"Women’s hockey has come a long way since Team Canada wore pink jerseys to attract attention to the inaugural world championship held in Ottawa," said Fran Rider, president of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association. "The 2013 tournament will feature a stronger, faster female game that will showcase just how much the sport has grown."

The Ontario Women’s Hockey Association will host its provincial championships in conjunction with the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship, bringing more than 500 girls’ teams of all ages and from all skill levels to the Ottawa area.

It is estimated the world championship will have an economic impact of $20 million, with a guaranteed minimum of $500,000 in profit to be invested in minor hockey programs across the country. In addition, the OWHA provincials will have an estimated economic impact of $15 million, meaning the two events will exceed $35 million in economic impact.

"Ottawa showed its enthusiasm for international hockey by successfully hosting the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship," City of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said. "We can’t wait to put our civic pride and hockey passion on display again when we welcome the best female players in the world back to Canada’s capital for the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship."

"Ontario welcomes the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship to Ottawa," said Michael Chan, Ontario minister of tourism and culture. "Ottawa is a real hockey town, and with 21 games over eight days, this is a first-class sports event that will generate local economic activity and boost tourism, while showing the world what a great place Ontario is to live, visit and do business."

Canada’s National Women’s Team has appeared in every gold medal game at the IIHF World Women’s Championship, winning gold nine times (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2007) and silver four times (2005, 2008, 2009 and 2011).

Release courtesy of Hockey Canada

BTD World Womens Championship All Tournament Honors

2011-04-25T18:41:00.001-04:00

2011 Beyond the Dashers All Tournament Honors. here

2011 WWC - Medal Round MVPs

2011-04-25T17:11:00.002-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the final day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #20
Finland [W]
IIHF: F-Minnamari Tuominen
BTD: F-Minnamari Tuominen

Russia [L]
IIHF: D-Inna Dyubanok
BTD: F-Marina Sergina

Game #22
United States [W]
IIHF: F-Kelli Stack
BTD: F-Hilary Knight

Canada [L]
IIHF: F-Gillian Apps
BTD: F-Jayna Hefford

USA completes the three-peat with a 3-2 overtime win over Canada!

2011-04-25T17:05:00.002-04:00

Another world championship event ended with the top two teams in the world squaring off in the championship game. After cruising to victory in their first four games here in Zurich the United States entered the championship game looking to strike back at Canada after their Olympic defeat last year and continue their streak of consecutive World Championship's.

In the first period of the 17th meeting all time in World Championships the Canadians gave the USA an early edge with Jen Wakefield going to the box for tripping. However the Americans were unable to gain the upper hand on the advantage and as the period progressed each team had their share of chances to capitalize. However the United States broke through at the 16:56 mark when Jocelyne Lamoureux used a give and go from her sister on a Canadian breakdown in their own end. The goal gave the USA an edge that would carry them for the remainder of the frame. With eight seconds left however Gillian Apps took advantage of two defenders in front of USA goaltender Jessie Vetter with a top shelf shot tying the game with eight seconds left in the period.

In what was ultimately a low key second period that saw two USA Power Plays and an abbreviated Canadian power play the United States was able to retake the lead in the game. With Canada looking to hold the USA zone defender Angela Ruggiero took the puck up ice and feed teammate Jenny Potter who spit the Canadian defense beating goaltender Shannon Szabados with a top shelf backhand goal. Despite giving up the lead Canada out shot the USA 15-14 in the middle period.

In the third period the pace of the game started quick as each team tried to capitalize on every attempt. However as the period reached its final five minutes Canada turned up the pressure on the USA as they searched for the tying goal. Following a Josephine Pucci penalty for tripping Canada had the edge they needed. Wasting little time, Rebecca Johnston took a feed in front from Jayna Hefford who was in the low corner to tie the game. The goal not only tied the game but forced each team to clamp down further on defense sending the game to overtime. In the third period Canada out shot the USA 23-12 taking an edge of 47-42 for the contest further highlighting the solid goaltending performances.

In the extra session the Americans nearly faltered early on allowing Canada to gain the early upper hand. When the USA failed to capitalize on a Jocelyne Larocque tripping call the odds that were turning in their favor seemed to be slipping back to Canada. However nearing the midway point of the extra session Hilary Knight continuing her dominating performance at this event took a sliding puck and guided in the open corner of the net just before Shannon Szabados could slide over and cover it. The game winning goal for the USA gives them their third straight World Championship gold medal victory over Canada.

Box Score (IIHF)

Finland takes Bronze with 3-2 OT win over Russia

2011-04-25T12:29:00.001-04:00

Finnish captain Karolina Rantamaki's goal at 2:49 of overtime sends Finland home from the 2011 World's with a bronze medal. The Overtime win comes at the expense of another valiant third period comeback by Russia.

Minnamari Tuominen gave Finland a 1-0 lead at the 14:15 mark of the first with an unassisted goal. just 1:18 into the second Tuominen added her second goal of the game extending the Fins lead to 2-0. Despite being down 2-0 Russia out shot Finland in the second period 14-11. In the third Period Inna Dyubanok cut the Finnish lead to a single goal midway through the final frame. Russia capitalized just under three minutes later on the power play as Marina Sergina knocked in a feed from Alexandra Kapustina tying the game at two a piece. As the last six minutes of the game wore down neither team was able to grab an advantage setting up the overtime frame.

With the win Finland equals their Bronze Medal finish at the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2009 World's while Russia improves on a sixth place Olympic finish and fifth place 2009 World's ranking.

Box Score (IIHF)

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-25T06:00:00.003-04:00

The worlds best Women's hockey teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #20
Russia vs. Finland
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game #22
United States vs. Canada
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: TSN / Universal Sports / IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

2011 WWC - Day 9 Game MVPs

2011-04-24T22:07:00.002-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the ninth day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #18
Sweden [W]
IIHF: D-Frida Nevalainen
BTD: F-Elin Holmlov

Switzerland [L]
IIHF: F-Melanie Hafliger
BTD: F-Nicole Bullo

Game #19
Kazakhstan [L]
IIHF: G-Daria Obydennova
BTD: G-Daria Obydennova

Slovakia [W]
IIHF: F-Nicol Cupkova
BTD: F-Nicol Cupkova

Slovakia wins relegation series over Kazakhstan with 2-1 Shootout win

2011-04-24T21:43:00.002-04:00

As hard as Kazakhstan tried to put away Slovakia after their first period power play goal, Zuzana Tomcikova was always there to make the stop. After Slovakia tied the game with 6:05 to play it was safe to say that the Kazakh offensive was thoroughly deflated. After a scoreless overtime period Slovakia needed just two shooters to capature the victory when Martina Velickova beat Daria Obydennova for the only goal in the shootout.

In the game Slovakia out shot Kazakhstan just 38-36 for Kazakhstan's closest shot differential during their five loses. With the win Slovakia assures themselves of a place in next years world championship event while Kazakhstan will play at the Division 1 worlds. Germany who won the Division 1 worlds on home ice earlier this month will take Kazakhstan's spot at next years worlds.

Box Score (IIHF)

Sweden takes 5th place with shootout win over Switzerland

2011-04-24T21:35:00.001-04:00

Sweden after relinquishing a two goal first period lead rallied behind two shootout goals from Elin Holmlov to defeat host Switzerland in the 5th place game of the 2011 Women's World Championship forcing host nation Switzerland to finish sixth.

Sweden who out shot the Swiss better than two to one in the game started the game off strong with a power play goal from Emma Eliasson and a goal from Tina Enstrom. However just 2:14 after the Enstrom goal Switzerland started their comeback bid as Anja Stiefel netted a power play goal of her own and Nicole Bullo tied the game with 2:56 left in the period. Sweden out shot the Swiss 30-10 in the initial frame setting a precedent for the remainder of the contest.

After the three scoreless periods that followed the first, neither team was able to capitalize while Sweden out shot Switzerland 44-23 in those periods. In the shootout both goaltenders were up to task for the first three attempts. However on the fourth attempt Stephanie Marty got the puck past Kim Martin and Elin Holmlov beat Florence Schelling re-tying the contest and extending the shootout. During the seventh attempt however Nicole Bullo's shot was stopped by Kim Martin and Elin Holmlov struck again giving the Swedes the win and 5th place in the tournament.

Box Score (IIHF)

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today at the Women's World Championships

The worlds best Women's hockey teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #18
Sweden vs. Switzerland
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game #19
Kazakhstan vs. Slovakia
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Eishalle Deutweg – Winterthur
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

2011 WWC - Day 8 Game MVPs

2011-04-23T16:54:00.000-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the eighth day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #16
Canada [W]
IIHF: F-Haley Wickenheiser
BTD: F-Jayna Hefford

Finland [L]
IIHF: G-Noora Raty
BTD: G-Noora Raty

Game #17
USA [W]
IIHF: F-Jocelyne Lamoureux
BTD: F-Monique Lamoureux-Kolls

Russia [L]
IIHF: G-Anna Prugova
BTD: G-Anna Prugova

USA downs Russia 5-1, advances to the 2011 World's Championship Game

2011-04-23T16:23:00.002-04:00

Despite an amazing performance by 17 year old Russian netminder Anna Prugova the United States out muscled Russia to a 5-1 win in today's second semifinal.

Iya Gavrilova got the Russians on the board at the 3:21 mark with a rebound off a shot by Yekaterina Smolentseva's shot that Jessie Vetter stopped. However the lead would be short lived as Monique Lamoreux-Kolls got the United States on the board at the 11:31 mark assisted by her sister Jocelyne with a wrister from the slot. 34 seconds later Kendall Coyne gave the United States a 2-1 lead and the Americans never looked back. For the period the US out shot Russia 33-5.

In the second period Jocelyne Lamoureux put a low angled shot into the back of the net just as a shortened USA power play expired. With Russia's emotions getting the best of them, Iya Gavrilova took a Holding call allowing the USA to capitalize again. Just 45 seconds into the power play Brianna Decker redirected a shot from Caitlin Cahow into the net giving the USA a 4-1 lead. Towards the end of the frame the physicality picked up briefly as Russia's Alexandra Kapustina was whistled for interference and the USA's Hilary Knight and Josephine Pucci taking penalties for Slashing and Tripping respectively. In the second period the Americans continued to dominate in the shots column with an 18-3 edge for the period and a 51-8 advantage for the game.

As the third period began, Brianna Decker scored her second straight rebound goal knocking in a shot off of Monique Lamoureux-Koll's slapshot. For the Game Lamoureux-Kolls tallied one goal and three assists while putting eight shots on net mostly from the top of the slot. Following the USA's fifth goal the Americans took their foot off the gas cruising to a 5-0 record in the tournament. In the game the Russians were out shot 68-14 with Anna Prugova joining Jocelyne Lamoureux with Best Player of the Game honors. Jocelyne had one goal, one assist on eight shots falling just two assists shy of her twin and two points shy of Brianna Decker as the teams point leaders for the game.

With the Victory the United States advances to the Championship game on Monday where they will face off with familiar foe, Canada. Russia in spite of the loss still has a shot at a bronze medal when they take on Finland in Monday's first game.

Box Score (IIHF)

Canada advances to Championship with 4-1 win over Finland!

2011-04-23T12:35:00.002-04:00

Despite 74 saves by Noora Raty Finland was unable to duplicate their Friday success over Sweden as Canada picked apart the Finish offensive from the start. Limiting Finland to just 16 shots on Charline Labonte, Canada held the zone offensively for the vast majority of play out shooting the Fins 78-16 in the contest.

Haley Wickenheiser asserted her physical ability before either team could gain an offensive taking a roughing penalty. Midway through the frame Rebecca Johnston got Canada on the board with her third goal of the tournament. Finland, undeterred by the score responded just over a minute later when Michelle Karvinen put her team on the scoreboard tying the game. After trading penalties Marie-Phillip Poulin took a pass from Caroline Ouellette to give Canada a 2-1 lead with 56 seconds left in the first period.

After a scoreless second period that saw Canada pour on the shots and Raty stop them all, Canada broke away in the final frame. Jayna Hefford's goal at 43 seconds of the third allowed Canada a two goal cushion and Canada never looked back. A short handed tally by Wickenheiser at the 8:18 mark was little more than a moot point giving Canada a three goal edge and icing the contest.

With the victory Canada advances to the Championship game and a likely date with the United States on Monday. The USA plays their semifinal game with Russia later on today here in Zurich. Finland, after bouncing back from an overtime loss to Switzerland will have to settle for a shot at the Bronze on Monday.

Box Score (IIHF)

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today at the Women's World Championships

The worlds best Women's hockey teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #16
Canada vs. Finland
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: TSN [TV] / IIHF.com

Game #17
United States vs. Russia
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: USAHockey / IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

2011 WWC - Day 7 Game MVPs

2011-04-22T17:30:00.000-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the Seventh day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #13
Sweden [L]
IIHF: F-Erika Holst
BTD: F-Erika Holst

Finland [W]
IIHF: F-Michelle Karvinen
BTD: G-Noora Raty

Game #14
Switzerland [L]
IIHF: G-Florence Schelling
BTD: F-Stephanie Marty

Russia [W]
IIHF: F-Yekaterina Smolentseva
BTD: D-Iya Gavrilova

Game #15
Slovakia [W]
IIHF: F-Anna Dzurnakova
BTD: F-Anna Dzurnakova

Kazakhstan [L]
IIHF: D-Viktoria Sazonova
BTD: D-Viktoria Sazonova

Slovakia wins 1-0 over Kazakhstan in Relegation series

2011-04-22T16:42:00.000-04:00

Forced into the best of three relegation series after an 0-3 record in the preliminary round Slovakia stayed penalty free and managed to help goaltender Zuzana Tomcikova pickup her first win at the 2011 World Women's Championship. Anna Dzurnakova found the back of the net with 12:01 to play in the game for the only goal of the contest.

With the 1-0 win, Slovakia takes a 1-0 lead on Kazakhstan in their best of three relegation series. The teams will meet again on Sunday and Monday if Kazakhstan manages to come away with a victory.

Box Score (IIHF)

Russia comes back from a 3-0 deficit to down Switzerland 5-4 in OT!

2011-04-22T16:31:00.002-04:00

What started off as another impressive performance by Florence Schelling in goal turned sour in the third period as Russia scored four times in the third period before winning it in overtime!

Swiss forward Darcia Leimgruber gave the host nation a 1-0 lead 35 seconds into the contest for the only goal of a penalty filled first period. In the second period the penalty frustration from the first period carried over in the first five minutes of the middle frame. However all that would change at the 5:50 mark when Sara Benz took a feed from Julia Marty to give the hosts a 2-0 lead. Roughly eight minutes later Benz made her mark felt once more with an unassisted goal giving the Swiss a 3-0 lead after two periods.

In the third period Russia picked up their forecheck leading to their first score of the game at the 7:49 mark. After Swiss forward Phoebe Stanz was called for tripping Olga Permyakova got the Russians one goal closer midway through the period after Iya Gavrilova did the dirty work setting up the play. Just as Switzerland was finding their way up ice Russia struck again as Gavrilova fed Alexandra Kapustina to tie the game at 3-3. Less than a minute later Switzerland dug a deeper hole as Lara Stalder was called for Body Checking.

With the advantage winding down Olga Sosina gave her team a 4-3 lead with 5:39 to play. After each team spent two minutes of scoreless power play time the Russians appeared headed for victory with one minute to play. However Switzerland refused to go down without a fight as Stefanie Marty banged away and scored with 43 seconds remaining in the contest to tie the game once more. In the overtime Switzerland had the upper hand setting up for the game winning strike when Tatyana Burina took the puck and gave Russia a 5-4 win over the host Swiss.

With the win Russia moves onto the semifinals where they hope to avenge their 13-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of the US squad on Monday. Switzerland's rise that started with their home ice win over Finland on Sunday has been diverted here as they will now play for 5th place on Sunday against Sweden.

Box Score (IIHF)

Finland moves on to Semis with a 5-1 win over Sweden

2011-04-22T12:34:00.000-04:00

Anytime the Swedes and the Fins take the ice expect to see a physical low scoring affair. While today's game was physical, the score was lopsided as Finland took control with an early goal and never looked back. The win is a silver lining for a rebuilding Finish team that is looking to finish strong after a shaky loss in the preliminary round to host Switzerland.

Michelle Karvinen got Finland on the board with two goals in the first 6:23 of the contest. After goal number two Swedish coach Niclas Hogberg made a goaltending switch from Sara Grahn to Kim Martin. Despite the change however Finland used positioning for Annina Rajahuhta to give her team a 3-0 lead. Sweden's chances of cutting into the Fins lead was stopped when Emma Eliasson took a checking call virtually ending the period. After one period the only lead that Sweden took to the locker room was a 15-12 edge in shots.

In the second period the physicality that often is associated with these two foes shown through as Sweden tried to battle their way back into the contest taking three penalties in the first 15 minutes of the frame compared to the one call Finland took at the 12:49 mark. The third Swedish penalty was the dagger for them in this game as Jenni Asserholt was forced to watch the Fins take a 4-0 lead before the last few seconds of her cross-checking penalty could tick away. Finland despite leading 4-0 was out shot in the second period 12-11.

Box Score (IIHF)

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

The worlds best Women's hockey teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #13
Sweden vs. Finland
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: SVT [TV] / IIHF.com

Game #14
Switzerland vs. Russia
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game #15
Slovakia vs. Kazakhstan
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Eishalle Deutweg – Winterthur
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

2011 WWC - Day 5 Game MVPs

2011-04-20T17:19:00.002-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the fifth day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #11
Slovakia [L]
IIHF: G-Zuzana Tomcikova
BTD: G-Zuzana Tomcikova

Russia [W]
IIHF: F-Tatyana Burina
BTD: F-Tatyana Burina

Game #12
USA [W]
IIHF: D-Kacey Bellamy
BTD: F-Jenny Potter

Sweden [L]
IIHF: D-Linnea Backman
BTD: F-Erika Holst

USA destroys Sweden, wins Group A

2011-04-20T16:23:00.002-04:00

The United States entered their final game of group play with the memory of their Olympic loss to Sweden still in their memory bank. The Americans came out looking to keep Sweden out of reach and they did just that. Taking advantage of an Emma Eliasson penalty the US opened the scoring with Kelli Stack banging away at a rebound in front of Sara Grahn. Less than four minutes later Jen Schoullis easily broke in front and spun a one timer giving her team a 2-0 lead. Three minutes later sisters Monique Lamoreux-Kolls and Jocelyne Lamoureux teamed up with Kelli Stack to give the USA a 3-0 edge midway through the frame. Closing out the period Jenny Potter walked in front and potted the fourth goal of the game with six seconds left in the period.

In the second period the US squad picked up right where they left off in the first as Meghan Duggan teamed up with Badger teammate Hilary Knight on the power play for a 5-0 edge. Jen Schoullis, Kendall Coyne, and Jocelyne Lamoureux all added even strength tallies in the middle frame forcing Sweden to make a goaltending chance. Sara Grahn was replaced in net at the 35:09 mark, the first stoppage following her eighth goal against. The goalie change however did little to derail the American assault as Meghan Duggan walked in front from the corner and fired a wrister in for goal number nine and her second of the game.

A Swedish locker room pep talk must have worked to some extent as the third period opened with the Swedes playing solid defense before forcing Monique Lamoureux-Kolls to take a high sticking penalty. The Power Play was just what the doctor ordered for Sweden as the Swedish offensive was finally able to break through. Erika Grahm took a feed from Erika Holst in and beat Jessie Vetter for their first goal of the game. However as the period wore on the momentum was unable to build as both teams defenses clamped down. With each team getting chances on the power play the opposing squads flexed their penalty kill ability. In part due to their high scoring first and second periods the US out shot the Swedes 51-17 in the game but just barely out shot them 9-7 in the period.

Sweden despite the loss will move on to the quarterfinal round where they faceoff against heated rival Finland on Friday. The USA by winning Group A faces off with the winner of game between Switzerland and Russia on Saturday.

Box Score (IIHF)

Russia sends Slovakia to Relegation with a 4-1 Win!

2011-04-20T16:09:00.002-04:00

Despite another fantastic effort by Zuzana Tomcikova in net Slovakia fell to 0-3 at the 2011 Worlds 4-1 to Russia. The Russians got on the board with a short handed goal during an Iya Gavrilova penalty to lead 1-0 after one. In the second period Russia out shot the Slovaks 20-2 but failed to score setting the stage for a third period of nail biting.

However in the third the Russians were able to get back onto the scoreboard with two early goals giving them a 3-0 edge. The lead would swell to 4-0 when Alexandra Vafina scored the second short handed goal for Russia in the game. With less than four minutes to play Slovakia finally got on the scoreboard in the tournament with a nice feed in front of the net.

The Russians record of 1-2 in group play is good enough to setup a date with Switzerland on Friday in the quarterfinals. With the loss Slovakia falls back into the best of three relegation series where they will faceoff with Kazakhstan.

Box Score (IIHF)

Canadian Women's Hockey League to add Calgary team and create one league

2011-04-20T09:55:00.001-04:00

By Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

The Canadian Women's Hockey League is expanding to Calgary and the Western Women's Hockey League has decided to disband.

The CWHL, made up of teams in Toronto, Brampton, Burlington, Montreal and Boston, announced Tuesday it plans to have a team in Calgary operating for the 2011-12 season.

The Calgary team will be made up of players from former WWHL clubs in Edmonton, Strathmore, Alta., Winnipeg and Minnesota.

Those players who aren't on the Calgary will have to find another place to play. The CWHL's business plan is to add more western teams when it can afford to do so.

