Here's how every Hockey East program is shaping up ahead of the 2018-19 season. Last year, Boston College and Northeastern both made the NCAA Tournament, neither advancing past the first round.
Boston College
The Boston College Eagles look strong again coming off a 30-5-3 season. The Eagles return three of the top four scorers in Hockey East: sophomore Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Daryl Watts (42 goals, 40 assists), junior Caitrin Lonergan (Roslindale, Mass.; 30 goals, 45 assists) and senior Makenna Newkirk (24 goals, 37 assists). The Eagles averaged 4.1 goals per game offensively last season, and with the experience and depth they have at forward this time around, they should be able to do some damage yet again. Defensively, the Eagles will receive a massive lift with seniors Kali Flanagan (Burlington, Mass.), Megan Keller and redshirt freshman Cayla Barnes back after missing all of last season as they earned gold medals with the U.S. Olympic Team in PyeongChang. They will greatly help out whichever young goaltender ends up earning the starting job.
Boston University
Boston University will look to adjust its strategy after losing top scorers Victoria Bach (67 points) and Rebecca Leslie (57 points). Defensively, the team will be in a better spot than last season, with three talented two-way players returning in juniors Abby Cook (26 points) and Abbey Stanley (23 points) plus senior Reagan Rust (18 points). A healthy Sammy Davis (Pembroke, Mass.), who missed all of last season with a knee injury, should help offset the team’s offensive losses a bit. The redshirt junior forward put up a combined 49 points between her freshman and sophomore seasons. In net, sophomore Corinne Schroeder’s gained experience should boost the Terriers. She allowed 2.51 goals per game last season and the team went 12-8-4 in her 24 starts in net.
UConn
The offense might look a bit different for Connecticut, but the return of Natalie Snodgrass, who put up a team-high 38 points (21 goals, 17 assists) for the Huskies last season, ensures the team will have at least one high-powered offensive weapon. Between the pipes, the Huskies will turn to junior Morgan Fisher (Vernon, Conn.), who has allowed 1.98 goals per game and posted a .929 save percentage in 14 career starts over two seasons. Fisher will receive some help from the team’s experienced defensive unit featuring the likes of sophomore Taylor Wabick and seniors Kayla Mee and Jaime Fox, all of whom had double-digit point totals last season.
Maine
The team’s 2.17 goals allowed per contest last season was the second-best rate in the conference, and this time around, Maine has an opportunity to improve upon those results. Maine returns senior defender Alyson Matteau, a second-team All-Hockey East selection last season, as well as sophomore Anna Zikova, junior Ebba Strandberg and every other defender who had a regular role on the Black Bears defense. That should help ease the load off goaltender sophomore Carly Jackson, who shined as a freshman (1.95 GAA). Scoring goals might be a challenge for the Black Bears, who graduated two of their top three goal scorers. Junior Tereza Vanisova (16 goals, 30 assists), an All-Hockey East honorable mention, led the club in scoring and is back in Orono. After a last-place finish in the league one year, ago, Merrimack appears ready to rebound. Losing no one to graduation, the roster is virtually identical to what it was last season, albeit more experienced. Senior forward Katelyn Rae and junior Mikyla Grant-Mentis each had double-digit goal totals for the Warriors last season and will strive to do so again this season. In net, senior Samantha Ridgewell, who recorded the first two shutouts in program history last year, returns and will be backed up by a familiar defense.
New Hampshire
Losing its top two on defense won’t help New Hampshire, but UNH has enough talent back to be competitive. Sophomore Ava Boutilier (2.13 GAA, .929 save percentage) is coming off a spectacular freshman campaign. Junior forwards Meghara McManus (Milton, Mass.), Taylor Wenczkowski (Rochester, N.H.) and Carlee Turner all finished last season with 20 points apiece. Defense is the biggest question for the Wildcats, but with a few experienced skaters coming back, New Hampshire has an opportunity to ease those concerns early in the season.
Northeastern
Northeastern’s defense and goaltending could become a strength despite the offense (107 goals) leading the way last season. The Huskies lost their top three goal scorers to graduation, but their defensive unit returns junior Codie Cross (16 points) and sophomores Brooke Hobson (15 points) and Skylar Fontaine (East Greenwich, R.I.); 14 points). In net, sophomore Aerin Frankel excelled as a freshman and was named Hockey East tourney MVP, so she will push senior Brittany Bugalski for playing time. On