"There will only be one league now across North America and that will be our leagues together," CWHL executive director Brenda Andress said.

"In the past year and half, we've looked around and said, how can we make ourselves stronger? One of the ways we've done that is to combine us into one league."

Former Strathmore Rockies player and governor Samantha Holmes says there will be short-term pain in the creation of one league.

"With the dissolving of the WWHL, we have a lot of players to take care of. We'll be working with the CWHL to try to figure out the best route to take on that," Holmes said. "The reality of it is, women's hockey is at a spot where we're either going to move ahead or stay where we are. This is our opportunity."

There was a single women's league in Canada earlier this decade called the National Women's Hockey League. Western teams broke away because of high travel costs. The NWHL suspended operations in 2007 and the current CWHL rose from the ashes, driven by the players themselves.

The CWHL owns its teams in a model similar to Major League Soccer. The league is in the process of raising money via sponsorships and fundraising to pay for the new team, which will have higher travel costs than its eastern counterparts.

Andress says operating Calgary as a pilot project next season on an abbreviated schedule will cost at least $200,000.

"Really what we're looking for is a lot more than that," she said. "To do it the way we want to do it requires close to half a million dollars."

The team has a manager, but not a coach or a home arena yet. The CWHL is looking at the new WinSport ice complex at Calgary's Canada Olympic Park as a possibility.

"I think it's a good move, but you have to do it the right way and we need really good corporate support and interest in Calgary," said Canadian national team captain Hayley Wickenheiser. "It would be nice to have a team that's housed and plays out of WinSport in the facility where Hockey Canada will be and maybe play some satellite games outside the city.

"I think we can draw some of the best players in the world to Calgary."

Wickenheiser still intends to play hockey a second year for the University of Calgary next season, but says she could play for the CWHL team in the future.

"I'm helping them as much as I can when they've asked me," she said.

One league might be more attractive to the NHL, as there have been rumblings the league is considering getting involved in women's hockey. Andress says she has been receiving advice from the NHL.

"The NHL has made statements over and over again that they believe in the women's game, support the women's hockey game," she said. "

"They're still working with us and I truly believe they will do what's right. They'll support the women's game in a way that allows us to move forward with providing a professional league. What way they're going to that, I don't know."

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

The worlds best Women's hockey teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #11
Slovakia vs. Russia
2:00pm Local Time, 8:00am EST
Eishalle Deutweg - Winterthur
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game #12
USA vs. Sweden
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Eishalle Deutweg – Winterthur
Coverage: SVT [TV] / Universal Sports [TV / Web] / IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

Switzerland takes 2nd in Group B with 6-1 win over Kazakhstan's

2011-04-19T18:33:00.002-04:00

Building on the strength of their overtime victory over Finland and their home ice advantage in the tournament, Switzerland breezed by Kazakhstan 6-1 today. With the victory the Swiss take second place in Group B with a 2-1 record while Kazakhstan goes to the relegation series 0-3 in the event.

With Florence Schelling in goal, Switzerland put two quick goals in net capped off a by Darcia Leimgruber tipping in a shot from the point to give the Swiss a 3-0 lead after one period. In the frame the Swiss out shot the Kazak's 18-6. After penalties marred the start to the second period Switzerland went up 4-0 midway through the second stanza. Darcia Leimgruber recorded her second goal of the game on a delayed penalty at center ice where she saw them carry the puck in over the line, and beat the Kazak netmider who was down and out. In the period the Swiss increased their shots on goal margin leading 38-14 after two periods.

In the third period Kazakhstan got on the board at the 2:02 mark with a Power Play tally following a Swiss hooking call. 4:44 later Sara Benz broke free and used her strong backhand shot to beat the netminder. Unable to respond the Kazak's were resigned to their defeat and after taking an interference call gave up their sixth goal of the game as Christine Meier slapped it in from the slot. Schelling finished the game with 20 saves playing in her third game of the event.

Box Score (IIHF)

Canada skates past Finland 2-0, Wins Group B

2011-04-19T18:28:00.000-04:00

Noora Raty did all she could to keep her team in the game but in the end Shannon Szabados was perfect in goal for Canada to send the Fins to a 1-2 record and third place in Group B. Canada by defeating the Fins receives a bye and will play next in the Semifinals on Saturday at 4pm Local time (10am EST).

After a physical start to the game that saw Finland visit the penalty box 5 times including a Checking from Behind game misconduct for Rosa Lindstedt at the 8:14 mark, Canada was finally able to break through at 12:46 in the first. Rebecca Johnston worked her way from the corner to the front of the net where she shelved a feed from Haley Irwin for the games first goal.

With the Fins deploying superior forechecking skills and breaking up any attempts at setting up flow in their end Canada had to work harder than they have all tournament to get shots on net. However in the end it would be Finland's lack of scoring that would lead to Jayna Hefford's empty net goal assuring Canada of the victory and sending the Fins to their second one goal defeat in the tournament.

Box Score (IIHF)

2011 WWC - Day 4 Game MVPs

2011-04-19T17:10:00.000-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the fourth day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #9
Canada
IIHF: D-Bobbi Jo Slusar
BTD: D-Bobbi Jo Slusar

Finland
IIHF: G-Noora Raty
BTD: F-Annina Rajahuhta

Game #10
Switzerland
IIHF: F-Stefanie Marty
BTD: F-Darcia Leimgruber

Kazakhstan
IIHF: F-Natalya Yakovchuk
BTD: F-Natalya Yakovchuk

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

The worlds best Women's hockey teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #9
Canada vs. Finland
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Eishalle Deutweg – Winterthur
Coverage: TSN [TV] / RDS [TV] / IIHF.com

Game #10
Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Eishalle Deutweg - Winterthur
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

2011 WWC - Day 3 Game MVPs

2011-04-18T12:54:00.001-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the second day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #7
Sweden [W]
IIHF: F-Erika Holst
BTD: F-Elin Holmlov

Slovakia [L]
IIHF: F-Jana Kapustova
BTD: G-Zuzana Tomcikova

Game #8
Russia [L]
IIHF: D-Iya Gavrilova
BTD: D-Iya Gavrilova

USA [W]
IIHF: F-Julie Chu
BTD: F-Hilary Knight

USA Clobbers Russia 13-1

2011-04-18T12:20:00.003-04:00

After Team USA dominated Russia 13-0 at the 2010 Olympics, the optimisim for Russia to be able to skate with the American squad at the 2011 Worlds was no higher. And again the USA dominated the Russians from the start boosting their stats and frustrating a team that was clearly out of their league once more.

After controlling play from the opening faceoff Hilary Knight gave the USA a 1-0 lead midway through their first power play of the game with a slap shot from the left point. Less than two minutes later Anne Schleper picked up her first national team goal beating Russian netminder Valentina Ostrovlyanchik to give her team a 2-0 lead. Feeding on the scoring vibes Julie Chu put the US up 3-0 as she one-timed a pass from Jenny Potter. Angela Ruggiero got into the scoring action finishing off a pretty series of skills by Brianna Decker. The four USA goals came in a span of 5:11 and gave the Americans a commanding edge hard for a team like Russia to overcome. After Molly Engstrom was whistled for Checking it appears that the Russians get there chance to get back in the game. However just 20 seconds into the power play, Meghan Duggan made a break for the Russian net and scored to give the USA a 5-0 lead. Russia would get a second power play chance but was unable to convert ending the frame with a 5-0 deficit and a 16-5 deficit in shots.

As the second period opened Russia got a break from the persistent USA offense as Jenny Potter and Brianna Decker were whistled for penalties 1:03 apart. However the US regrouped and worked rather easily to kill the penalties showing the separation in skill level amongst the squads. Following an Alex Vafina penalty for holding at the 5:20 mark Caitlin Cahow restarted the USA Offensive. Cahow scored from the doorstep off a nice pass from Hilary Knight to make it 6-0. With the Russians wore down from back to back penalties Hilary Knight struck again giving the US a 7-0 lead. Knight's goal was assisted by UW teammate Meghan Duggan and veteran Julie Chu. 23 seconds later Brianna Decker added to her tournament take giving the US an 8-0 lead. As the second half of the period wore on the Russians picked up a little momentum when Josephine Pucci was called for Holding the Stick. The Russians were unable to score on the Power Play but did managed to get on the board 51 seconds later with one second left in the period to cut the US lead to seven. Yekaterina Lebedeva got credit for the first Russian goal of the game. The period ended with the USA dominating in the shots category once more 25-7 for a two period total of 41-12.

The third period began in a similar fashion to the second as the US took two penalties followed by a Russian trip to the box. Hilary Knight took advantage completing the hat trick 6:41 into the period giving her team a 9-1 edge. The goal was another from the point for Knight who was virtually automatic when fed in that spot of the ice. The lead was pushed to 10-1 moments later when Kelli Stack used her speed to score a wrap around goal. After an interesting call to Brianna Decker that USA officials deemed High Sticking but announced as Abuse of Official by Players/Team Officials in the box score, and a Holding call 22 seconds later on Ia Gavrilova the USA took advantage of the open ice. Kendall Coyne struck just a minute into the 4x4 stretch as to make it 11-1. 33 seconds later Kacey Bellamy made it 12-1 and sapped the last bit of energy from the Russian foe. With the game taking a physical nature Kelli Stack went to the box for Boarding and was joined in the adjacent box near the end of her punishment as the Russians took back to back calls less than 10 sec apart for High Sticking and Boarding. Angela Ruggiero wasted little time taking advantage of the 4x3 giving the USA their thirteenth goal of the contest and leaving the Russians rather frustrated again with another poor showing. In the contest the Americans tallied five goals via the power play and one short handed as well as out shooting the Russians 57-20 in the game.

Truly this shows that there is lots of work to do prior to Sochi if the Russians hope to avoid home ice embarrassment at the 2014 Olympic Games.

Box Score (IIHF)

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

The worlds best Women's hockey teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #7
Sweden vs. Slovakia
12:00pm Local Time, 6:00am EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game #8
Russia vs. United States
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

Sweden Shuts Out Slovakia 3-0

2011-04-18T08:28:00.000-04:00

Kim Martin posted a Shutout aided by three goals from her Swiss teammates. Sweden moves to 2-0 and faces the USA on Wednesday while Slovakia falls to 0-2 and faces Russia.

Box Score (IIHF)

2011 WWC - Day 2 Game MVPs

2011-04-17T17:18:00.002-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the second day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #3
United States [W]
IIHF: F-Brianna Decker
BTD: F-Brianna Decker

Slovakia [L]
IIHF: G-Zuzana Tomcikova
BTD: G-Zuzana Tomcikova

Game #4
Sweden [W]
IIHF: F-Elin Holmlov
BTD: F-Elin Holmlov

Russia [L]
IIHF: F-Alexandra Vafina
BTD: G-Anna Prugova

Game #5
Kazakhstan [L]
IIHF: F-Lyubov Ibragimova
BTD: G-Daria Obydennova

Canada [W]
IIHF: F-Meaghan Mikkelson
BTD: F-Meaghan Mikkelson

Game #6
Finland [L]
IIHF: D-Jenni Hiirikoski
BTD: D-Jenni Hiirikoski

Switzerland [W]
IIHF: F-Nicole Bullo
BTD: G-Florence Schelling

Switzerland edges Finland in Overtime 2-1

2011-04-17T16:45:00.003-04:00

Three periods weren't enough as Finland and Switzerland needed overtime to settle this Preliminary Round match up. In front of a home nation crowd the Swiss National Team rebounded from their 12-0 loss to Canada dispatching 2010 Olympic bronze medalist Finland in Overtime. Despite being out shot after the first period, and trailing after two periods, Switzerland never wavered and battled back for the hard fought 2-1 win.

After a pair of first period penalties Finland got on the board with a goal at the 5:51 mark. The Only goal of the frame came just as the Fins were regrouping from the second penalty kill. Tanja Niskanen took a Tiina Saarimaki feed and put the puck past Florence Schelling to give Finland a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the period was a physical battle including matching calls at the 17:10 mark where Phoebe Stanz went to the box for Checking and was joined by Rosa Lindstedt who was called for Roughing. The first period was controlled in large part by the Swiss who used their home ice and power play edge to work on wearing down Finlands assault. Shots in the period were 14-8 in favor of the Swiss.

In the second period the marble theory began to take effect as Finland was able to gain a bit of an edge with back to back power plays of their own. At the 16:04 mark the Anne Helin was whistled for hooking Darcia Leimgruber who imbelished the hook enough to receive a diving call of her own. Swiss teammate Kathrin Lehmann took offense to these proceedings and picked up a roughing call to round out the play. Just before the 4 on 3 power play for Finland wound down Minnamari Tuominen was called for a hooking penalty of her own. Switzerland took advantage as 54 seconds later Nicole Bullo knotted the game at 1-1 with a goal assisted by Christine Meier and Sara Benz. With the goal the momentum shifted swiftly in favor of the home nation despite being out shot 18-4 in the frame.

In the third period each team struggled to gain an edge. Michelle Karvinen and Sandra Thalmann were matched up after tussling at the 8:33 mark of the period. With the period just over half gone the Fins were awarded a power play as Phoebe Stanz got a bit too physical and was whistled for Checking. The Call wouldn't come back to haunt the Swiss however as they managed to kill off the Penalty and just over two minutes after the penalty expired the Swiss gained a power play of their own when Minnamari Tuominen picked up a checking call of her own. The Fins killed the penalty with ease however setting the stage for Overtime. In the extra session Stefaine Marty found the back of the net at the 1:50 mark ending the game and giving the Swiss a 2-1 victory.

Both teams take tomorrow off to regroup and return to action Tuesday as Finland faces Canada and Switzerland looks for two in a row and a place in the Play-off round against Kazakhstan.

Box Score (IIHF)

Sweden downs Russia 7-1

2011-04-17T14:50:00.001-04:00

Sweden downed Russia to open their participation in the 2011 Women's World Championship today. The Swiss who let from start to finish were rarely challenged by their defensive minded Russian foe who failed to grow on a first period goal by Alexandra Alexandra Vafina.

Sweden got on the board at the 4:56 mark of the first period when Erika Holst found the back of the net. Just under three minutes later at the 7:24 mark Elin Holmlov lit the lamp for her first of three points on the day. Rebecca Stenberg added her first career goal just over a minute later giving Sweden the 3-0 edge. Even as Russia cut into the deficit the with aforementioned Vafina unassisted goal, the Swiss offensive failed to slow down.

1:38 into the second period Tina Enstrom picked up her first goal of the tournament and the only goal in the frame,, assisted by Holmlov and Emma Nordin. The game took a physical turn for the remainder of the stanza as Russia took out some frustration and visited the box in the process, while Sweden added to the frustration by disrupting any Russian attempt to clear or play in the offensive end of the rink resulting in penalties of their own.

The Swedes finished the game much as it started as Erika Grahm scored on a 5 on 3 power play 18 seconds into the final frame. Frida Nevalainen and Anna Borgqvist added even strength goals of their own to round out the scoring in the game. The biggest improvement or hindrance depending on how you view the game, was the fairly even shots on goal, a 40-37 edge for Sweden. For one of the first times in watching Russia play they battled hard despite the score hopefully looking to prove that they can compete with the rest of the world ahead of the Sochi 2014 Olympic games they will host.

Box Score (IIHF)

Canada shuts out Kazakhstan 7-0

2011-04-17T12:18:00.001-04:00

Another day and another shutout for Team Canada. Kim St. Pierre did the honors today as the powerful Canadian offensive scored twice in the first and third periods and three times in the second. Veterans Caroline Ouellette and Haley Wickenheiser started the game off with goals book ending the middle part of the stanza. In the second period Marie-Phillip Poulin scored 55 seconds into the frame to give Canada a 3-0 lead. Canada really opened things up when Meaghan Mikkelson scored back to back goals, one was credited on an own goal for Kazakhstan and the other via the Power Play to close out the second period. In the third period Haley Irwin and Natalie Spooner found the back of the net to complete the 7-0 victory.

Helping Canada even further was their avoidance of the penalty box. Only a blatant Meghan Agosta slashing call midway through the second period gave Kazakhstan a chance on the power play. The only bright spot for the Kazakhs was goaltender Daria Obydennova. Obydennova made 64 saves in the game today while allowing all seven Canadian goals.

Box Score (IIHF)

Tomcikova shines but USA out scores Slovakia 5-0

2011-04-17T08:09:00.003-04:00

Many of the Team USA members have played opposite Zuzana Tomcikova in the past. The stellar Slovakian who has frustrated the opposition a time or two was no different today as Slovakia was out shot 63-10 in the game. While the game ended with the USA winning 5-0, the contest got off to a slow start with each team traded infractions and killing the oppositions charge. A Molly Engstrom penalty resulted in Slovakias best chance of the period but left them searching. After the first period of action the scoreboard still read 0-0 with the Americans holding a 26-4 edge in shots.

In the second period Slovakian Petra Pravlikova took a quick tripping call less than a minute into the frame giving the USA their third power play of the game. Just 54 seconds after the power play expired, the USA finally broke onto the scoreboard. Molly Engstrom rifled a shot that Kendall Coyne tipped into the net for a 1-0 edge. Hilary Knight also tallied an assist on the score. With Slovakia looking to clear the zone a quick rush headed off by Jocelyne Lamoreux led to Josephine Pucci extending the USA lead to 2-0. The story in the second despite the goals was much like the first. A solid effort by Zuzana Tomcikova keeping her team in the game as Slovakia was badly out shot 14-2 in the period giving Tomcikova a 38-6 edge in saves on Brianne McLaughlin.

The National Champion Badgers opened up the third period for the USA in a hurry picking up two goals less than 20 seconds into the frame. Eleven seconds in Hilary Knight took a pass from teammate Brianna Decker to give the USA a 3-0 lead. Eight seconds later it was Meghan Duggan's turn to shine taking Julie Chu's faceoff in for a score. Just over seven minutes later it was Brianna Decker's turn completing the trifecta and giving team USA a 5-0 edge. In the third period the Americans held Slovakia to four shots while putting 23 of their own on net. While Tomcikova remained strong in net the lack of Offense kept Slovakia from battling back against the top seeded and much stronger USA team.

Both teams return to the ice tomorrow as Slovakia takes on Sweden while the USA battles Russia.

Box Score (IIHF)

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-17T04:00:00.001-04:00

The worlds best Women's hockey teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #3
United States vs. Slovakia
12:00pm Local Time, 6:00am EST
Hallenstadion - Zurich
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game #4
Sweden vs. Russia
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Hallenstadion – Zurich
Coverage: SVT [TV] / IIHF.com

Game #5
Kazakhstan vs. Canada
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Eishalle Deutweg - Winterthur
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game #6
Finland vs. Switzerland
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Eishalle Deutweg – Winterthur
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

2011 WWC - Day 1 Game MVPs

2011-04-16T19:35:00.008-04:00

Here are the Games Most valuable players for the first day of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship.

Game #1
Finland [W]
IIHF: F-Minnamari Tuominen
BTD: F-Annina Rajahuhta

Kazakhstan [L]
IIHF: D-Viktoria Mussatayeva
BTD: F-Natalya Yakovchuk

Game #2
Canada [W]
IIHF: F-Cherie Piper
BTD: D-Tessa Bonhomme

Switzerland [L]
IIHF: D-Lara Stalder
BTD: F-Kathrin Lehmann

Canada drubs Switzerland 12-0 in worlds opener

2011-04-16T18:28:00.003-04:00

Canada began it's 2011 Worlds much like it's previous quests for gold, by easily downing a lesser foe. Today's blowout victim was host Switzerland who was dispatched 12-0 in front of 2,900 fans at Eishalle Deutweg in Winterthur. In a game where Canada led from Start to finish the outcome signifying that perhaps the lower six teams at this event are still much further from closing the gap on the leading two.

The first period started with optimism for Switzerland as Florence Schelling was able to hold off the Canadian charge for the first ten and a half minutes of the contest. During that span it was apparent that both teams needed some time to get loose. Canada even showed some signs of distraction being called for a Too Many Players on the Ice penalty. However the even scoreboard wouldn't last much longer as Cherie Piper put the maple leaf up 1-0 at the 10:42 mark of the first. The Goal assisted by Meghan Agosta and Bobbi Jo Slusar was the first of three for Piper in the contest. Canada would wait just over five minutes to put the game out of reach as Haley Irwin took advantage of a player mismatch during a Sarah Vaillancourt Interference penalty giving Canada their first shorthanded goal of the event and first of two in the period. It took Canada just 17 seconds of their third penalty kill of the period to go up 3-0 in the game as veteran Haley Wickenheiser scored during a Jocelyne Larocque holding call. Canada ended the frame with a 3-0 lead and a 19-6 shot advantage. The amount of pressure that Canada applied in the frame was nothing compared to the offensive they put up in the second period.

With a Swiss penalty still freshly expired on the clock Meaghan Mikkelson took advantage of an already weakened Switzerland attack to give Canada a 4-0 lead their first of five goals in the period. Just three and a half minutes later Gillian Apps gave Canada a 5-0 lead with the first Power Play Goal of the event for Canada. Rebecca Johnston, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Jen Wakefield also scored in the frame while Tessa Bonhomme picked up her first two assists in the game. During the second period Switzerland visited the penalty box four times while putting up just five shots compared to Canada's 31. 14:02 into the stanza, Switzerland swapped out Florence Schelling for Sophie Anthamatten. While the Northeastern Huskie may be impressive with some defensive aid, her numbers today show a 36 saves on 42 shots during the 34:02 of the game she played.

Canada would increase their growing advantage four more times during the final period. With Sophie Anthamatten in net for the Swiss the Canadians could virtually pick and choose their chances in finishing off this clinic of a contest. Cherie Piper and Tessa Bonhomme book-ended the frame with Power Play goals while Jayna Hefford and Piper also added even strength goals. Canada took their foot of the gas for much of the period still out shooting the Swiss 17-8 in the final frame and 67-19 for the game. Little good comes from a game with this wide of a scoring margin. For Canada this contest showed once again the separation amongst the worlds top eight teams. For Switzerland, the only good is the experience that comes with being totally over matched and outplayed at both ends of the ice.

Box Score (IIHF)

Finland drops Kazakhstan 5-3 in Worlds Opener

2011-04-16T14:55:00.001-04:00

Behind a balanced attack that saw scoring from all three lines, the Finish National Team downed Kazakhstan 5-3 in the opening game of the 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship today in Winterthur Switzerland. Pia Lund got the Fins on the board with the first goal of the tournament just 4:20 into the first period. The Fins took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after the first period also holding an 18-7 shot advantage. In the second period The Fins picked up the pace scoring two goals to bookend the frame while out shooting Kazakhstan by a whopping 22-5 edge in the period. With a 4-1 lead going into the third Kazakhstan tried to mount a comeback scoring just :48 seconds into the final period. However after sufficient peppering Finland managed to retake their three goal edge as Michelle Karvinen picked up a much needed tally. However the pick me up for the Fins would be short lived as just 1:13 later the Kazakhs cut the lead back to two. However despite the late surge the finish defensive pressure was too much to overcome and the game ended with Finland winning 5-2. In the third period the fins out shot the Kazakhs 22-3 and 62-15 for the game. Maija Hassinen recorded the win for Finland as Daria Obydennova took the loss.

Box Score (IIHF)

Today at the Women's World Championships

2011-04-16T09:19:00.002-04:00

The worlds best Women's Hockey Teams are in Zurich for the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championships. Today's action includes:

Game #1
Finland v. Kazakhstan
4:00pm Local Time, 10:00am EST
Eishalle Deutweg - Winterthur
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game #2
Canada v. Switzerland
8:00pm Local Time, 2:00pm EST
Eishalle Deutweg - Winterthur
Coverage: IIHF.com

Game Recaps and more World's coverage from Beyond the Dashers available here.

USA downs Canada 4-1 in second pre-world exhibition

2011-04-08T22:05:00.003-04:00

After a rough opening exhibition for Team USA, Katey Stone rallied her troops to a 4-1 win with all of her Olympians back in the lineup. Once again the US dressed 20 skaters for the game with Hannah Brandt, Karen Thatcher, Amanda Pelkey, Caitlin Cahow, Molly Engstrom, Megan Bozek, and Brianne McLaughlin joining Alex Carpenter, Amanda Kessel, and Taylor Wasylk who sat out last night, as scratches for the game again tonight.

Monique Lamoureux-Kolls scored 45 seconds into the game to put Team USA up 1-0 early and put Canadian goalie Kim St-Pierre back on her heels. Jen Schoullis would pick up where she left off a night ago giving team USA a 2-0 lead with a gritty power play score just one second before Tara Watchorn's Body Checking penalty expired. The Canadians were out shot 15-5 in the first period.

With the USA leading 2-0 after one period the second period was much closer statistically with Canada being slightly out shot 11-7 in the frame with both teams spending a fair amount of the frame in the Penalty box culminating with Kelli Stack and Sarah Vaillancourt getting matched up for Roughing. Brianna Decker got the periods only goal With Gillian Apps in the box for Canada to give the USA a 3-0 lead. Midway through the frame each team swapped out it's netmiders as starters Jessie Vetter and Kim St-Pierre were spelled by Molly Schaus and Charline Labonte.

In the third period the Canada offense made an appearance on the power play as Meghan Mikkelson took a feed from Jen Wakefield and Caroline Ouellette for her second goal in as many games. After each team took another turn on the Power Play Gigi Marvin gave her team their fourth and final goal of the game, assisted by Kacey Bellamy. The Goal for the United States gave them their second three goal lead of the game and allowed the Americans to coast to victory over the final ten minutes. Despite the losing effort Canada finished strong, out shooting the Americans 17-7 in the final period.

As the USA makes its cut and heads to Switzerland for Worlds the question for many has to be what if any effect these games will have when Canada and the USA likely meet for Gold on April 25th in Zurich.

Hockey East Feature: A Year’s Difference in Maine

2011-04-08T08:12:00.000-04:00

Since Lichterman left door open, Lewis has come to push it wider
By Al Daniel

If Hockey East were to seek the NHL’s expressed written consent to duplicate its 2010Stanley Cup ad campaign, one entry would most certainly run as follows:

Footage: Jennie Gallo inserts a sudden-death power play strike behind Boston University goalie Kerrin Sperry and proceeds to lead her team in a celebratory cavalry charge around the Alfond Arena ice.

Stop, rewind slowly, and cue the music.

Within seconds, as the darkening tape returns to its point of origin, a superimposed question reads: “What if Lichterman didn’t resign?”

Fade to a pitch black screen, penetrated with the superimposed slogan: “History will be made.”

Indeed, Gallo’s Senior Night overtime goal, followed by New Hampshire’s loss the following day, sealed a most historically progressive 2010-11 campaign for the Maine Black Bears. Fueled by the contagious, unrelenting hunger of first-year head coach Maria Lewis, they had defied most every pundit, preseason pollster, and laptop loiterer by stamping a playoff spot.

What’s more, they claimed that unlikely postseason passport in the most unlikely and stimulating fashion. They came back from near-elimination, on the heels of a 1-0 loss to bottom-feeder Vermont, to extract five of an eight possible points from first-round byes Boston College and BU in the final two weekends of the regular season.

The best news now for Bears buffs: Lewis is still dissatisfied. Because that playoff berth ultimately amounted to a 5-2 quarterfinal plummet in Providence, the skipper figures to fidget through her forthcoming Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, mid-August, and Labor Day barbecues as she waits to get her students cracking on a do-over in 2011-12.

“As proud as I am of what we accomplished there in those last two weeks (of the regular season), you’re only as good as your last game,” she said. “So I’m pretty disappointed with how we finished the season.

“We’ve got some kids that can play and we did what we did this year, but I really do believe you’re only as good as your last game. We didn’t play our best in the last game. That kind of changes things in my eyes.”

But beforehand, Lewis more than “kind of changed” everyone’s perception of Maine women’s hockey. Although, nobody could have faulted her had she fallen short of that, for it has literally been only a year since any impending change –for better, worse, or no effect- was apparent in this program.

Exactly one year to this date, then-third-year coach Dan Lichterman abdicated his post in Orono for what was formally publicized as a chance “to pursue other interests.” As it happened, those other interests have included coaching the CWHL’s Toronto franchise, and a Bangor newspaper did detail Lichterman’s intent to devote more time to his family. So perhaps the actual terms of his exit weren’t as suspect as some simple record-reading piranhas would like to believe.

Come what may, the Maine athletic department’s search for a successor lasted an excruciating 99 days. Fans primarily passed the time by going on chat forums to deride the Black Bears as “a glorified club program” and lament the departure of Swiss starlet Darcia Leimgruber, who due to international obligations lasted but six games during her lone year in Orono and didn’t stick around to burgeon on the college platform.

Even if neither Lichterman nor Leimgruber were involved, someone was going to have to make a lot out of diddlysquat. The status quo was simply not billeting much hope for the Mainers, whose yearly win total under Lichterman made a tortoise-paced hike from 4 to 5 to 6, and whose previous Hockey East postseason game was two coaching changes prior in 2006. Any sort of change that merely fostered the illusion of replenished relevance would be a pleasant surprise.

Lewis, formerly a volunteer assistant coach during the Black Bears’ inaugural varsity season in 1999-2000, brought that illusion right in with her when she was appointed on July 16. And she had every intention to promptly transfer the vision from her mind to the canvas.

When she both previewed and reviewed her first year, Lewis pointed to the university’s ornate history in men’s hockey and vowed not to waste a nanosecond pushing the female pucksters up to the same standard.

“This was a building year for us,” she acknowledged. “And for me, Maine shouldn’t be at the bottom of college hockey. Maine has a very proud tradition of good hockey, and I think the women’s team is on its way to backing that up on our side.”

Applying her steadfast, nothing-to-lose-and-all-to-gain attitude, Lewis has introduced an improvisational cycle of improvement and on-the-fly raising of expectations. For her pupils, the experience has become a real-life enactment of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, minus the seriocomic aggravation and plus the pleasurable purpose.

In one year, Lewis doubled the Black Bears’ 2009-10 win total to 12. She saw the defense, once notorious for routinely letting its goaltender face 40-, 50-, or even 60-plus shots, slim its final goals-against average to 2.53, the lowest since 2005-06. She monitored a strike force that retained a median of 2.32 goals per night, its best since the year before Lichterman’s arrival in 2007.

More critically, a whopping 10 veteran skaters cultivated a career high in single-season points. Seven of them elevated their goal-scoring output, including three who broke double digits for the first time.

Top gun sophomore Brittany Dougherty went from a 3-6-9 freshman log to a 14-12-26. Her 14 goals tied her for the team lead with Gallo and junior Myriam Crousette, who had tallied a cumulative 12 goals over her first two seasons. Danielle Ward, a junior transfer from Division III Southern Maine, rounded out the four double-digit goal-getters with 11 strikes.

“Offensively, going into the season, I didn’t know who was going to put the puck in the net,” said Lewis. “We had pretty much graduated all of our scoring other than Gallo. So to have four kids over 20 points, I think that says a lot about our whole team top-to-bottom.”

As it happens, Gallo was the only 2011 graduate to tune the mesh at all in her senior campaign. Jordan Colliton was an anomaly on her club with a down year, notching merely four assists, and the other seniors –Danielle Cyr, Madelene Eriksson, and Kaitlin Zeek- were about as barren as they were in their previous years.

Conversely, as many as 16 skaters who combined for 65 strikes and 105 helpers in 2010-11 will be coming back for more in September.

And Lewis will doubtlessly expect more of them, both in terms of total output and a broader stylistic variety of attacks. In particular, she still wants a deeper moat on the defensive end to keep cutting back on the goals-against average and to foster a more formidable, consistent transition game.

“Our D-zone coverage, sometimes it’s pretty sharp and we break out pretty well. And other times our kids are like turnstiles,” she said. “They get a little lost out there. That’s something we’ve been a bit inconsistent with.

“When we’re playing well, we’re very good in our D-zone, we break out well and we’re able to establish things offensively. When we’re not playing well, we really struggle in that zone and obviously next year that really has to get cleaned up. But to watch our D grow this year, they started doing some things that I was really happy with.”

Could they have started any such things in a fourth year under Lichterman? Or would they have just settled for another ritual burial in the pile of stocky Hockey East mid-to-heavyweights and defined progress as a seven-win season?

Theoretically –whether they were pressing on with Lichterman or transitioning to Lewis’ system of sustainable development- the Black Bears had just as much chance of retracting what negligible ice they had already covered.

But instead of dreaming about seven overall wins and/or seventh place in Hockey East, as some Mainers may have been at this time in 2010, they are now thirsting for 13 overall wins. Maybe even more. And maybe home ice for the Hockey East wild card, and maybe a journey to the semis after that.

The fans are free to say so because, hey, the boss says so.

“I am proud of the team,” Lewis said. “I do think that we made tremendous strides this year. I do think that we’re not going to sneak up on anybody anymore. We’ve proven that we belong in Hockey East, so I am very proud of that.

“But in order to have true success, you have to be able to carry that over into the playoffs. And I won’t truly be fully satisfied with the season until we do that. We’re going to have to wait another year.”

She added, “I’m proud that we got this far, but it’s just not good enough. We have to develop.”

Exactly the perennial message before and after Lichterman left a year ago. Only now, the ever-candid database says that development is really happening.

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

Canada downs United States 3-1 in pre worlds tune up

2011-04-07T21:29:00.003-04:00

Canada downed the US 3-1 on Thursday night in game one of a two game pre-worlds exhibition series being held at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, MI. Canada brought it's roster ready for Worlds into the battle while the US dressed 20 of it's 30 member selection camp roster for the game. The ten players that sat out today's game for Team USA saw action during the teams HS exhibition game in Ann Arbor last night.

After a scoreless first period that saw just a single penalty to Kelly Steadman of Team USA, Canada opened things up in the second. Sarah Vaillancourt got her team on the board at the 1:55 mark on a nice snipe assisted by Haley Wickenheiser. Meghan Mikkelson gave Canada some breathing room on a goal assisted by Catherine Ward and Sarah Vaillancourt 9:14 into the frame. Canada would score their final goal of the game with 8 seconds remaining on a Tessa Bonhomme checking penalty as Jenna Hefford picked up the unassisted shorthanded goal. Despite being down 3-0 Team USA managed to rally and cut the lead to 3-1 as Jen Schoullis scored on a goal assisted by Julie Chu.

The final period ended much like the first as both teams clamped down on the scoring chances as Canada managed just six shots in the period to the USAs four. In the game the Canadians looked much more fluid than the chaotic at times lines the USA put out at their end. For the Game Brianne McLaughlin made 21 shots in her US National team debut against Canada. Shannon Szabados had 18 stops while recording the victory.

Sitting out tonight for the USA were Olympians Molly Schaus, Kacey Bellamy, Hilary Knight, and Jocelyne Lamoureux along with Josephine Pucci, Anne Schleper, Alex Carpenter, Kendall Coyne, Amanda Kessel, and Taylor Wasylk all of which I would expect to see in tomorrow nights game.

Box Score from USA Hockey

Commentary: Even in passing, Schwartz has set a winning foundation

2011-04-04T16:00:00.000-04:00

Mandi Schwartz became a household name for one of the least justifiable reasons. Yet she built upon and utilized her notoriety by all of the most admirable means.

Because of Mandi, we have seen the fledgling women’s hockey community unite over the last year-plus in a manner that quells all accusations of hyperbole.

Because of Mandi, we have seen all 34 NCAA Division I programs, along with countless American youth, Canadian, and international programs prove that they know the true meaning of sports. That is, partaking in a healthy, tasteful dose of frenemy-ship for a few 60-minute spurts, but otherwise acting as teammates in the human race.

Because of Mandi, anybody with even the most negligible ties to hockey, Yale University, or her hometown of Wilcox, Sask., have an idea of what acute myeloid leukemia is. What’s more, they know more about the concept of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donation, the latter of which helped to prolong Schwartz’s battle before the last of her unexpected relapses.

Because of Mandi, along with her two NHL prospect brothers, this unique story gained valuable traction throughout the continent courtesy of TSN and the NHL Network. Those outlets scored an invaluable assist in helping the Schwartz’s story become another valuable piece of testimony for the NHL’s 14-year-old Hockey Fights Cancer campaign.

Because of Mandi, a fellow Yale puckster in Aleca Hughes had a chance to unveil the fullest extent of her character as she bolstered multiple charity sporting events from within and without the ice house. And if those deeds earn Hughes the 2011 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award at this weekend’s Men’s Frozen Four, it will indubitably be an emotional acceptance speech. But hopefully, she will take comfort in the notion that Schwartz will be applauding her from her new seat in the Ultimate Skybox.

Because of Mandi, a fellow Yale athlete in field hockey’s Lexy Adams offered her bone marrow to another cancer patient last December.

Because of Mandi, another 1,624 other prospective bone marrow donors have tried their luck over the first two annual drives on the Yale campus. Three of them have likewise proven a match for someone in need. And odds are there will be more to come after the third annual drive is held two weeks from Thursday.

Because of Mandi, and the mere mind-boggling length of her 28-month saga, present and future patients confronting similar ailments have a reference point to stoke the fighting spirit while the cure comes closer by the second.

Because of Mandi, and the way she and her immediate allies used the new media to rapidly cut down the average degree of separation in the world, odds are awareness of this rare and complicated illness will only spread faster and farther.

Because of Mandi, we know to be on the lookout for cancer combatants who simply will not fold shop, because she never did. So why would they? And why would those who know they can help stay on the sidelines after all they’ve learned?

Because of all this –and by basic moral logic in general- Mandi naturally deserved a victorious conclusion to her protracted and volatile ordeal. Nobody wanted to end up writing or reading any of what presently occupies this column.

But because of Mandi, and her exemplary tandem of doggedness and likeability, others in a similar plight will one day achieve the fate they deserve. Because of that, we only wish we could then borrow a moment of her restful time to exchange a high-five.

-Al Daniel

2011 Worlds Selection Camp Primer

2011-04-03T08:09:00.003-04:00

With Hockey Canada and USA Hockey beginning selection camps this weekend means only one thing.. The 2011 IIHF World Women's Championship is right around the corner!

As most of the players in the North American hockey landscape are scaling back and shutting down for the summer, these elite athletes are gathering to prepare to face off against the top players from six other nations to decide once again who will be the best team in the world. Before World's begins in Switzerland however, attention will turn to Ann Arbor, Michigan to see who will be the Gold Medal favorite as Canada and the United States square off in a two game exhibition series. The series is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, April 7-8 with both games played at 7pm ET at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, home to the USA Men's NTDP.

Canada
Canada is selecting it's team in Toronto at the MasterCard Centre. Players have been divided into two teams, playing three inter squad games in addition to daily practices and off ice instruction. It's 36 athlete selection roster includes four goaltenders, twelve defenders, and 20 forwards. Sixteen of these athletes are 2010 Olympians, 21 participated in the 2010 Four Nations Cup, and fifteen played on Canada's silver medal winning team at the 2009 Worlds.

Seven members of the red team participated in the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four last month in Erie, Pennsylvania. While three other's (Vicki Bendus, Bailey Bram, and Courtney Birchard) have NCAA ties. The red squad also features Olympic gold medal game winner Shannon Szabados who is joined by Laurier netmider Liz Knox. Caroline Ouellette, Cherie Piper, and Gillian Apps will likely serve as the red teams unofficial leaders.

The White team is made up of nine Olympians along with a number of others who are familiar names on the national team scene. Only teammates Lauriane Rougeau and Rebecca Johnston participated at last months Frozen Four, however McGill teammates Charline Labonté and Ann-Sophie Bettez one upped the Cornell duo with a CIS Championship this season. Team Canada mainstays Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford, and Kim St-Pierre are sure to be this squad's leading voice.

The three game Red-White series will be played this Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (April 3-5) with all games starting at 7:10pm. The team Canada will take to Worlds will have Wednesday off to travel to Ann Arbor.

United States
The United States team is holding it's preparations for Canada and World's at the aforementioned Ann Arbor Ice Cube. The 30 athlete US roster also features sixteen Olympians. And includes 16 players that participated in the 2010 Four Nations Cup, 15 players that won gold at the 2009 IIHF World Women's Championships, and 12 players that won gold as part of the US Under-18 World teams.

Seven players participated in the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four last month in Erie, Pennsylvania. The NCAA Champion, University of Wisconsin is represented by three current Badgers as well as former Badgers Molly Engstrom and Jessie Vetter. WCHA foe Minnesota is represented by four current Gophers and former Gopher Gigi Marvin. Boston College has for Athletes participating including newbie world hopefuls and former U-18 members Blake Bolden and Taylor Wasylk.

While half of the 30 member camp is made up of collegians there are 10 post college athletes looking to maintain their roster spots. Seven of these athletes played in the CWHL this past season with Jule Chu holding bragging rights as a member of the CWHL Champion Montreal Stars. The US selection team also features five players with no collegiate experience as defender Michelle Picard and forwards Hannah Brandt (Minnesota), Alex Carpenter (Boston College), Kendall Coyne (Northeastern), and Amanda Pelkey (Vermont) look to add to there pre-collegiate resumes.

Check back with Beyond the Dashers for selection camp updates and coverage of the pre-world games from Ann Arbor.

Lindenwood moves from ACHA to NCAA for 2011-2012

2011-03-25T15:19:00.009-04:00

Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri announced today through Beyond the Dashers that they will field an NCAA National Collegiate (Division 1) Women's Ice Hockey program for the 2011-2012 season. This move is made in part because Lindenwood is taking 27 of it's 50 sports to the NCAA level. 2011-2012 will be the second year of their candidacy period before being granted full NCAA membership. The Lions will play as an Independent in Women's Hockey during the 2011-2012 season.

“Lindenwood is excited to elevate its women’s ice hockey program to NCAA status,” said Athletic Director John Creer. “The women’s team has already established a winning tradition in the ACHA and we now look forward to future success in the NCAA at the DI level of play.”

The Lady Lions began the program in 2003-04 and have qualified for the national tournament in all eight years of their existence. During this time the program has won four national titles, a runner up finish and most recently a third place finish. Lindenwood has also captured three league titles in the Central Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association (CCWHA).

About Lindenwood
Lindenwood Women's Hockey
Lindenwood's National Championships
Lindenwood University Ice Arena

The only coach Lindenwood women’s hockey has known, Vince O’Mara will be responsible to lead the women’s hockey program to NCAA status. O’Mara just completed his 14th year coaching women’s hockey. Prior to joining the Lindenwood coaching staff, O'Mara was the head coach for the St. Louis Force select 16 and over women’s team. He had a combined record there of 135-25-12. He also has numerous years of playing and coaching men’s hockey. He has been involved in instructing and running many hockey camps and schools for both men and women. O'Mara coached teams to four WCHL league championships, five Missouri State titles, four Central Regional championships, and four national championship appearances.

“The support from the University from day one of our women’s program has been unbelievable,” said Head Coach Vince O’Mara. “Our program has achieved a lot in eight seasons in the ACHA and we look forward to the challenges of building a top program at the NCAA DI level.”

O’Mara has built a powerhouse at Lindenwood and amassed an incredible 241-26-11 record. Along with the team titles, O’Mara has been named ACHA Coach of the Year twice. This past season he was named an assistant coach for Team USA at the World University Games in Erzurum, Turkey. He helped lead the American team to a fourth place finish in their first ever appearance at the World University Games.

“There are some real exciting challenges with bringing in our first recruiting class and putting together our schedule, but our first goal is to build a solid program that is attractive to a potential conference,” said O’Mara.

Lindenwood will continue to play their home games and practice at the Lindenwood Ice Arena, which is owned by Lindenwood and located in Wentzville, Mo. The Lady Lions are currently working on filling out their schedule for the 2011-12 season.

Home Ice for the Lions is the 750 seat Lindenwood University Ice Arena

Mark Bolding of Norwich University Repeats as AHCA Division III Coach of the Year

2011-03-25T00:07:00.002-04:00

Official release from
Mark Bolding, who led Norwich University to the school's first NCAA Women's Division III Ice Hockey title, has been voted by his peers as the Division III Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year for the 2010-2011 season. The Cadets went 25-4-1, setting a school record for victories and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the school's brief four-year varsity history. The magical season ended with a 5-2 win over Rochester Institute of Technology in the NCAA final. Ironically, the season began with a 3-1 home loss to RIT in November.

Norwich dominated the ECAC East this year, going 17-0-1 to win the regular season title. The Cadets took a 17-game unbeaten streak into the ECAC East Tournament final, only to be defeated by Manhattanville, 4-2. However, Norwich rebounded with a 5-4 win over Gustavus Adolphus College in the NCAA semifinals before taking the title with the victory over RIT in the championship final.

Bolding, the 2010 AHCA Coach of the Year, has been at Norwich for nine seasons, the last four coaching the women's program at the varsity level. After an 11-9-2 first year, Bolding led Norwich to a 19 wins and the ECAC East title in 2009, qualifying the Cadets for their first NCAA Tournament appearance. Last year, the club repeated as ECAC East champion, shutting out both its semifinal and final opponents, en route to the NCAA Championship final. His four-year varsity record is 76-30-9.

A native of Red Deer, Alberta, Bolding is a 1995 graduate of Norwich, where he was a standout defenseman in a Hall of Fame playing career (inducted in the school's HOF in 2005). Before taking the reins of the women's program, Bolding served two stints as an assistant to men's head coch Mike McShane.

Keith Maurice and Holly Russo assisted Bolding this year. The runner-up for the award was Scott McDonald of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

The Coach of the Year Award is chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association and will be presented on Friday, April 29, at the AHCA "Celebration of Women's Ice Hockey" banquet in Naples, Florida, as part of the annual AHCA Convention.

Previous Winners
2010-Mark Bolding, Norwich
2009-Jim Plumer, Amherst College
2008-Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State
2007-Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State
2006-Kevin Houle, Plattsburgh State
2005-Bill Mandigo, Middlebury
2004-Bill Mandigo, Middlebury
2003-Michele Amidon, Bowdoin
2002-Jamie Wood, Elmira
2001-Bill Mandigo, Middlebury
2000-Ted Wisner, Colgate

Mark Johnson of Wisconsin is AHCA Coach of the Year

2011-03-24T19:29:00.002-04:00

Official release from

For his efforts in leading the University of Wisconsin to its fourth NCAA title in six years, Mark Johnson has been named by his peers as the AHCA Women's Division I Coach of the Year for 2010-11. The Badgers compiled a record of 37-2-2 this year, winning both the WCHA regular season and tournament titles as well as the NCAA National Collegiate Championship. For Johnson, it is his fourth Coach of ther Year Award, having been similarly honored in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

Wisconsin entered the NCAA tournament on a 24-game unbeaten streak, having last tasted defeat on November 28. The Badgers ended the year as they began. Unbeaten in its final 27 games (25-0-2), Wisconsin started the season 8-0. In the NCAA Championship, Wisconsin downed #5 Minnesota- Duluth, 2-1, #3 Boston College, 3-2, and #2 Boston University, 4-1.

Johnson has a career record of 247-41-24 (.830) in eight seasons as head coach of the Badgers. (He was away for 2009-10 with the U.S. Olympic Team.) His winning percentage ranks him first among active NCAA Division I women's head coaches.

However, Johnson's fame in Madison began years before assuming his current role. A two-time All American and the school's all-time goal-scoring leader (125 goals in 125 games), Johnson led his Badgers to an NCAA title in 1977 and was WCHA MVP in 1979, before embarking on an impressive post-college career. A star on the1980 "Miracle On Ice" U.S. Olympic Team, Johnson enjoyed a 11-year NHL career before retiring as a player and getting into coaching. He is the son of the late coaching icon, Bob Johnson, who coached at Colorado College and the University of Wisconsin, before winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Johnson was assisted this season by Tracy DeKeyser, Jackie Friesen, and Mark Greenhalgh. The runner-up for this year's AHCA Women's Division I Coach of the Year award was Brian Durocher of Boston University, whose Terriers lost to Wisconsin in the 2011 NCAA championship game, 4-1.

The Coach of the Year Award winners are chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Winners will receive their awards at the annual AHCA "Celebration of Women's Hockey" Banquet, held in conjunction with the AHCA Convention in Naples, FL. This year's event is scheduled for Friday, April 29.

Previous Winners
2010-Doug Derraugh, Cornell
2009-Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2008-Jim Fetter, Wayne State
2007-Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2006-Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
2005-Mike Sisti, Mercyhurst
2004-Laura Halldorson, Minnesota
2003-Shannon Miller, Minnesota-Duluth
2002-Laura Halldorson, Minnesota
2001-Judy Oberting, Dartmouth
2000-Judy Oberting, Dartmouth
1999-Katey Stone, Harvard
1998-Laura Halldorson, Minnesota

Letter from the Editor

2011-03-21T11:21:00.000-04:00

On Sunday the Wisconsin Badgers completed the NCAA season by winning the 2011 National Championship thus closing out another season of college hockey. As we all take time to reflect on what has surly been exciting for some, disappointing for others, pain, pleasure, and fun; lets pause for a moment and thank all of the players throughout the nation for giving their all 100% of the time and making personal sacrifices to chase their dreams. As the Seniors say goodbye and the underclassmen assume new roles as potential leaders lets take one more moment to thank all the senior's nationwide for their achievements both on and off the ice.

With a new class of high school seniors ready to join the frey next fall, there are many intangibles to think about. For each team, the ultimate goal is to put together the right group to make a team. Not replacing their current team, but a new team as each season starts fresh and should not be looked upon as replacing the last but finding their own identity. For each player it's finding the right fit for their needs. Some players find success in a small college environment and others at a major university. Some players pick a larger school with a major in their planned field of study and others have no idea what their future holds and are looking to compliment their hockey with school in hopes of finding their way. Finally there will ultimately be some transfers. Transferring from one school to another should not be seen as a bad thing. As with any decision in life, sometimes the first choice is not always the right choice. When a player decides to transfer it should not be seen as a bad thing, but a fresh start, even if it's done with a year of eligibility left.

The game of hockey will have a lasting impression for the players and coaches, the families and fans. Ultimately, we are all being provided entertainment from the hard work and dedication of individuals playing for their own enjoyment. That fact is often lost by losing seasons, bad coaching, or disappointing finishes. Remember that every season is full of many factors. For this season the light at the end of the tunnel has arrived, however the next train is already on the tracks and the tunnel that is the 2011-2012 season is already in its sights.

NCAA National Collegiate Championship Game

2011-03-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

NCAA National Collegiate Championship Game

Beyond the Dashers All NCAA Teams (D3)

2011-03-19T16:21:00.000-04:00

Beyond the Dashers First Team All NCAA
Forwards
Sarah Dagg, SR (RIT / St. George, Ontario)
Stacey Hochkins, JR (Holy Cross / New Boston, MI)
Sophie Leclerc, SR (Norwich / Barre, Vermont)

Defense
Lauren Conrad, SR (UW-River Falls / Lino Lakes, Minnesota)
Randi Zukas, SR (Amherst / Glen Head, New York)

Goaltender
Alexi Bloom, SR (Middlebury / Highland Park, Illinois)

Beyond the Dashers Second Team All NCAA
Forwards
Julie Fortier, JR (Norwich / Saint-Malachie, Quebec)
Kait Mason, FR (UW-River Falls / Eagan, Minnesota)
Katie Stack, SR (RIT / Batavia, New York)

Defense
Traci Galbraith, SR (RIT / Oakville, Ontario)
Kirstin Peterson, SR (Gustavus Adolphus / St. Paul, Minnesota)

Goaltender
Mandy Mackrell, SR (SUNY-Plattsburgh / Cleveland, Ohio)

Beyond the Dashers Third Team All NCAA
Forwards
Katelyn Dold, JR (Concordia College / St. Cloud, Minnesota)
Kristin Faber, SR (UW-Eau Claire / Austin, Minnesota)
Kim Weiss, SR (Trinity / Potomac, Maryland)

Defense
Kara Buehler, SR (SUNY-Plattsburgh / Skaneatles, New York)
Meghan Lange, SR (St. Catherine / West St. Paul, Minnesota)

Goaltender
Danielle Justice, JR (Gustavus Adolphus / Alexandria, Minnesota)

Beyond the Dashers All NCAA National Collegiate Rookie Team
Forwards
Tori Charron (Elmira / Goodwood, Ontario)
Kourtney Kunichika (RIT / Fullerton, California)
Kait Mason (UW-River Falls / Eagan, Minnesota)

Defense
Ashley Salerno (Amherst / Brunswick, Maine)
Emily Tang (Bowdoin / Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Goaltender
Alexa Pujol (Trinity / New Canaan, Connecticut)

Beyond the Dashers All NCAA Teams (NC)

2011-03-19T16:20:00.001-04:00

Beyond the Dashers First Team All NCAA
Forwards
Meghan Agosta, SR (Mercyhurst / Ruthven, Ontario)
Meghan Duggan, SR (Wisconsin / Danvers, Massachusetts)
Hilary Knight, JR (Wisconsin / Sun Valley, Idaho)

Defense
Laura Fortino, SO (Cornell / Hamilton, Ontario)
Catherine Ward, FYSR (Boston University / Montreal, Quebec)

Goaltender
Molly Schaus, SR (Boston College / Natick, Massachusetts)

Beyond the Dashers Second Team All NCAA
Forwards
Vicki Bendus, SR (Mercyhurst / Wasaga Beach, Ontario)
Brianna Decker, SO (Wisconsin / Dousman, Wisconsin)
Kelli Stack, SR (Boston College / Brooklyn Heights, Ohio)

Defense
Jocelyne Larocque, SR (Minnesota-Duluth / Ste Anne, Manitoba)
Lauriane Rougeau, SO (Cornell / Beaconsfield, Quebec)

Goaltender
Noora Raty, SO (Minnesota / Espoo, Finland)

Beyond the Dashers Third Team All NCAA
Forwards
Elin Holmlov, SR (Minnesota-Duluth / Knivsta, Sweden)
Rebecca Johnston, JR (Cornell / Sudbury, Ontario)
Isabel Menard, SO (Syracuse / Ottawa, Ontario)

Defense
Monique Lamoureux-Kolls, SO (North Dakota/Grand Forks, North Dakota)
Josephine Pucci, SO (Harvard / Pearl River, New York)

Goaltender
Victoria Vigilanti, SO (Quinnipiac / Woodbridge, Ontario)

Beyond the Dashers All NCAA National Collegiate Rookie Team
Forwards
Kelly Babstock (Quinnipiac / Mississauga, Ontario)
Brianne Jenner (Cornell / Oakville, Ontario)
Amanda Kessel (Minnesota / Madison, Wisconsin)

Defense
Alyssa Gagliardi (Cornell / Raleigh, North Carolina)
Marissa Gedman (Harvard / Framingham, Masachusetts)

Goaltender
Alex Rigsby (Wisconsin / Delafield, Wisconsin)

2011 - Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award

2011-03-19T13:21:00.000-04:00

The 2011 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, was awarded on Saturday March 19, 2011 to University of Wisconsin-Madison, Senior Forward, Meghan Duggan of Danvers, Massachusetts. Duggan becomes the third Badger in the past six seasons to win the award.

"Meghan is probably the best two-way player, not only in the country, but in the world," said Mark Johnson, head coach at the University of Wisconsin. "One of the reasons we're in the position we're in right now is because of her leadership and what she does on the ice, and probably more importantly, what she does off the ice."

Duggan, the Badgers captain was at the top of the national statistics for most of the season. Duggan, who was named an NCAA First-Team All-American, was also named the WCHA Player of the year by the conference and Beyond the Dashers.

Duggan join's Past Award winner's Including:
2010 - F, Vicki Bendus - Mercyhurst College / Wasaga Beach, Ontario
2009 - G, Jessie Vetter - University of Wisconsin / Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
2008 - F, Sarah Vaillancourt - Harvard University / Sherbrooke, Quebec
2007 - F, Julie Chu - Harvard University / Fairfield, Connecticut
2006 - F, Sara Bauer - University of Wisconsin / St. Catharines, Ontario
2005 - F, Krissy Wendell - University of Minnesota / Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
2004 - D, Angela Ruggiero - Harvard University / Harper Woods, Michigan
2003 - F, Jennifer Botterill - Harvard University / Winnipeg, Manitoba
2002 - F, Brooke Whitney - Northeastern University / Snohomish, Wash.
2001 - F, Jennifer Botterill - Harvard University / Winnipeg, Manitoba
2000 - G, Ali Brewer - Brown University / Racine, Wisconsin
1999 - F, A.J. Mleczko - Harvard University / Nantucket, Massachusetts
1998 - F, Brandy Fisher - University of New Hampshire / Potsdam, New York

Boston University 4, Cornell 1

2011-03-19T00:55:00.001-04:00

Terriers max out Mazzotta, Cornell
By Al Daniel

As Cornell University head coach Doug Derraugh was apt to acknowledge, it was hardly an uncharted undertaking for goaltender Amanda Mazzotta.

After all, Mazzotta had backstopped the Big Red to a surprise berth in last year’s NCAA championship game and toiled through a triple-overtime, 61-save dolphin show before blinking against the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

Still, leading up to Friday’s semifinal at Tullio Arena against the explosive Boston University, Mazzotta (27 saves) had faced no more than 26 shots in any of her previous 17 starts in the 2010-11 campaign. By the time the second buzzer rang, she had already dealt with 21, and she had already let three squeak through.

Yet another dishonor the nation’s goals-against average leader had not endured all year: three opposing strikes in 40 minutes.

The latter two of those fell 50 seconds apart as BU’s Jillian Kirchner and Jenelle Kohanchuk severed a 1-1 tie and made it 3-1. That differential ultimately morphed into a 4-1 Terrier triumph and gave the six-year-old BU program its first berth in the national championship game.

“They play four or five people around that net,” BU head coach Brian Durocher said of Mazzotta’s praetorian guards. “When we won face-offs in the first period, they weren’t charging out to the points, so our job was to get shots through there.

“I’m sure they blocked a zillion shots every game through the year, they take care of business in front of the net, and she’s a fantastic goaltender. But anytime you can get upwards of 30 shots in a game like this, it probably bodes well for your team. (It means that) territorially, you did a nice job.”

Derraugh, whose pupils savored an initial 1-0 lead via Karlee Overguard for 5:08 early in the first, was less fazed by Mazzotta’s slightly elevated workload than he was by a comparative lack of testing against Terriers’ stopper Kerrin Sperry (14 saves). Out of 27 attempted shots in the first two periods, the Big Red landed only eight on net, including a mere two in the second.

As it happened, Sperry’s first test would be her only setback of the night. At 5:29 of the opening frame, amidst an odd-man rush, Cornell’s Rebecca Johnston made a crisp upward feed to Overguard, who cut in from the near alley to deposit the icebreaker.

A mere 32 seconds thereafter, Terriers’ defender Tara Watchorn was flagged for interference. But Sperry repelled the Red’s only power play shot, and upon returning to full strength, BU set up shop on Mazzotta’s property.

With 10:37 gone, the program’s two Canadian gold medalists, Marie-Philip Poulin and Catherine Ward, collaborated on the equalizer. Ward, stationed at the straightaway point, one-timed Poulin’s pass from the far circle-top low and to the left of Mazzotta.

For most of the ride, BU’s salsa-based biscuits came in reasonably digestible spurts. But after Watchorn finished serving her second sentence of the night with 4:37 left in the middle frame, the Terriers followed a pattern of pelting Mazzotta and flustering the Cornell defense as it tried to skate out the rebound.

After three repetitions of this, Kirchner raked a rebound into the left slab of the cage for the 2-1 edge with 2:13 left till intermission.

One face-off, one rush, and one shot later, Jenn Wakefield made a forward pass to Kohanchuk, who spooned it top shelf.

A cross-checking penalty to Ward, called 61 seconds after Kohanchuk’s insurance strike, gave Cornell 84 seconds worth of a carry-over power play. But Sperry only faced one shot during that penalty killing segment, and it happened to be the Big Red’s second of two middle frame bids.

“I don’t think they wore her down,” Derraugh said of Mazzotta. “But obviously we didn’t want to give up that many shots. We wanted to get more than we did. When you get (outshot) 31-15, chances are you’re going to lose.”

Granted, the closing frame was closest in terms of the shooting gallery, with BU running up a 10-7 edge. But Sperry had an answer for everything and Mazzotta was not even present when Kohanchuk dished a lateral feed to her captain, Holly Lorms, for an empty netter with 2:40 to spare.

Wisconsin 3, Boston College 2

2011-03-19T00:17:00.001-04:00

A Decker’s dozen wins it for Badgers
Penalties, mild fatigue inhibit BC’s comeback
By Al Daniel

Contrary to the adage that often bears a firm element of truth, this NCAA women’s hockey postseason has been the year of the likely hero.

The newest exhibit went up for public viewing with an even 48 ticks separating Wisconsin and Boston College from a sudden-death segment in Friday’s first Frozen Four semifinal game at Tullio Arena. The dynastic Badgers would have none of that drama.

Senior Meghan Duggan, the nation’s leading playmaker with a goal-assist value pack already on the night, dangled her way through a maze in the dirty-nose area to within spitting distance of BC fortress Molly Schaus. As she looped around the far post, her shot momentarily floated while linemate Brianna Decker cut to the front porch.

Decker’s dogged pursuit of the rebound paid off as she buried the tiebreaker to ultimately grant Wisconsin a 3-2 victory. The goal amounted to the speedy sophomore’s nation-leading 12th decider of the season and also pushed Duggan ahead of idled Mercyhurst sizzler Meghan Agosta for an NCAA-best 49 helpers on the year.

“Big time play by a big time player,” remarked Badgers’ head coach Mark Johnson, who easily could have spoken of one, or both, or all three of his starting forwards. (Hilary Knight, No. 3 among all national point-getters, garnered the second assist on the winning play.)

Decker’s strike made for a literally last-minute repossession of momentum, which startlingly seemed to have shuffled over to the BC bench, particularly when rookie Taylor Wasylk drew the 2-2 knot on an eye-pleasing breakaway with 8:37 left in regulation.

And theoretically, the Eagles might have tacked on one or two more at the expense of unripe Badger backstop Alex Rigsby (23 saves), were it not for a multitude of early penalties. During the first period, wherein Wisconsin sculpted an ordinarily daunting 2-0 edge, BC spent 5:01 shorthanded.

By the conclusion of the middle frame, the Eagles had committed six infractions and spent a cumulative 8:41 on the PK. During that time, the Badgers rolled up nine power play shots, one of which went in off the stick of Brooke Ammerman for the second goal at 11:58 of the first.

Well, what else was new? BC, No. 11 in the nation in terms of penalty minutes per night, was dealing with one of the most overwhelmingly crafty strike forces in the country.

“I think in that first period, we were a little jittery, a little nervous,” said Eagles head coach Katie King. “Pucks were bouncing off our sticks, we were doing some things that maybe took ourselves out of position a little bit so we may have needed to hook or grab or get in their way. But I thought our kids settled in after that first period.

“It’s hard to kill penalties, especially when you use the same kids killing penalties as we do on a regular shift and on the power play. I thought our kids did a pretty good job of killing off most of them.

“They obviously have a potent offense and a dangerous power play, and we don’t really want that unit on the ice very often. To be able to kill as many as we did was obviously a success, but it definitely does take a lot out of you.”

After Duggan and Ammerman struck, the red lights settled down, too, for a time. But BC sophomore defender Blake Bolden, arguably the losing side’s most valiant performer of the night in both ends, let her third of a team-best six shots on the night zip home at 8:39 of the middle frame, two seconds before a tripping penalty to Duggan was due to expire.

The Eagles never broke double digits under the SOG heading for any of the three periods. Conversely, Wisconsin did in each stanza. But between Bolden’s conversion and leading up to the waning minutes of the third, there was at least a mild vibe of momentum favoring the upset-minded club.

“As you start the game, it’s going to create its own story,” said Johnson. “Obviously, having three-and-a-half power plays in the first period gave us an opportunity to create some offensive chances. We were fortunate enough to get a couple of goals. It would have been nice to have a couple more, but they’re a good team. They’re quick, they’re fast, they’re opportunistic.

“But we were fortunate enough, at the end there, to get another one by Molly.”

Fortunate? Yes, all data be darned, that’s the operative term in the minds of the Badgers, who will vie for their fourth national crown on Sunday against Boston University.

“I didn’t really know that,” said Decker when asked about her unmatched collection of clinchers. “It just happens that I get the goal. I don’t try and do that, my teammates feed me well. I don’t think about that kind of stuff when I’m out there. My linemates and I just move the puck around and just put it in whenever we can.”

Frozen Four semifinal puckbag: Wisconsin 3, Boston College 2

2011-03-18T20:59:00.001-04:00

• Brianna Decker scored her nation-leading 12th game-winning goal with an even 48 seconds to spare in regulation.
• Top gun Meghan Duggan factored into all three Wisconsin goals for her 15th game with at least three points this season.
• BC faced a season-high 46 shots on goal, 10 of which the Badgers issued on the power play.
• Both BC goals were unassisted.
• Both Decker and Duggan have a 10-game point-scoring streak in the works.
• Meghan Mangene and Andrea Green were the only two Eagles with a positive rating, each going plus-1 on the night.
• Duggan was the lone participating skater to log a plus-2 rating.
• BC defender Blake Bolden led her team with six shots on goal, the third of which she slugged home in the waning seconds of a power play to put her team on the board with 8:39 gone in the middle frame.
• Wisconsin romped BC in the area of shots attempted, 80-34.
• BC senior Kelli Stack –who closes out her college career with 96 goals, 111 assists, and an all-time program-best 207 points- was kept scoreless for only the fifth time in 34 appearances this season.

NCAA Semifinal #2 Live Blog: BU v. Cornell

2011-03-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

NCAA SF#2 - BU v. Cornell

NCAA Semifinal #1 Live Blog: BC v. Wisconsin

2011-03-18T15:00:00.001-04:00

NCAA SF#1 - BC v. Wisconsin

Steady Badgers roll into NCAA Frozen Four Tilt

2011-03-17T18:27:00.002-04:00

The 2010-2011 season for the Wisconsin Badgers has been pretty smooth sailing. The Nation's number one program goes into it's NCAA Frozen Four semi final on Friday against Boston College riding a 25 game unbeaten streak. While 25 games may seem impressive on the surface upon closer examination the streak has seen its fair share of challenges. In the game that started the run on December third at North Dakota the Badgers climbed ahead before holding on courtesy of a late second period goal from Brianna Decker to seal the victory. The streak of 23 wins and two ties (at UMD and home against Minnesota) has shown time and time again that it's not just a few talented players that win games, its which talented player will step up to the plate on any given night.

With a slew of Beyond the Dashers all WCHA team members the Badgers offensive firepower needs no introduction. The Badgers defense that has been subject to change on many occasions this season is as good as any when they are clicking. However as shown by the 4-4 tie at UMD where the Badgers held a 3-1 lead before allowing a pair of power play goals spurring the Duluth comeback, and more recently the slow start in the WCHA title game where the Gophers rattled off three unanswered goals before Brianna Decker jump started the Badger offensive with a little over five minutes to play in the second period, when the teams defense is struggling they are beatable.

While Bucky has survived the onslaught of WCHA teams that have fallen in it's wake the last three games, this opponent features a prime scoring weapon in Kelli Stack the likes of which the Badgers have only seen against Mercyhurst with Meghan Agosta back in January and a goaltender that managed to keep the Gopher's potent top two lines off the board until late in the game. However given that Badger coach Mark Johnson coached both Stack and Schaus last season with Team USA, the likely hood that the Badgers will be blind to each of their abilities is very unlikely.

What's likely for the fan's attending or watching this one online is they will be in for one of the better east-west match ups of the season. The rising Eagles vs. the high flying Badgers. Who will win, well, I guess you will have to tune in and see...

Frozen Four Preview: Team-by-Team Assessments

2011-03-15T17:17:00.000-04:00

No. 1-seeded Wisconsin
Why they might win: The Badgers boast each of the nation’s top three scorers who are still vying for a title: Meghan Duggan (38-45-83), Hilary Knight (47-31-78) and Brianna Decker (33-44-77). And while they have played it a little rough of late, their penalty kill has been a pristine 16-for-16 since the calendar morphed to March.

Wisconsin’s only jutting bleak spot this postseason was its slow start to the WCHA title game against Minnesota. The Badgers trailed, 2-0, after 20 minutes and 3-0 until Brianna Decker hit the board at 14:34 of the second period.

But they clearly had more in their tanks that night, as evidenced by a combined 26-19lead in the shooting gallery through 40 minutes, at which point they trailed, 4-2. They proceeded to chalk up an 18-9 shot differential in the third period, wherein they deleted that two-goal deficit, and then a 12-2 shooting romp in overtime, in which the dozenth stab went in off Kelly Nash’s stick for the victory.

Why they might not: Unlike Boston University’s Kerrin Sperry, freshman goaltender Alex Rigsby has not yet wilted for lack of do-or-die experience at the college level. In the previous two weekends –with the WCHA pennant and then a passport to Erie on the line- she has already outdueled Olympic veterans Noora Raty and Kim Martin.

That having been said, she could still run out of steam when the time comes to work against BC’s Molly Schaus, who donned the Star-Spangled Sweater in Vancouver last winter and has toiled through a Frozen Four OT epic as a freshman.

And lately, only the Eagles –who have already pelted three world-class opposing goalies with 124 shots in three postseason games- can compare their ammo output to that of the Badgers, who have 130 SOG in their last three outings.

No. 2-seeded Cornell
Why they might win: With both the No. 1 and No. 2 stoppers in terms of goals-against average –Amanda Mazzotta has allowed an average of 1.09, Lauren Slebodnick 1.15- the Big Red have the firmest foundation for a successful postseason. Mazzotta is also tops in the way of save percentage with a .949 success rate and she has already had the experience of backstopping last year’s Cinderella run that culminated in a triple-overtime championship setback.

But Cornell’s spookiest aspect is its accelerating offense, which romped rival Dartmouth for the second time this season in last weekend’s quarterfinal, 7-1. Of the four Erie-bound teams, they have had the best accuracy, scoring 14 goals on a mere 85 shots on net these last three games. That translates to nearly 16.5 percent of their registered bids finding a home in the cage.

In addition, four of those recent goals have come over a spread of 14 power plays. And over the last six games, the Big Red have answered at least one 5-on-4 invitation while killing 26 of their last 29 penalties.

Why they might not: Consistently stingy as their defense might be, allotting the opposition only 18.8 shots on goal per game, the Big Red have not stepped beyond ECAC boundaries since they blanked Mercyhurst, 3-0, on Jan. 18. Other than that night, when Slebodnick repelled 24 shots for the shutout, they have not had much of a nonconference test.

Facing the strike force of Boston University, and then perhaps the Boston College or Wisconsin, will mean asking much more of the blueliners and backstop than what they have been called to neutralize for the better part of the last three-plus months.

By virtue of seniority, Mazzotta is more likely to get the nod this weekend, and her heaviest workload this season has been a 28-shot, 24-save, 4-3 loss to the Lakers Nov. 2.

No. 3-seeded Boston University
Why they might win: BU’s startling Hockey East semifinal loss to Northeastern may have been a beguiling blessing on two fronts: it was a learning experience that offered an extra day away from game activity in preparation for the national quarterfinals. That extra day played an indubitable part in preparing radiant rookie Marie-Philip Poulin, still healing an early February hand ailment, to score her first goal in six weeks in a 4-2 quarterfinal win over Mercyhurst. Likewise, freshman stopper Kerrin Sperry had more time to soak in what she learned from losing to Florence Schelling, and then put it behind her. When she did, she turned in two solid periods when the Lakers were pelting her the most, sustaining a 1-1 draw after 20 minutes and keeping Meghan Agosta and Co. from ever usurping the lead in the third.

Why they might not: Although a few of their frostbitten scorers showed foolproof signs of thawing out against Mercyhurst, the Terriers’ power play has still been amiss, going a cumulative 0-for-7 in two postseason games.

And for Sperry in particular, the growing pains may be far from over. To secure this year’s title, she will first have to not only get the better of one of the nation’s top two goaltenders in Mazzotta or Slebodnick, but simultaneously curtail the nation’s second-most fruitful offensive brigade. After that, if the Terriers are still standing, she will need to turn around in two days and either outduel her elder crossroad rival Schaus or hold off the nation’s top offense from Wisconsin.

A goalie of her caliber and background could probably handle that, but more likely later than now.

No. 4-seeded Boston College
Why they might win: Perhaps other than Cornell, BC is the only team in this Frozen Four field that can claim it has an established otherworldly scorer and stopper at its disposal. And as they enter their final weekend of collegiate play, Kelli Stack and Molly Schaus can claim they have done most everything except grip an NCAA championship trophy. Incentive and heart are often overrated, but not necessarily when they are driving a machine like the one those two are piloting.

This postseason, the Eagles have had a chance to prove their proficiency on both sides of the puck. The offense wore down two middle-class Hockey East programs and their world-class goaltender to win the pennant, and then Schaus chalked up two 14-save periods to help an initial 4-0 lead morph into a 4-1 quarterfinal triumph over Minnesota.

The tests on both fronts will indubitably intensify –first with Wisconsin’s superior strike force and then perhaps with Cornell’s peerless goaltending. But the buildup has been nice and steady for Katie King’s pupils.

Why they might not: The top two lines and starting defensive pair in Blake Bolden and Katelyn Kurth have been gratifyingly productive of late. But beyond that, the bottom six forwards –who have combined for merely 11 shots on goal this month- and the other four blueliners have been wholly barren. Failure to cultivate some sort of confidence in those unlikely heroes could turn problematic in the event the opponents successfully curb Stack and Co., leaving the Eagles’ offense in need of an insurance policy.

In addition, while BC’s discipline showed statistical improvement in the quarterfinal, three of their four total infractions were committed after they were finishing issuing that four-goal first period blizzard. They cannot necessarily bank on burying the opponents so rapidly again and therefore will have to be diligent about staying out of the box.

On the flip side, BC has converted only one out of its 12 postseason power plays. As the stakes rise and the opponents toughen, capitalizing on the opponent’s fouls makes an exponentially greater difference between retaining and conceding momentum.

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

Hockey East Analysis: BC has been a good bye

2011-03-13T23:19:00.000-04:00

Less than a month to date, Boston College had facilely assumed its preseason position at second in Hockey East, but looked far from playoff-ready when it confronted the desperate likes of Maine and New Hampshire.

Over their last four conference games, sandwiching their Beanpot championship win over Harvard Feb. 15, the Eagles drew a cumulative 6-6 knot and charged up an iffy 1-1-2 record, their only win being their only game away from Conte Forum.

They conceded three of four points to the Black Bears, effectively pumping CPR into Maria Lewis’ pupils. They followed that up with a scoreless tie against the Wildcats to prop up UNH’s playoff bubble one more day.

Remember any of that? No worries if you don’t. Turns out that was just a combined case of ice-based end-of-the-year-itis and a little freshman frostbite that happened to warrant a mini-vacation from extramural engagements.

Perhaps the Eagles already knew that hiatus was coming. They had clinched second place on Feb. 6 and by the next weekend had nowhere higher or lower to go on the Hockey East leaderboard.

Or maybe they were getting a little genuinely fatigued and the perfectly competent supporting cast behind the otherworldly tandem of goalie Molly Schaus and striker Kelli Stack was low on fuel.

Either way, BC has restocked and is now primed to put in the program’s first Frozen Four appearance in four years. Odds are that would not have been the case if this team had someone and somewhere to play over the final weekend of February.

In its first three years of existence, the WHEA’s use of a six-team playoff field with two first round byes has reaped its share of positive and negative evidence. The 2008-09 Eagles finished an identical second behind the Wildcats, whom they met for the pennant and accompanied to the NCAA tournament.

Last season, indubitably the year of the league’s most indecisive playoff pool, the two byes succumbed to staleness in the semifinals as Connecticut and Boston University dislodged Providence and UNH, respectively.

This season’s tournament presented a mixture, at best. But the evidence tilts more soundly toward the byes being a well-earned reward.

On the surface, defending champion and first-place BU was bumped by its own rust. But remember that the Terriers charged up a 25-9 edge in the first period shooting gallery, led Northeastern 1-0 at the end of one, were tied after 40 minutes, and issued a 15-shot flurry in the closing frame.

BU’s semifinal upset loss was more easily explained by Huskies’ stopper Florence Schelling’s endurance in the cage and a comparative lack of big game experience for counterpart Kerrin Sperry. And at any rate, the loss didn’t dent the 26-6-4 Terriers’ position in the PairWise and they, too, are on their way to Erie this weekend.

Conversely, by giving the Zamboni a longer shift to resurface the calendar, their physical condition, and their psyche, the Eagles entered the postseason with their contender’s certificate dusted off.

In their last three games, including the program’s first Hockey East championship victory and second-ever NCAA quarterfinal win, the strike force has logged 10 goals on 124 shots. But more critically, key constituents have reheated their acetylene sticks, particularly some leaned-on rookies in Melissa Bizzari and Taylor Wasylk.

Ostensibly, those two were suffering from an excusable late-season letdown for the better part of January and February –except, as they have shown in the recent do-or-die games, they are not apt to accept excuses.

Wasylk, a yearlong contender for second-best freshman in the league behind BU’s Marie-Philip Poulin, had two points –a pair of sparsely doled out assists- in the last 12 games of the regular season. Yet on the other side of the two-week respite, she has tuned the mesh once in each Hockey East tournament game and taken a team-high five shots on goal in Saturday’s 4-1 quarterfinal triumph over Minnesota.

Bizzari was on a season-worst five-game cold spell until she scored both goals in the regular season finale at New Hampshire. She has since extended her season-best point streak to four games, charging up a 2-2-4 transcript over the postseason so far. Her most recent contribution was Saturday’s eventual game-winner, potted on the Eagles’ second shot of the game for a 2-0 lead with only 2:45 off the clock.

Prior to Bizzari’s strike, sophomore Ashley Motherwell charged up her first goal since Jan. 8, splashing a 15-game drought and spawning her first two-game point-getting streak since November. Leading up to the playoffs, Motherwell had thrice alternated between three pointless games and one assist. She now has a 1-2-3 log her last two outings.

Even junior Danielle Welch was tapering off in the stretch. She mustered but one goal in the last six regular season outings and was wholly barren in the final three. But she now enters the Frozen Four on the heels of back-to-back multi-point games, going 1-1-2 and scoring the clincher in the Hockey East title tilt, then assisting on both of Stack’s strikes against the Gophers.

Stack and Schaus might not have needed the breather as badly as their understudies, but they were not going to singlehandedly pilot BC this far. And they haven’t. They have headlined a team stocked with solid sidebars, just as they did for the first three-plus months of the season, when the Eagles consistently hovered in safe at-large bid territory.

Plead what you will either way, based on your team’s experience with this three-year-old format. But this BC team was patently built to benefit from the bye.

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

CIS Championship Blog: Day 2

2011-03-13T07:55:00.004-04:00

Follow along all week with CIS Editor Stuart Bowden at the 2011 CIS Championships with his blog updates.

A new day, the same routine. Breakfast, Sportscentre, Shower. And no surprise, different weather for the 4th straight day. Today was a snowstorm with 5-7 cm already on the ground when I left the Boardwalk Executive Home at 8:30AM.

Today I was heading to the campus of Wilfrid Laurier for a tour. I met my guide Allan, a music student with a minor in business who took me in and out of buildings telling me all the stats of this university that is celebrating its centennial. I stopped at the bookstore to pick up a t-shirt for my son as a memory of my trip. All the memories I’ll take home are the ones in my head.

I had to run some errands before heading to the rink to watch practices and prep. Since we finish so late at night everything is closed, so I had to hit the bank now to get some money for my trip and I was low on gas.

Because of the snow, I wore my boots instead of my dress shoes to the rink today. After bringing in all my stuff and setting up, I went to change and noticed I didn’t have my shoes. I checked all my bags but to no avail. At least the boots are black and match my suit.

At the rink, I was working on the media row while our technical supervisor Bengt was in the press box above me working on videos. He needed to know how to spell Andrea Switalski’s name, the Marion Hillard Winner from Mt. Allson and instead of yelling out the window or walking down 10 stairs to ask me, he texted me. Is this what our society has come too?

I have to give props to Queen’s for their bright pink warm-up shirts, easily the best pregame outfit of the six teams at the tournament. However, Alberta gets the award for best pre-game activity with their tennis ball football. Their touchdown celebrations need some work though.

In game one of the night, the Queen’s Gaels continued their unbelievable extra time streak by downing Alberta 2-1 in a shoot-out. With the loss the Pandas fall to 0-2 and will play in the 5th place game on Sunday, the first time in recent memory that an Alberta team will not be playing for a medal. Queen’s now meets McGill with the winner going to the gold medal game. This Gaels team reminds me of our ’03-’04 Ottawa team that got on a hot streak and went all the way to the National final. These players feel like they can do no wrong.

Spent most of game two setting up our remaining intermission interviews. We have some very interesting people from the women’s hockey world that you are not going to want to miss.

The Laurier Golden Hawks rebounded from a tough loss to St. Fx the night before to dominate Manitoba on route to a 4-0 win. This game was played in front of a slightly smaller crowd than the previous night but they were just as boisterous with many of them dressed in purple and gold. Manitoba Head Coach Jon Rempel used the word soft a lot in

his post game interview to describe his team’s play. I wonder if there will be any line-up changes coming for the game against X? Laurier now has to hope that Manitoba beats St Fx to force the complicated tiebreaker scenario.

I left Bengt to cut video by himself as I’m running out of hours to get stuff done before the end of the tournament and have to keep my energy up. I headed back to the Boardwalk Executive Home, remembering my key this time, to start working on some prep for Saturday. I opened the trunk to get something out and there were my dress shoes that I couldn’t find earlier. Duh! I was so exhausted I actually dozed off for a minute on the couch with my computer on my lap. That’s when I knew it was time to call it a day.

Until tomorrow.

Hockey East Notes

2011-03-12T23:12:00.001-05:00

BU freshmen lend helping hands
Despite recent wounds, Sperry and Poulin play part in win
By Al Daniel

Boston University head coach Brian Durocher made a fleeting revelation when he reviewed his team’s 4-2 NCAA quarterfinal win over Mercyhurst College at Walter Brown Arena Saturday.

“Kerrin Sperry wore a cast all week,” the skipper said of his reliable rookie goaltender. “Today, she took it off and made probably seven or eight great glove saves and I don’t think she felt any pain.”

One week removed from being decisively outdueled by Northeastern’s more seasoned Swiss Save-ior, Florence Schelling, Sperry was one young Terrier who patently benefited from another week of practice, and perhaps another day away from game action provided by BU’s denied admission into the Hockey East championship.

Save for two goals by the NCAA’s all-time leading scorcher, Meghan Agosta, Sperry repelled 30 Mercyhurst bids, including 14 out of 15 in the opening frame and 11 of 12 in the third period.

Given that the Lakers attempted a grand total of 73 shots, as opposed to the 47 tries issued by the Terriers, Sperry was pampered with her Saturday workload. Her praetorian guards telepathically directed 12 biscuits wide and blocked a bruising 29.

As it happened, Sperry’s classmate, Marie-Philip Poulin, tied senior captain Holly Lorms with four blocked shots on the day. Maybe not the most advisable move from a medical perspective, considering Poulin has only recently hurdled past the worst of a much more publicized hand ailment sustained in a Feb. 5 visit to New Hampshire that kept her out of game action until last week’s conference dance. But it personified big-game hockey, to which Poulin is no stranger, having singlehandedly beat Team USA, 2-0, in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic title tilt.

In the other end, the New England Eight’s runaway Rookie of the Year was only a factor for one period. Poulin doled out four of her five attempted shots, and all three of her shots on net, in the middle frame, including a go-ahead goal at 8:16 that granted BU a 2-1 lead through intermission.

Moments later, Poulin picked off Agosta at her own blue line, saw her bid go high above the crossbar when she reached Laker property, then retreated back to her own end as Mercyhurst broke out.

As the counterattack settled, she subject herself to the bite of a shot by opposing blueliner Cassea Schols, which rendered her temporarily rattled. Play rolled along and two more unanswered shots, off the blades of Jesse Scanzano and Samantha Watt, were blocked by Terriers’ Catherine Ward and Jill Cardella, respectively.

Ultimately, BU cleared, and top gun Jenn Wakefield sent a shot wide of the Mercyhurst cage before there was finally another whistle, the first in nearly three-and-a-half minutes of action.

None other than Poulin took the ensuing draw in neutral ice, and she won it at Agosta’s expense.

“You go back to the way that the Poulins, and the Kohanchuks, Catherine Wards that are giving up their bodies and blocking shots. It just permeates all through the team and on the ice,” said Durocher.

“We had to get out of that shift because she was having trouble getting off the ice and definitely was stung, but I don’t think she missed a shift.

“I knew she was coming back. But after she scored that goal when she came over the blue line and ripped a slap shot that almost caught the top corner, I’m figuring she’s just about back right now.”

Eagles soar early, ground Gophers
Ashley Motherwell scored on the game’s first shot and sparked a four-goal-on-eight-shot salvo for Boston College en route to a 4-1 victory over Minnesota at Conte Forum Saturday.

The game was merely two minutes and 45 seconds old by the time Melissa Bizzari connected on BC’s second shot of the day, prompting Gophers head coach Brad Frost to exhaust his timeout.

After Kelli Stack augmented the lead to 3-0 at 8:16 of the opening frame, the Gophers went on an 11-5 romp in the shooting gallery. But goaltender Molly Schaus repelled everything, including six stabs during a single penalty kill, while Stack tacked on another tally with 13:50 gone in the game.

BC senior defender Katelyn Kurth, who assisted on Motherwell’s icebreaker, was in action for all four goals, giving her an impressive plus-4 rating on the day. Meanwhile, Stack and Motherwell’s left winger, Danielle Welch, amassed two assists.

Not unlike the other game on Commonwealth Avenue, the hosts controlled the shooting gallery in the second period while letting their guests discharge a substantial majority of biscuits in both the first and third. But while the Gophers converted one of their four bids in the middle frame (Sarah Erickson at 11:45), Schaus turned in another pristine 14-save performance in the third to confirm the second Frozen Four ticket of her career.

Quick feeds: The BC and BU triumphs not only snap the WHEA’s three-year absence from the Frozen Four, but also marks the first time the nine-year-old circuit has sent multiple ambassadors to the final frontier…Bizzari was credited with the third game-winning goal of her rookie year while Cardella scored her fourth clincher of the year and the fifth of her stay with the Terriers…Cardella was also credited with an assist on Poulin’s goal…The only two Patty Kazmaier finalists who are still active, Stack and Wisconsin’s Meghan Duggan, will clash on the ice in one of this Friday’s semifinals. The specific face-off times for the BC-Wisconsin and BU-Cornell tilts have not yet been disclosed, but one will be at 5 p.m., the other at 8.

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

NCAA Quarterfinal Scoreboard and Recaps

2011-03-12T23:01:00.000-05:00

NCAA National Collegiate Quarterfinals
Minnesota @ Boston College, 1-4
Dartmouth @ Cornell, 1-7
Mercyhurst @ Boston University, 2-3
Minnesota-Duluth @ Wisconsin, 1-2

NCAA Division III Quarterfinals
Adrian @ RIT, 1-10
Manhattanville @ Middlebury, 0-1

Boston University 4, Mercyhurst 2

2011-03-12T21:29:00.001-05:00

“Blue-collar” effort bolsters BU
By Al Daniel

In a most timely fashion, the Boston University Terriers progressed from their recent one-woman show in Jenn Wakefield while dropping that injudicious role into the gloves of Mercyhurst’s Meghan Agosta.

Wakefield, BU’s top gun, charged up her third two-goal game in the last four outings, but this time reaped a little more contributions from her teammates –fellow otherworldly sizzler Marie-Philip Poulin and sophomore Jill Cardella. Conversely, Agosta, the Lakers’ and nation’s most potent puckslinger, was the only member of her Cyclopean strike force to tune the opposing mesh Saturday.

That made the jutting difference in a 4-2 Terrier triumph in the NCAA quarterfinal at Walter Brown Arena.

The win pole-vaults the steadily ascending BU program into its first Women’s Frozen Four in six years of existence.

“You can go back to almost any of the kids that started this program,” said head coach Brian Durocher. “There were a lot of character kids. Now we’ve added a whole bunch of character kids and the place has become a bit more hockey-attractive, which has brought even better players here.

“But we have to be a blue-collar team. I believe this game is a blue-collar game, and today you saw it firsthand. Mercyhurst had an eight or 10-shot advantage (32-22), but we had people blocking shots, diving in front of it. And it wasn’t the third-line checkers. It was the big-name players who were doing it.”

BU ultimately charged up more blocked shots (29) than it did stabs at Lakers’ goaltender Hillary Pattenden (22). Meanwhile, Agosta, the first female NCAA puckster with more than 300 career points, took more than twice as many shots on goal as any of her teammates, including half of their dozen in the closing frame.

But the Terriers, who decisively carried the play for only one period (the second) found one more seam, plus a brownie in the form of Wakefield’s empty netter with 11.6 seconds to spare. It was just enough to knock off the 2011 Frozen Four host after weathering an unfavorable forecast and two blizzards of rubber in their end.

“It’s nice,” said Cardella, recalling her team’s 4-1 loss to the Lakers in the 2010 quarterfinal. “Last year, no one really thought we had a chance and they didn’t really think we had a chance this year.

“They’re a fast-paced team and we knew they were going to get a lot of offense,” she added. “We knew they were going to give us some odd man rushes, so we just kept going at it and it worked out for us.”

The only stimulating looks BU got in the opening frame were one from Jenelle Kohanchuk in the ninth minute and two by Wakefield, the first of which she slipped home from right on Pattenden’s front porch to give her team the initial lead at 11:52.

Mercyhurst, on the other hand, managed to test opposing stopper Kerrin Sperry more times shorthanded than BU reached Pattenden on the period's only power play. While Melissa Lacroix served a two-minute sentence for an elbowing infraction at the 8:19 mark, the Terriers whiffed on four shot attempts while Sperry pushed away shorthanded shots from Vicki Bendus and Samantha Watt.

Later, with 3:57 left, Agosta delivered her first equalizer from the deep slot on her third shot of the game.

And so, at intermission, Wakefield had inserted six of the Terriers’ last seven goals, dating back to their final regular season series at Maine. That three-game-and-one-period stretch saw BU churn out its only losing streak of the season, slipping to the Black Bears in the regular season finale and conceding last weekend’s Hockey East semifinal to Northeastern.

“We have to have a second wave behind Jenn,” said Durocher. “I still think a lot of our offense comes from our six defenders who pass the puck well, shoot the puck well, make plays. But when you have a couple of premier players who can play on different lines, can help other people score, other people have to score.

“If we were going to go on today, someone else probably had to score.”

The Terriers did a much tidier job on the home front in the middle frame. Out of five registered stabs, the only stimulating look the Lakers got was from Jess Jones, a bid from the deeper portion of the near circle that Sperry tilted away. Most everything else was from above the slot or from without the face-off dots.

Meanwhile, BU pelted Pattenden with 13 pucks and put another one behind her, courtesy of Poulin at the 8:16 mark. It was the radiant rookie’s 23rd strike of the season and her first since Jan. 28 versus Connecticut, a week before sustaining her month-long hand ailment.

Agosta drew a 2-2 knot with 10:54 in the third, converting the Lakers’ only power play of the game with an assertive slapper from the high slot. But one play and one shot later at the other end, Cardella parked herself on Pattenden’s doorstep and tipped home Tara Watchorn’s straightaway, low-riding point shot for the 3-2 lead with 9:04 to spare.

“They didn’t give us much out there today, other than the little run there in the second period,” said Durocher. “We had to fight and show a lot of character in the end after they tied it to come back and get a good goal by Jill Cardella, and then close it out with four, five blocks and then Jenn Wakefield’s open net goal.”

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

NCAA Quarterfinal Live Blog: UMD @ Wisconsin

2011-03-12T18:00:00.001-05:00

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=3947223b16"&amp;gt;NCAA Quarterfinal - UMD @ Wisconsin&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Boston University 4, Mercyhurst 2 (first edition)

2011-03-12T17:59:00.001-05:00

In a most timely fashion, the Boston University Terriers upgraded their recent one-woman show in Jenn Wakefield while handing that injudicious role over to Mercyhurst’s Meghan Agosta.

Heading into Saturday’s NCAA regional tilt, Wakefield had scored five of her team’s past six goals in a sketchy 1-2-0 run, including BU’s first pair of successive losses all season.

Through 20 minutes, surprise, surprise, the score was as good as Wakefield 1, Agosta 1. More pressingly, the visiting Lakers had deleted an initial 1-0 deficit, were leading the shooting gallery by a crushing count of 15-4, and arguably had better looks shorthanded than BU had on the first period’s only power play.

“We have to have a second wave behind Jenn,” said Terriers’ head coach Brian Durocher. “I still think a lot of our offense comes from our six defenders who pass the puck well, shoot the puck well, make plays. But when you have a couple of premier players who can play on different lines, can help other people score, other people have to score.

“If we were going to go on today, someone else had to score.”

It finally happened at 8:16 of the middle frame, when Agosta’s Vancouver Olympic teammate, Marie-Philip Poulin renewed the Terrier lead. And while Agosta drew another knot in the third, it took a mere 110 seconds for Jill Cardella to thaw out her own frostbitten twig with 9:04 to spare in regulation.

Cardella’s strike, followed by a Wakefield empty netter, cemented a gritty 4-2 win that pole-vaulted BU into its first Women’s Frozen Four in the program’s six years of existence.

“You can go back to almost any of the kids that started this program,” said Durocher. “There was a lot of character kids. Now we’ve added a whole bunch of character kids the place has become a bit more hockey-attractive, which has brought even better players here.

“But we have to be a blue-collar team. I believe this game is a blue-collar game, and today you saw it firsthand. Mercyhurst had an eight or 10-shot advantage, but we had people blocking shots, diving it front of it. And it was the third-line checkers. It was the big-name players who were doing it.”

BU ultimately charged up more blocked shots (29) than it did stabs at Lakers’ goaltender Hillary Pattenden’s cage (22). Meanwhile, Agosta, the first female NCAA puckster with more than 300 career points, took more than twice as many SOG as any of her teammates, including half of their dozen in the closing frame.

But the Terriers, who decisively carried the play for only one period (a 14-5 shooting edge in the second) found one more seam, plus a brownie, to knock off the 2011 Frozen Four host.

NCAA Quarterfinal Live Blog: Mercyhurst @ BU

2011-03-12T14:00:00.001-05:00

NCAA Quarterfinal - Mercyhurst @ BU

NCAA Quarterfinal Live Blog: Minnesota Blog Feed

2011-03-12T12:38:00.005-05:00

http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=204898590

Hockey East notes: Eagles vie to turn tables on Gophers

2011-03-11T22:14:00.000-05:00

When queried on her team’s upcoming NCAA quarterfinal tilt, Boston College head coach Katie King kept her comments as plain as the fraternal maroon-and-gold color schemes of her Eagles and the opposing Minnesota Gophers.

“It’s interesting, because we haven’t seen any teams from the WCHA this year, so we don’t know much about them,” said King. “We do know they’re a good hockey team and we think it’ll be a great game on Saturday. Overall, I think our two teams match up well.”

All of this weekend’s Elite Eight assignments reek of a rematch addiction amongst the NCAA Selection Committee. Each matchup constitutes either that of a previous national tourney tilt from within the last two seasons or of a conference playoff clash from within the last week.

Of the four, the BC-Minnesota card is the stalest, but the memories should be just ripe enough for the junior and senior classes. In their most recent national dance, two seasons ago, the Eagles saw a valiant comeback sputter –if nothing else, for lack of any more time- as the Gophers got away with a 4-3 decision at “The U’s” Ridder Arena.

For those Eagles, it was really a case of falling right back into old patterns. Six days prior to their Twin Cities excursion, they had settled for silver in the Hockey East championship game with a 2-1 loss to New Hampshire, the score finalized when they could only saw a long-standing 2-0 deficit in half late in the third period. Moments after the horn, King approached the podium and emphatically exhaled “If we only had 20 more minutes.”

Similarly, the next week, the Gophers sculpted a 4-1 lead all within one 11-shot sugar rush in the first period. But afterwards, then-junior Eagles’ goaltender Molly Schaus weathered a 17-shot blizzard and collaborated with Kelli Stack to assist on then-rookie Mary Restuccia’s second goal of the game to make it 4-2 after two. BC would then control the third period shooting gallery, 7-4, but only closed the gap to 4-3.

Twenty-four months after the fact, there are but nine active holdovers on the BC bench and only seven are likely to suit up on Saturday, based on the lineups deployed last weekend. But several of those returnees figured prominently into that bout, particularly Restuccia, Schaus, and Stack.

So, is there a Carl Spackler-esque incentive to dish out some eye-for-eye justice on the Gophers when they crawl into Conte Forum?

“The older players do remember that game and they know how hard we worked to get to that point,” King acknowledged. “They’ve put that much and more in this year. We’re very excited to have Minnesota coming here this year.”

Stack reaches final three
As Stack tries to prolong her on-ice BC tenure for one more week, she is already guaranteed a ticket to the Frozen Four weekend as she stands among the three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, opposite Mercyhurst’s Meghan Agosta and Wisconsin’s Meghan Duggan.

The Eagles’ record-breaking striker sets yet another precedent for her program by becoming BC’s first Top 3 finalist for the nation’s 14-year-old MVP award.

“She’s worked extremely hard to get to where she is, and she deserves it,” said King. “She has done a lot for our program with Molly Schaus, and for her to be honored in this way is fitting.”

This year’s Kazmaier victor will be formally announced and anointed next Saturday, March 19, at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.

BU’s Poulin reloading
Marie-Philip Poulin, Boston University’s radiant rookie, will enter Saturday’s quarterfinal tilt with Mercyhurst without having tuned the opposing mesh in 43 days.

Since sustaining a hand injury at New Hampshire Feb. 5, Poulin returned to game action and assumed the starting pivot position in the Hockey East semifinals. She mustered four shots on goal in the 4-2 loss to Northeastern, then promptly plunged into another six days of strength training and practice to keep revitalizing her perilous paws, which have composed 22 goals and 22 assists in 25 college games this season.

“I don’t think there’s any question that when you’re down for three weeks, lack of strength falls into the recovery mode,” said Terriers’ head coach Brian Durocher. “Each day, when you’re doing some of the exercises and the rehab, you’re gaining strength, and now she’s going to be six days further into her rehab, six days further into playing.

“That should help her with shooting the puck, where last weekend it wasn’t one of her strengths. Six days later, this should make her 20, 25, or 30 percent better as far as the strength goes in her hand.”

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

BTD NCAA Quarterfinal Live Ticker

2011-03-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Follow along Friday night and all day Saturday as BTD keeps you up to date on all four NCAA National Collegiate first round games and all three NCAA Division III first round games.

NCAA Quarterfinals

CIS Championship Blog: Day 1

2011-03-11T15:11:00.004-05:00

Follow along all week with CIS Editor Stuart Bowden at the 2011 CIS Championships with his blog updates.

I have got myself into a pretty good routine so far. Get up, toast with peanut butter and OJ for breakfast in the kitchen at the Broadwalk Executive House. Watch a little SportsCentre. Shower and head to the rink to watch practice and do prep.

It is my third day here and the 3rd different type of weather we have had – today it is pouring rain.

I watched Laurier, a couple players from X, Manitoba and then Queen’s practice. My favourite teams are the ones that blast the tunes during their practice so I have something to grove to while I’m working. During my prep, I was reading the Laurier media guide and came across a name I recognized – one of the players who I coach now on a Senior AA team in Ottawa. But she played at Moncton not Laurier so I figure it was a mistake or a coincidence. I sent her a text and she confirmed she played one year at Laurier, sat out a year, then transferred closer to home to play at Moncton. Example #4 of the small women’s hockey circle and we are only in blog entry #2. #5 is Queen’s assistant coach Kim Pearce, who played at Princeton and did her law degree at Queen’s, plays in our league against us. The over/under for the weekend is 20. Any bets?

Then it was finally game time. I was working with former Laurier goalie Cindy Eadie for the McGill-Alberta game, a re-match of last year’s final. McGill used a couple PP goals and scored both late in a period and early in the next (death time in hockey) to down the Pandas 4-2. It was great working with Cindy, she analyses the game the way she played goal – very calm and in control.

The opening ceremonies were very nice. The teams were led onto the ice by girl’s hockey teams, who consider these players as their heroes.
.
Dan took over PBP for the Laurier-St. Fx game which allowed me to text back and forth with my fiancée and son who were suck at the Newark, NJ airport due to the weather on their way to Florida for our vacation. I was able to take in the atmosphere of over 1200 people here at the SunLife Arena. My other responsibility was doing after period interviews. I was down near the Laurier bench near the end of the second period ready to interview a player when X scored late to tie it. When the buzzer went to end the period, all the Golden Hawk players headed to the dressing room, leaving me standing there with a mic in my hand. It happens, I understand they were frustrated and needed to get to the room to regroup. Unfortunately, the fans went home disappointed as the Hawks fell 4-3. Two exciting games to open the tournament – I think we are in for a great week.

I waited around to help Bengt cut some of the videos and then post them to the website. We were the last ones to leave the rink I think and I drove back to my place through the continuing rain. When I reached the front door, I first tried to use my own home key because the Boardwalk Executive Home does feel like home but then I went into full panic mode when I realized my key was not attached to my key ring. I checked through all my bags but to no avail. My last hope was to head back to the arena to see if I dropped it somewhere. The whole way all I could think off was if I didn’t find it I might have to sleep in my car. I pulled into the parking lot where I saw it shinning on the ground. What a relief! Good thing everyone had left already. As a reward I curled up on the couch and watched some TV before calling it a night.

Until tomorrow.

NCAA Quarterfinal Coverage Options

2011-03-11T14:29:00.002-05:00

Beyond the Dashers will bring you coverage throughout the NCAA Quarterfinals on our main page at http://www.beyondthedashers.net

In addition to our blog's the following coverage is available for you from the institutions.

3/11
Gustavus Adolphus @ UW-River Falls
8:00 PM
Live Stats ~ Webcast ~ Audio ~ Radio 88.7 FM

3/12
Minnesota @ #4 Boston College
1:00 PM
Live Stats ~ Webcast ~ UMN Audio
UMN LIVE BLOG

Dartmouth @ #2 Cornell
2:00 PM
Live Stats ~ Webcast ~ Audio

Mercyhurst @ #3 Boston University
3:00 PM
Live Stats ~ Webcast ~ Audio
BTD LIVE BLOG

Adrian @ RIT
3:00 PM
Live Stats ~ Audio

Manhattanville @ Middlebury
7:00 PM
Midd Webcast ~ Audio

Minn-Duluth @ #1 Wisconsin
8:00 PM
Live Stats ~ Webcast ~ UW Audio ~ PostGame
BTD LIVE BLOG

Hockey East Analysis: Revamped Terriers pick up where they left off with Lakers

2011-03-10T22:38:00.000-05:00

Who better than Mercyhurst, winners of a one-sided 4-1 decision in last year’s NCAA quarterfinal, to administer Boston University’s test retake?

After a serendipitous strike by then-sophomore defender Tara Watchorn sent them directly into the 2010 tourney, and after they submitted a standard skate-whetting performance in their first Elite Eight game, the Terriers are primed to flaunt all they have added and all they have learned in the last 12 months.

Coupling a succulent stock of returnees from last year’s Hockey East championship/autobid entry with an otherworldly trio of Jenn Wakefield, Catherine Ward, and Marie-Philip Poulin, BU improved from a 17-9-12 finish last year to a 25-6-4 run. More than enough to warrant home ice for this year’s quarterfinal, although the opposing 29-5-0 Lakers could argue they ought to have drawn a different adversary and deserved to stay on their own campus.

Come what may, this Saturday brings the do-over this steadily ascending six-year-old program has patiently salivated for since last year’s breakthrough.

“I don’t think there’s any question that any time you get a big game like this, people are excited and energized,” said Terriers’ head coach Brian Durocher. “And the same can be said for Mercyhurst, so I don’t know if there’s revenge or extra motivation.

“It’s real simple. Everybody wants to get to the Frozen Four, so our job is to be excited but make sure it’s tempered excitement and that we not only come out hard, but play well in the second and third period and avoid mistakes.”

Although it can be argued with little chance for a respectable rebuttal that the selection committee pulled some over-arching maneuvers with their matchups, the Terrier-Laker card is indubitably intriguing. The two programs measure up with chin-to-chin digits under most every heading, especially in the way of special teams.

Mercyhurst is the third-most penalized team in the country, committing 13.4 minutes worth of infractions per night. But the Lakers also have the power to lure their adversaries down a dirty path, drawing an identical average of 13.4 power play minutes.

BU’s penalty kill is tied for tops in the nation with a 93.8 percent success rate. Mercyhurst boasts the second-most volcanic power play, converting 25.8 percent of its chances.

In terms of combined special teams, the Lakers and Terriers are No. 1 and No. 2 at 57.8 and 57.6, respectively.

Getting past the numbers and acknowledging the names, BU can certainly brace itself with more conviction, having tacked on the likes of Poulin, Wakefield, and Ward over the summer.

Wakefield, a junior transfer out of New Hampshire, is no stranger to progressing through an NCAA dance. As a rookie in 2008, she scored the regulation equalizer for New Hampshire in a 3-2 overtime quarterfinal win over St. Lawrence. A week later, inserted the icebreaker in an eventual 3-2 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in the semifinals

“You’re always looking for leaders,” said Durocher. “And having someone like her, who’s been in the Frozen Four, having somebody like Catherine Ward who’s been in the Olympic Games and the (CIS tournament with McGill University), you’re going to lean on these people to be your leaders. And the fact that most of us have played in the NCAA tournament before. All of those things are all going to help us as a team from a sheer experience standpoint.

“Mercyhurst has been down this road before, so I give them a little bit of an edge that way. But we’re certainly going to count on Jenn to be a big part of it and be a big leader throughout this game, and hopefully beyond.”

But just as last year’s Terriers were without their two Canadian Olympians and three centralization vets, last year’s Lakers were lacking the input of Meghan Agosta. Agosta, now the all-time leading scorer among female NCAA pucksters with a career transcript of 155-146-301, was still savoring the afterglow of her second Olympic triumph, one she shared with the likes of Poulin and Ward in Vancouver.

By the same token, there is some advantageous familiarity between Agosta and Ward, arguably the most efficient defensive player in the nation. And in the unlikely event that Ward couldn’t step up, Durocher will bank on an insurance policy bolstered by Watchorn, with her share of Canadian U22 experience, and Kasey Boucher, an international novice gradually earning her stripes and stars with USA Hockey.

“We do have the last change, and I certainly think Catherine will see plenty of ice time against her,” Durocher said. “(But you) don’t always have the perfect situation with line changes, penalties, et cetera, so it’s nice to know that we go in with three real high-quality left defenders.”

Ultimately, there are no foolproof means of prophesying the results of this recipe. Both teams in question are 2-0-0 against each other’s conference this season, Mercyhurst having swept Maine Oct. 9-10 and BU doing the same to Wayne State a week later.

Beyond that negligible barometer, it is simply another crossover between polar puck worlds –and one that the Terriers hope will advance their national posture a little more than the last.

“This is why we have games this time of year. To see who comes out on top,” Durocher concluded.

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

CIS Championship Blog: Pre-game

2011-03-10T21:24:00.002-05:00

Follow along all week with CIS Editor Stuart Bowden at the 2011 CIS Championships with his blog updates.

Travel to this year’s championship was considerably easier than last year since the event is in the same province that I live in. No flight – just a six hour drive depending on the construction in Toronto. If one of my suit hangers gets broken this year, I only have myself to blame. Since John and I had such a good experience last year staying at a B&B instead of a hotel, I investigated similar properties in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. What I found was the Boardwalk Homes Executive Guest Houses (www.boardwalkhomes.ca).

The coordinator Erin explained that these houses were specifically designed for executive trainees of U of Waterloo and Laurier, particularly for the China Executive Training Program (CETP). CETP was the last international program that past president David Johnston launched prior to assuming his role as Canada’s Governor General. As his Special Advisor on China development, she went with David to China and promoted not only the universities, but also the cities. One thing they consistently found when they were overseas was that most people do not want to stay in a hotel, but would prefer a hotel style house, with the amenities and comfort of a home. The Boardwalk Executive Guest Houses were subsequently constructed and designed to fit exactly that. The house I am in is massive, very modern, and brand new. There are common areas that everyone shares (kitchen, living room) and everyone has their own bedroom and if you’re spoiled like me, your own bathroom. I have 4 house mates who welcomed me with a fruit dish.

I departed Ottawa Tuesday after work (I know surprising, broadcasting doesn’t pay the bills) in sunny weather and woke up Wednesday morning in KW to a wintery mix. Did I just drive south, or north? While eating breakfast, I ironed my suits for the rest of the week. Next I headed to the Waterloo Recreation Centre, home to the Sunlife Arena, just off the campus of Wilfrid Laurier University. I met Mike Whitehouse, the Golden Hawks SID who gave me a tour of the facility. I started setting up my stuff in the pressbox and then settled in to watch Alberta, then McGill practice. Next it was off to the press conference at the Delta hotel where I had the chance to interview the coaches and captains. KW is a pretty little town (when it is not sleeting) and the organizing committee has done a great job advertising the event – Liz Knox’s helmeted face is everywhere. I do have to say they like their roundabouts too. Back to the arena I went to watch St. Fx and Manitoba skate. During a spare moment, I checked my videotaping ability and learned that my microphone was not working. I began trying to diagnose the problem when I noticed Manitoba’s Kristy Majeran climb over the glass behind the bench, into the stands, in order to get to the running track for her cool down following practice. Her teammates simply walked through the door at the end of the bench and up the stairs. I think she could hear me laughing from the other side of the ice.

I changed into a shirt and tie and headed to the All Canadian banquet. Since the dinner was at the Turret Lounge on WLU’s campus, I thought it was easier to bus over with the McGill team from the hotel. The trip was very informative – I learned Ann-Sophie Bettez thinks video coach Tom Watson has a comb over and that Gillian Ferrari’s nickname is Ronny Textall. I was seated at a table with Karen Hughes and Nicole Kesteris (All Rookie Team Goalie) from U of T. The keynote speaker was Becky Keller, the 3 time gold medal winner with Team Canada, who told the players to embrace the moment of playing in a national championship as she never had the opportunity.

Dinner was not your traditional banquet meal – chicken piccata with fresh vegetable pasta and crème brulee for dessert. The awards were handed out and Hayley Wickenheiser from the Calgary Dinos claimed the Broderick Trophy as player of the year. Well deserved but it would have been nice to see Marieve Provost from Moncton honoured – CIS career leading scorer, member of FISU games championship team, AUS player of the year. I interviewed Andrea Switalski from Mt. Allison, the Marion Hillard Award winner and realized her dad who was with her, coached against me back in Ottawa. Example one of many this week that women’s hockey is a small circle. Then I interviewed the coach of the year, Jim Denham from Brock. We almost coached together at Niagara University several years ago. See example number two one sentence later. Talked to Candice Djukic, a member of Laurier’s 2005 National Championship team who is in town for a reunion on Saturday and was in her full RCMP serge. My younger sister, a former goalie for Wayne State University, just graduated from Depot in Regina in October. Example number three in the same paragraph, see where this is going? I packed up my
stuff and waited in the entrance with the Manitoba Bisons team for the shuttle back to the hotel. They were all reading an article in the Laurier student paper that called their team “average”. Bulletin board material for the Canada West champions. On the bus, the Bisons had a team building exercise where they rocked the bus back and forth. I was the first one off at the hotel before they could see if they could rock anything else. I ran into Regina coach Sarah Hodges there and she was in sandals. She quickly stated she was not crazy and had just arrived from Florida. Ironically I am headed there after the championships for some R&R with my family.

Our camera man Bengt made it in from Ottawa and texted me to say he was setting up the equipment at the arena. I offered to stop by and help but he said he was good and told me to go home and rest up for Thursday. Little does he know that I was up to 1AM catching up on some of my favourite TV shows on the big screen at the Boardwalk Homes Executive Guest House. Well maybe he does now. Before I went to bed, I plugged every piece of electrical equipment (Blackberry, computer, camera) in to charge for the big first day.

Until tomorrow.

CIS Championship Coverage

2011-03-10T18:14:00.001-05:00

Follow live SSNCanada coverage of the 2011 CIS Championship live from Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, ON all week long.

Schedule
THU 3/10
Alberta @ McGill, 4pm - Live stats Video
StFX @ Laurier, 7:30pm - Live stats Video

FRI 3/11
TBA @ Queen's, 4pm - Live stats Video
TBA @ Manitoba, 7:30pm - Live stats Video

SAT 3/12
Queen's @ TBA, 4pm - Live stats Video
Manitoba @ TBA, 7:30pm - Live stats Video

SUN 3/13
5th place Game, 11am
Bronze Medal Game, 4pm
Gold Medal Championship Final, 7:30pm

*All Times Eastern

Frozen Four Guide

2011-03-10T12:48:00.000-05:00

The Regional edition of the 2011 NCAA Women's Frozen Four Guide is now online.

The Guide can be viewed and downloaded here.

Hockey East Feature: BC Women and Men

2011-03-07T22:15:00.000-05:00

With model men’s program right at home, Eagles draw easy inspiration
By Al Daniel

Jerry York –whose skating students over in the men’s sector of Conte Forum have played in seven of the 13 most recent NCAA championship games, including four of the past five, and won two of the last three- took a rare breather from his demanding duties on Sunday.

The Boston College men’s hockey coach was on hand at Walter Brown Arena for the Women’s Hockey East championship, visiting the NESN broadcast booth for an in-game interview on his team and lending support to its female counterparts.

Hardly a surprise to any ice addicts who bleed maroon and gold and never tire of hearing those brass renditions of “For Boston.”

“The men’s program at BC is unbelievable,” said women’s skipper Katie King. “And to us, they’re so supportive from the coaches to the players to everyone involved in that program.

“They’ve been extremely supportive of us and do everything they can to help us out. They want to see us succeed, which is great, and we want to see them succeed.”

York, less than 24 hours removed from clinching his league’s regular season laurel, was in midsentence with TV commentators Tom Caron and AJ Mleczko when Danielle Welch drilled home a dagger at 5:59 of the third period, ultimately finalizing the BC women’s 3-1 triumph over Northeastern.

Between two Beanpots and the aforementioned first-place finish in the men’s conference, that was the aggregate fourth hunk of hardware awarded to a BC hockey team this season. All-time, in the 27 years of Hockey East history (only nine, of course, for the women’s version), it makes for a combined 10 conference playoff titles at Chestnut Hill.

No other institution fielding both a men’s and women’s program has cracked double digits under that heading. Crossroad rival Boston University is a relatively close second with seven men’s laurels and one women’s pennant.

Naturally, King’s pupils are still a far cry from equating their live-in brothers’ enriched standards. But right now, both flocks of Eagles like to believe that they are soaring in tandem above most, if not all, of their conference cohabitants.

“We definitely want to create the history that they have,” said King. “We want to try to match what they have. It’ll take a couple of years, but we want to try to do what they do. Our kids are great friends with them and they hang out all the time.”

There was a previous hint of dual dominance by all the BC icers in 2006-07. That year, York guided his capstone class to its second straight national title game while the women reached their first Frozen Four in the program’s then-13-year history.

Celestial scorer and stopper Kelli Stack and Molly Schaus were freshmen that season. And their advanced stats –a 17-37-54 scoring transcript for Stack and 1.90 goals-against average and .931 save percentage for Schaus- hinted at nothing but overwhelming acceleration in the three years to come.

But in those next three years, two developments, one wholly unsavory and another half-full, impeded the BC women’s consistency. The revolutionary class of 2010 experienced the ultimate sophomore slide as the team regressed in 2007-08 to a 14-13-7 record, its worst since its last losing year in 2004-05.

The elastic Eagles rebounded, took silver in the conference playoffs, and returned to the NCAA’s Elite Eight in 2009. But then –surprise, surprise- USA Hockey’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Skates called upon Schaus and Stack to replenish much of the blood lost from 2006. With their offensive and defensive faces on the Olympic tour all year, the Eagles receded once more last season, finishing sixth in the league and submitting to eventual playoff champion BU in the quarterfinal.

But just as conspicuous as they were by their absence, Schaus and Stack have used their belated senior season to rapidly restore the bite in their college team’s talons. And with Sunday’s landmark victory, they have set the long-elusive precedent for their successors.

“We were just getting on the map the year before I came here,” said Stack. “I think we’ve improved every year since then. We’ve gotten some great recruits, so that’s definitely helped us out a lot. I think a lot of girls hockey players are going to want to come to BC now.”

Ironically, while the women sandwiched a rebound year with those two mediocre finishes, the men soaked in two national titles in 2008 and 2010, but in between lumbered through a hangover campaign in 2008-09, an indubitable anomaly for York’s proud program.

But now, once more, the Conte Forum pucksters of both genders are simultaneously certified contenders. York’s pupils, No. 1-ranked for the better part of the year, are an absolute lock for their national dance, which will commence one weekend after the women’s Frozen Four in Erie, Pa.

First, though, they have a jealously guarded reputation on the line as they seek to defend the Lamoriello Trophy. If they do that, it would be the first time one school has claimed both the men’s and women’s Hockey East championship in the same year.

The men’s quest will begin this weekend, concomitant with the women’s drive for their first national title.

The itinerary for the Chestnut Hill ice house is as follows: the men host Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinal set with UMass-Amherst at 7 p.m. Friday. Saturday will be a double-header as the women host Minnesota at 1:00, followed by Game 2 of the men’s series at 7:00. And, if necessary, Game 3 with the Minutemen on Sunday: same time, same pond.

And if all goes according to their plan, come the weekend of March 18-20, BC buffs will be torn between the option of staying home for and taking their spirit down a quick train route to TD Garden or venturing out on a road trip to Erie’s Tullio Arena.

“We’re happy we can bring home a (Hockey East) championship,” said King. “And hopefully (the men) do the same in a couple of weeks.”

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

Boston College 3, Northeastern 1

2011-03-06T17:59:00.001-05:00

Eagles outlast Huskies
Favored BC program claims first conference title
By Al Daniel

With 2:39 remaining in Sunday’s third period, her team clenching a 3-1 advantage for 11-plus minutes straight, Boston College coach Katie King saw her chance to simultaneously savor and properly execute a knockout punch when Northeastern’s Casie Fields took a defensive zone penalty for hitting after the whistle.

“I just wanted to make sure that I calmed the kids down a little bit, because I didn’t want them to be too excited about it,” said King, who cashed in on a Northeastern timeout at that point.

“I wanted to stick with our game plan, and I thought they did a really good job. You can get so hyped about a power play at that point and try to overdo it, and I thought they did a great job of getting the puck low, still getting some opportunities, sticking with our plan and taking care of that two minutes.

“I didn’t think it was over by any means, but you do get a little bit excited.”

With BC’s continued pressure on the other side of that break, the Huskies’ penalty killers would clear the puck only once and only briefly while the Eagles spent most of the time churning around the zone and threw two power play shots at goaltender Florence Schelling (32 saves).

And moments after returning to full strength and breaking the puck out once more within the final 20 seconds, upset-minded Northeastern could only listen to the dinning cheers of the Eagle faithful as BC stamped a 3-1 win for its first Women’s Hockey East playoff crown before 615 spectators at Walter Brown Arena.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” said King. “After an overtime game (a 3-2 semifinal win over Providence) yesterday, we knew we might be a little tired. But they pushed through and just worked extremely hard for 60 minutes to get the job done.”

Unlike the scrappy and shorthanded Huskies, the Eagles would only be symptomatic of a few early, fleeting bouts of fatigue. After posting each of the game’s first five shots on net, they sent the Huskies a written invitation to thaw out upon taking the game’s first penalty, a too-many-players infraction at 4:11.

Building upon that power play, during which they mustered three SOG, Northeastern soon pulled even in the shooting gallery and tuned the mesh first at the 8:00 mark. Casey Pickett flustered a routine breakout in the near alley of the BC zone, circumvented defenders Dru Burns and Meagan Mangene en route to the cage, and buried her third goal of the tournament.

But in another four minutes and 13 seconds, the Eagles repossessed the momentum and drew a 1-1 knot via Danielle Welch. Within seconds of the Huskies’ Rachel Llanes blocking Burns’ shot and clearing her zone, Welch absorbed a regrouping feed from Ashley Motherwell around the center face-off circle and cut into the high slot, where she sent a low rider home to the left of Schelling.

With 41.8 seconds to spare in the opening frame, BC converted its first power play to usurp the lead. While forwards Kelli Stack and Welch moved the puck around the near corner, defender Blake Bolden went out of her way to accept a diagonal feed and snap it over Schelling’s blocker from along the opposite post.

The Huskies’ long-arid power play squandered three opportunities to draw another knot in the middle frame. Carrying over a minute and 47 seconds from Burns’ holding-the-stick minor, they failed to utilize the fresh ice and the numerical advantage, taking only one shot from senior center Kristi Kehoe that went wide.

Later on, with Mary Restuccia off for bodychecking –an infraction that knocked Kehoe out of commission, no less- Katie MacSorley took a hitting-after-the-whistle minor when Eagles’ goalie Molly Schaus swallowed her slapper at 11:00. That negated the remaining 64 seconds of the NU advantage.

“The emotion can only take you so far,” said Huskies’ coach Dave Flint when asked about his team’s response to the loss of Kehoe.

Restuccia’s opponents bailed her out once again after she went off for interference at 13:25. As Stack tried to break free on an attempted shorthanded rush up the near lane, she drew a hooking call on Pickett at 14:48, creating a 37-second 4-on-4 segment.

“Both teams played hard for 60 minutes,” said Flint. “We battled as hard as we could. I think we just ran out of gas down the stretch and couldn’t mount a good attack there in the third.”

As it happened, Northeastern actually mustered an 11-10 shooting advantage in the third, but Schaus (24 saves) kept her cage locked and BC rookie Taylor Wasylk punched in the insurance with 14:09 to spare in the third period. While her linemates Restuccia and Melissa Bizzari exchanged the puck in the far end, she shuffled uncontested to the opposite side of the cage and tapped home Restuccia’s feed from the corner.

“Our kids did what we asked them to do,” said King. “They worked hard for 60 minutes and came out with a great win for our team, our program, and for everyone that supports BC.”

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

BTD - NCAA NC Selection Show Live Blog

2011-03-06T16:21:00.000-05:00

2011 NCAA NC Frozen Four Selection Show Blog

Boston College 3, Northeastern 1 (First draft)

2011-03-06T16:03:00.002-05:00

With 2:39 remaining in the third period, her team clenching a 3-1 advantage for 11-plus minutes straight, Boston College coach Katie King saw her chance to simultaneously savor and properly execute a knockout punch when Northeastern’s Casie Fields took a defensive zone penalty for hitting after the whistle.

“I just wanted to make sure that I calmed the kids down a little bit, because I didn’t want them to be, too, too excited about it,” said King, who cashed in on a timeout at that point.

“I wanted to stick with our game plan and I thought they did a really good job. You can get so hyped about a power play at that point and try to overdo it, but I thought they did a great job of sticking with our plan and taking care of that two minutes.

“I didn’t think it was over by any means, but you do get a little bit excited.”

With BC’s continued pressure on the other side of that break, the Huskies’ penalty killers would clear the zone only once. And moments after returning to full strength and breaking the puck out once more, they could only listen to the dinning cheers of the Eagle faithful as BC stamped a 3-1 win for its first Women’s Hockey East playoff crown Sunday afternoon at Walter Brown Arena.

After posting each of the game’s first five shots on net, the Eagles sent the Huskies a written invitation to thaw out upon taking the game’s first penalty, a too-many-players infraction at 4:11. Building upon that power play, Northeastern soon pulled even in the shooting gallery and struck first at 8:00. Casey Pickett flustered a routine breakout in the near alley of the BC zone and strolled uncontested to the cage, where she buried her third goal of the tournament.

But in another four minutes and 13 seconds, the Eagles repossessed the momentum and drew a 1-1 via Danielle Welch. Within seconds of the Huskies’ clearing their zone, Welch absorbed a feed from Ashley Motherwell around the center face-off circle and cut into the high slot, where she sent a low rider home to the left of Schelling.

With 41.8 seconds to spare in the opening frame, BC converted its first power play to usurp the lead. While forwards Kelli Stack and Welch moved the puck in the near corner, defender Blake Bolden went out of her way to absorb a diagonal feed and snap it over Schelling’s blocker from along the opposite post.

The Huskies’ long-arid power play squandered three opportunities to draw another knot in the middle frame. Carrying over a minute and 47 seconds from a holding-the-stick minor to Dru Burns, they failed to utilize the fresh ice and the numerical advantage.

Later on, with Mary Restuccia off for bodychecking, Katie MacSorley took a hitting-after-the-whistle minor after Molly Schaus swallowed her slapper at 11:00. That negated the remaining 64 seconds of the NU advantage.

Restuccia’s opponents bailed her out once again after she went off for interference at 13:25. As Stack tried to break free on an attempted shorthanded rush up the near lane, she drew a hooking call on Pickett at 14:48, creating a 37-second 4-on-4 segment.

BC rookie Taylor Wasylk punched in the insurance with 14:09 to spare in the third period. While linemates Melissa Bizzari and Mary Restuccia exchanged the puck in the far end, she shuffled uncontested to the opposite half of the cage and tapped home Restuccia’s diagonal feed from the corner.

NCAA National Collegiate Selection Information

2011-03-06T15:23:00.001-05:00

With Boston College capturing the 2011 WHEA Tournament Championship for the first time the 2011 league championships are complete and the NCAA National Collegiate teams are preparing to learn their NCAA Tournament fate tonight at 6:30pm ET.

The NCAA will stream the selection here.

Beyond the Dashers will bring you live blog coverage beginning at 6:20pm ET.

As you are probably aware the NCAA National Collegiate Tournament is a two weekend process that begins next weekend with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal match ups. The winning teams then move on to Erie, Pennsylvania and the 2011 Women's Frozen Four. The highest seeded team remaining will play the lowest seed in the first semifinal with the two median seeds playing the second semifinal. The two advancing teams will meet in the National Championship game on March 20th at 2pm.

Automatic Bids
ECACHL: Cornell University
WHEA: Boston College
WCHA: University of Wisconsin

Potential At-Large Selections
Boston University - #3 in Pairwise, #6 in KRACH Ranking
Mercyhurst College - CHA Tournament Champion, #4 in Pairwise, #5 in KRACH Ranking
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - T5 in Pairwise, WCHA Runner Up, #3 in KRACH Ranking
University of Minnesota-Duluth - T5 in Pairwise, #4 in KRACH Ranking
Dartmouth College - #8 in Pairwise, ECACHL Tournament Runner Up, #9 in KRACH Ranking
University of North Dakota - #9 in Pairwise, #7 in KRACH Ranking
Harvard University - #10 in Pairwise, #12 in KRACH Ranking

Beyond the Dashers Projections
Seeded Teams
#1 - University of Wisconsin
#2 - Cornell University
#3 - Boston University
#4 - University of Minnesota or Mercyhurst College

The Rest of the Field
Mercyhurst College or University of Minnesota
Boston College (Auto Bid)
Dartmouth College
University of Minnesota-Duluth

Quarterfinals
Minnesota Duluth @ #1 Wisconsin
Boston College @ #2 Cornell
Dartmouth @ #3 Boston University
Mercyhurst/Minnesota @ #4 Minnesota/Mercyhurst

WHEA Tournament: Championship Game

2011-03-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

WHEA Tournament: Championship

WCHA Final Faceoff: Championship - Minnesota @ Wisconsin

2011-03-05T23:39:00.000-05:00

Trailing 3-0 midway through the championship game may make some teams uneasy. For the 2010-2011 Wisconsin Badgers it proved to give them determination to win. After Sarah Erickson gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead after one period, and teammate Sarah Davis put the gophers up 3-0 the Badgers offense started it's engine. In what has to be one of the best comebacks in league championship history, the Badgers would score four out of the games next five points to send the game to overtime. Brianna Decker struck first for Bucky on the power play and less than a minute later Meghan Duggan would make the game one goal closer. Assists were credited to the other two thirds of the super line tandem Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker. The Gophers seemed undeterred by the sudden closeness of the contest as 3:01 later in the period Jen Schoullis combined with Amanda Kessel and Sarah Erickson to give the gophers a 4-2 advantage. In the final frame neither team was able to regain its scoring prowess as award winners Noora Räty and Alex Rigsby got a chance to shine. However as the Period wore on the Badgers seemed to gain the upper hand once more as Madison Packer restarted the Badgers scoring engine that drew the Badgers within a goal. Two minutes later it was the WCHA Player of the Year tying the game for Bucky and setting up an epic overtime session. After out shooting the gophers nearly 5-1 in OT, Geena Prough dished to Kelly Nash who's shot managed to beat Räty and send the Badgers back to Madison with the 5-4 victory and the 2011 WCHA Final Faceoff Championship.

Hockey East Championship Preview

2011-03-05T23:21:00.000-05:00

Another novice winner bound to happen
Upset fever growing for NU, BC hopes third time’s a charm
By Al Daniel

For the second year in a row, the Women’s Hockey East championship game is guaranteed to deliver a lucky program its first pennant since the league’s inception in 2002.

Boston College, a two-time runner-up at the ingress and egress of New Hampshire’s 2006-09 dynasty, will engage Northeastern, whose last conference title game was in its final year as an ECAC constituent, at 1 p.m. Sunday at Boston University’s Walter Brown Arena.

“This league has grown year after year after year,” said BC head coach Katie King. “And it’s just really exciting. For both teams tomorrow and for all the teams in our league –you saw the sixth, seventh, and eighth-place seeds playing tough against the one-, two-, and three-seeds all year. It really shows how great our league has gotten and how any team can win in it.”

For the Huskies, this is an addendum to an innovation they helped to validate. Dave Flint’s arrival behind the bench in 2008-09 coincided with commissioner Joe Bertagna’s decision to expand the postseason bracket from four to six teams. With that, NU improved its overall record by five wins and garnered its first postseason passport in five years.

Flint’s pupils have since assumed the persona of an aspiring national powerhouse. Though still considerable strides away from such status, they can now make like BU from last season and find a springboard in the form of an automatic bid to the Elite Eight.

After bumping the first-place Terriers in Saturday’s semifinal, improving his staff’s playoff record to 2-2 after back-to-back quarterfinal losses in 2009 and 2010, Flint thought back to what he had told his active senior class upon his arrival in the Hub, when they were sophomores.

“I told them they had an opportunity to get this program back on track,” he said. “And it wasn’t going to be an overnight thing. It was going to be step-by-step. That first year, we made the tournament, last year we made the tournament as a higher seed (fourth) and it was a disappointment to lose in the first round.

“I gave the seniors a challenge this year. I said, ‘Listen, you can be the first Northeastern team to win a Hockey East playoff game and they stepped up, (provided) good leadership and now they’re playing with confidence. And I always say, when we get everybody playing with confidence, we’re a pretty good team.”

The Huskies were once subject to February frostbite, winning only three conference games post-New Year’s in 2009 and going 1-4-4 to curtain their 2009-10 schedule. This year, they lumbered into the postseason on a 0-4-4 sleepwalking streak and, as penance, had to go on the road to Connecticut for the wild card game.

But since then, they have won two straight do-or-die duels, outscoring their adversaries, 8-2. And in both cases, they conquered a team that they couldn’t beat in the regular season, having gone 0-1-2 in the season series with UConn and 0-3-1 versus the almighty Terriers.

They can keep that cathartic trend going with one more surprise on Sunday.

“BC, we’ve been knocking on their door,” Flint said. “We haven’t beaten them this year, but last time we lost 2-1 and we outshot them. We had some good chances.”

Of course, the Eagles have their own thrill ride in progress, having just overpowered Providence, 3-2, in overtime Saturday.

“They have a right to be pretty excited and to be able to take all of that in,” said King. “We talk about how you don’t get to play too many championship games, and to be able to take it all in and be excited and ready to play in the championship game, they have to be able to take a little bit of a deep breath.

“But we wanted to make sure that they were able to celebrate that, because it was a heck of a game and they did a great job.”

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

Boston College 3, Providence 2 (OT)

2011-03-05T22:38:00.001-05:00

BC’s star shines brighter
Final play captures essence of the day
By Al Daniel

In the midst of constantly emboldening her case for her distinction as the best goaltender in Providence College history, junior Genevieve Lacasse was unremittingly flustering Boston College’s best all-time scorer, Kelli Stack.

While Stack fired off eight fruitless regulation shots followed by two in overtime, many of them executed by way of looping down the lane and right in Lacasse’s face, PC’s Scarborough Save-ior set three new records.

Upon making her 32nd save of the day late in the second period, she surpassed Jana Bugden for most on the Friars’ all-time list with 2,556 in her career. Later on, in the third, she revised the record for most saves in a Hockey East tournament game (45), which had been set in the exact same crease by rival Florence Schelling of Northeastern some three-plus hours prior. And in the bonus round, Lacasse set a new personal bar with her 52nd stop of the day, exceeding the 51 she had stopped against these Eagles Jan. 21 and against Mercyhurst Nov. 21, 2008.

The symbolic storyline between the opposing yin-yang giants ultimately made Saturday’s Hockey East semifinal akin to an extra inning baseball contest. In order for the epic bout to churn into poetic perfection, it would either need to be decided directly by the home offensive ambassador or indirectly and in slightly less dramatic, abrupt fashion by the visiting defensive fortress.

As it happened, the former scenario prevailed. After an imperfect 10 tries, Stack gave her Eagles a 3-2 triumph with 11:57 gone in the first OT frame, snaking her way down the near alley and poking the puck between Lacasse’s boots.

“I just knew if they put a lot of shots on (Lacasse), eventually Stack was going to score a goal for us,” said BC’s own celestial goaltender Molly Schaus, Stack’s teammate for the last five years between four at The Heights and one on the 2010 U.S. Olympic team.

“You can’t hold her back the whole game,” Schaus continued. “You knew she would have the overtime winner.”

That notion was no more lost on the opposing bench. In regulation, Stack had factored in to freshman Taylor Wasylk’s equalizer with 5:58 to go, earning the second assist on a play that belonged much more to Melissa Bizzari, who lured Lacasse out of her crease and left a fugitive puck for Wasylk to bank home with surprise facility.

But other than that, Stack had been on the ice for only two other goals –a 5-on-3 conversion from PC defender Jen Friedman that drew a 1-1 knot at 9:36 of the third and an unlikely bad-angle wrapper by Abby Gauthier that pulled the Friars ahead at 11:14.

It was all good for an even plus/minus rating on the day. Wholly uncharacteristic of someone who entered the day with the second-best rating in the league (plus-25) behind only Friars’ senior pivot Alyse Ruff. (Both of them had accumulated a plus-1 by day’s end.)

“That’s the thing I noticed,” said PC head coach Bob Deraney, recalling the third intermission when he surveyed the scoresheet. “I said, ‘where was Stack?’ She was even, and that scared me. Sure enough, it came true.

“A world-class play by a world-class player,” he added. “I tip my hat to her. You can’t be ashamed when something like that happens to you. That’s what I told our players. She’s been doing that all year long to everybody she’s played against. That’s why she’s Player of the Year. We kept her in check most of the game.”

No one more so than Lacasse, who on three occasions in the first period alone, and once more in both the second and third, saw Stack dodging all of her praetorian guards and descending on her front porch with the puck. But on each of 11 regulation shot attempts, Stack was either denied upon pulling the trigger or fumbled at the last second and fired wide.

Then again, it wasn’t as if any other Eagles were cracking the code. Despite 37 SOG in the first 40 minutes, it remained a 0-0 deadlock until Bizzari beat Lacasse on a snapper from the near face-off circle with 6:35 gone in the third.

“Yeah, it’s very frustrating,” Stack said. “We like to try to come out and score in the first 10 minutes, and when that doesn’t happen, you know that anything can happen. Anything you throw on net might go in.

“Obviously, whenever you get 61 shots, you’re hoping to score more than three. But there’s nothing you can do about it. We just have to keep putting them on net and eventually they’re going to go in.”

Ahead in the shooting gallery, 50-21, through regulation, the tireless Eagles ran up an 11-8 lead in that category in the near-dozen minutes leading up to Stack’s strike. Two of those, along with another wide attempt, were off of her twig. But she was still 0-for-10 and 0-for-14 on the day when she hopped over the boards for another shift and went for an umpteenth try.

“I just wanted to try and score as quick as I could because I knew that we were getting pretty tired,” said Stack. “And then there was one defenseman to beat, so I just tried to get it on net and I figured, if I go five-hole, at least it has a chance of squeaking through. And sure enough, it did.”

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

Northeastern 4, Boston University 2

2011-03-05T20:27:00.000-05:00

Queen Terriers overthrown by Northeastern
Cinderella Huskies reward Schelling for early labor
By Al Daniel

One stopper saved her best show of the year for the climactic weekend of the pennant race. The other grudgingly saved her greatest glitch yet.

Northeastern’s Florence Schelling withstood 24 out of 25 tests from almighty Boston University en route to a Hockey East postseason record 44 blocks, helping her Huskies dislodge the defending champions, 4-2, in the semifinals at Walter Brown Arena.

Schelling, now a veteran of five college playoff games and two Olympic tournaments, simply reaped the rewards of extra experience in her arm-wrestling bout with BU’s rookie, Kerrin Sperry. Conversely, in only her third losing effort out of 25 starts, Sperry authorized four opposing goals for the first time in her young Terrier career.

“Florence probably won the goaltending duel,” admitted BU head coach Brian Durocher. “But we’re pretty excited to have Kerrin Sperry. She’s had a fantastic year for us and I don’t think she’s the one at fault here. We as a team didn’t necessarily complete what was a pretty good effort.

“I’m not a fan of giving up four goals and I don’t put that blame on a goaltender or any one person. I just don’t like to see four up on the board.”

For a time, though, the only digits that were really glowering from above center ice sat under the Terriers’ shots heading. The hosts owned the shooting gallery, 25-9, after 20 minutes and kept the Huskies off the right side of the scoresheet until shortly after the halfway mark of the second period.

The fact that Schelling propped up a sustainable 1-0 difference clouded several warning signs of a royal uprising by the reigning champs. The first period onslaught was sparked, in part, by two unanswered Northeastern penalties within the first five minutes.

Although the Hounds got through all that unscathed, they didn’t express much gratitude when they subsequently earned three unanswered power plays.

The BU penalty killers spent substantial time pestering Schelling on every shift. Ultimately, in those three 5-on-4 segments in the latter phases of the opening frame, Northeastern was outshot by a combined count of 6-5.

Worse yet, only 33 seconds after returning to the ice from a tripping sentence, Terriers’ top gun Jenn Wakefield broke the ice with 4:04 left till intermission.

But paradoxically, upon holding out with the minimal one-goal deficit until that merciful buzzer, the Huskies believed they were in a favorable position.

“We came out a little bit on our heels and BU took it to us in those first 20 minutes,” said Huskies’ coach Dave Flint. “I knew they were going to come out hard.

“I just tried to tell the team ‘If we can weather that storm in the beginning and keep it close and we stay in the game, we’re going to build some momentum.’ And that’s what happened. We hung around. And we’re a pretty dangerous team when you let us hang around.”

The second period was mostly a skate-and-reload multitask project for the Terriers, who mustered only six shots while Northeastern registered 10. None other than senior co-captains Alyssa Wohlfeiler and Julia Marty both tuned the mesh –at 10:18 and 14:45, respectively- on nimble one-timers that turned Sperry to stone and found a gaping slab in the cage.

Wakefield replenished the home crowd’s spirits at 17:50, absorbing a diagonal pass from point patroller Catherine Ward and flicking it to the left of Schelling to draw a 2-2 knot. But rookies Claire Santostefano and Katie MacSorley collaborated on their first shift of the third for a rush that culminated in Santostefano’s eventual game-clincher at the 1:13 mark.

From there, the Terriers might as well have switched to their red sweaters the way they frenetically, but no less threateningly, hunted for another equalizer the same way the CCCP did one day in Lake Placid some 31-odd years ago.

A mere 83 seconds after Santostefano struck, Casie Fields was whistled for tripping to give BU its fourth power play of the day. The Terriers took two shots on that advantage and pelted Schelling a total of 15 times in the closing frame, while only letting Sperry come in on six plays in their zone.

“I looked up there and it seemed like the clock was barely moving,” said Flint. “It gets pretty nerve racking.

“When it got to be about the five-minute mark, I think I settled down a little bit. I calmed my nerves a little bit, because I felt like we were doing the little things right. We were putting the puck in the safe spaces, we were making good decisions, we had good game management, we weren’t running around, we weren’t frantic, so that kind of settled me down more. But that last half of that period kind of dragged out.”

Although, with 6:51 to spare, Wohlfeiler extracted some of her team’s concealed panic and pasted it on the psyches of their hosts. In an odd-man rush, she carried the puck along the far lane, circumvented a tire-blown backchecker in Carly Warren, and roofed an insurance strike for the assertive 4-2 lead.

“It was a great game for us,” concluded Schelling. “We had such a good team spirit going on. We didn’t have anything to lose. We didn’t have any pressure, so that was definitely a great thing, and we totally pulled it off.”

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

WHEA Tournament: Semifinal #2, Providence @ Boston College

2011-03-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

WHEA Tournament: Semifinal #2, Providence @ Boston College

WHEA Tournament: Semifinal #1, Northeastern @ Boston U

2011-03-05T12:00:00.001-05:00

WHEA Tournament - Semifinal #1, Northeastern @ Boston U

WCHA Final Faceoff: Semifinal 2 - Minnesota @ UMD

2011-03-05T01:30:00.000-05:00

On the strength of an Amanda Kessel hat trick the host and #2 seed Minnesota Golden Gophers downed the #3 seed UMD Bulldogs, 4-2 tonight at Ridder Arena. Kessel picked up her first goal with the Gophers trailing 1-0 midway through the first courtesy of an Audrey Cournoyer tally. The gophers took a 2-1 advantage midway into the second period when Kelly Terry lit the lamp for Minnesota. Kessel struck again less than two minutes later assisted for the second time in the game by Megan Bozek and Sarah Erickson. After a sloppy start to the third period the Gophers would take a three goal advantage shorthanded as Kessel completed her hat trick. As the game wore down and the Bulldogs pressured Brienna Gillanders would find the back of the net once more for UMD but the late charge would not prove to be enough as the game ended with the gophers moving on to the title game courtesy of a 4-2 win.

Hockey East Analysis: Deraney accolade ices PC’s cake of consistency

2011-03-04T22:32:00.000-05:00

Kind of hard to believe that Bob Deraney’s collection of Hockey East pennants still –now by one tally- outnumbers that of his league Coach of the Year laurels.

Deraney’s Providence College Friars won each of the WHEA’s first three playoff crowns from 2003 through 2005, and they have made it as far as the semifinals every year since the secession from the ECAC. Yet he went without any individual accolades until a year ago, when he and his pupils pulled off a District-Five-to-Ducks turnaround and astonishingly won the right to host the conference tournament.

But on Friday night, the 12th-year Friars’ foreman nailed yet another milestone by becoming the first bench boss in league history to repeat his individual title. Not even New Hampshire’s Brian McCloskey, a league-leading four-time honoree, can claim he has ever done that.

Okay, McCloskey split the award with Boston College’s Tom Mutch in 2005, and then had it all to himself in 2006. So that just means Deraney is the first coach to earn the honor in consecutive years without having to share the limelight.

Of course, if there was a plaque for unmatched humility in Hockey East, Deraney would undoubtedly come out on top in yet another competitive pool. Take it from an author who splits his ink between this website and the PC student newspaper and has covered nearly every Friars’ home game in person for the last three-plus years.

That notwithstanding –ditto this author’s misfire in preordaining another worthy candidate, Maine’s Maria Lewis, for this year’s award- there is no sense in ignoring the obvious source of PC’s peerless consistency throughout the now-dying first decade of the WHEA.

Think about it. Not even the artists formerly known as the Granite State Goddesses, even with their five national tournament passports and two Frozen Four appearances, can claim they’ve been to all nine conference dances. Nor can they claim any longer that they’ve concocted an overall record of .500 or better every year.

The refined Rhode Islanders can. And because he has been the sole constant in the program this whole time, Deraney is bound to have packages of praise dropped on his porch, whether he answers the doorbell and signs for them or not.

“Obviously, he’s an amazing coach,” said PC junior forward Abby Gauthier. “And we’ve had success because he’s very positive with his players and always wants the best out of them.”

That would explain why, in the years since its last merry March, Providence has never succumbed to “small-school syndrome” or any related conditions. Even when they were trudging through a few years of plain mediocrity, circa 2007-2009, the Friars were grinding it out and vacuuming every scrap of respectability there was to gain.

The only two times a Deraney-led team has come close to a losing record, in both 2006-07 and 2007-08, they finished on the fence at 16-16-4 overall and curtained their run with a championship loss to the almighty Wildcats. In the second of those years, the arguable nadir of Deraney’s reign fell during Part I of the final weekend of the regular season.

A Leap Day road loss to a bedraggled Boston College team rendered the Friars’ postseason hopes questionable. That wouldn’t do for Deraney. The next day, in a rematch at Schneider Arena, he commemorated Senior Day by sending the last five holdovers from that glorified 2005 team –Rachel Crissy, Kelli Doolin, Cherie Hendrickson, Jenna Keilch, and Kathleen Smith- to take the first shift.

The Friars ultimately salvaged a point in a 2-2 tie, nudging them into third place and ending BC’s valiant run. From there, they proceeded to shellshock Connecticut, 5-1, in the Hockey East semifinals, popping the No. 8 Huskies’ NCAA bubble.

Was that the best Deraney could have pulled out of that rebuilding bunch? If not, then fairly close. And the same could be said about 2008-09, when the heavily leaned-on class of 2012 enrolled and went through a year of “growing pains” that ended with a 17-16-3 transcript and another postseason dismissal at the hands of McCloskey’s capstone students.

Those unripe puckslingers have since evolved into dependable juniors and seniors. And after a turbulent 4-7-6 start to the 2009-10 campaign –defined mostly by injuries and a rash of ranked competition- the telltale sign of Deraney’s patience paying off arrived on Dec. 5, 2009, when Providence snapped New Hampshire’s lifelong home unbeaten streak in Hockey East action.

Starting at that point, and leading up to this weekend’s semifinal date with BC, the Friars have gone 33-15-4. They have sculpted a 2010-11 resume that falls merely ice chips, as opposed to about two rink-lengths, short of qualifying for an automatic bid.

They have topped the Wildcats in four of five more opportunities. They have returned to the postseason while their time-honored rivals missed on the very last day –a shortcoming that, again, didn’t befall the Friars back in 2008.

They have consistently finished fourth or higher in the standings since 2002-03. And by dislodging Maine last week in the relatively new quarterfinal format, they averted any asterisks by earning a Hockey East semifinal spot for the ninth time in nine all-time tries.

“I take a lot of pride in it,” said Deraney. “Just like beating UNH up there for the first time when no other Hockey East team had, winning the first championship, winning the first regular season. That’s what this program’s all about from back in (1974-75), when we were one of the first teams to have women’s ice hockey.

“We’re all about firsts. It’s not lost on us. We’re proud to have our institution at the top of all the milestones.”

He won’t do it, of course, but he can now shake his own hand for making his program the face of another landmark.

Al Daniel is the Hockey East correspondent to Beyond The Dashers

CHA Tournament: Semifinal #1 - RMU @ Mercyhurst

2011-03-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

Behind solid special teams play, the #1 seeded Mercyhurst Lakers downed Robert Morris this afternoon at the CHA Tournament hosted by Syracuse University.

Kelley Steadman put the lakers on the board at the 13:09 mark of the first period off a feed from Meghan Agosta. Agosta picked up her second assist of the day as Jesse Scanzano found the back of the net shorthanded. Overall the Lakers would dominate the periods shots 14-5 and began to set the stage for an ugly result.

However the Colonials showed early in the second that they came to fight to extend their season as Cobina Delaney scored at 6:20 of the second on a feed from her sister Brianna. However the joy of cutting the Laker lead to a goal would be wiped away as RMU took dual tripping calls and Jesse Scanzano put the Lakers up 3-1 roughly 30 seconds later.

In the final frame both teams would get their chances but Mercyhurst controlled the majority of play and the 3-1 score held sending the Lakers onto the final and the Colonials home for a long summer.

WCHA Final Faceoff: Semifinal #1 - UND @ Wisconsin

2011-03-04T19:12:00.001-05:00

In a rather uncontested battle this afternoon, number one Wisconsin advanced to tomorrow nights WCHA Final Faceoff Championship game with a 3-0 win over North Dakota.

After a scoreless first period the Badgers broke through in the second as Carolyne Prevost continued her recent hot streak finding the back of the net at the 6:18 mark. Kelly Nash and Geena Prough picked up assists on the tally. The Badgers seemingly put the game away five minutes later when Brianna Decker scored shorthanded following a tripping call on Madison Packer. The Badgers would get their final tally of the stick of Mallory Deluce, with the Sioux's Alyssa Wiebe in the box for Roughing.

Alex Rigsby got the shutout for Wisconsin, adding to her already impressive season, making 19 stops today. Meanwhile Stephanie Ney played better today for the Sioux in net stopping 31 shots in the losing effort.

The Sioux will now go home with their season likely over and wait to see if an NCAA Tournament appearance is in the Cards while the Badgers will extend their stay in the Minne-apple and await the winner of the Gopher-Bulldog battle later on.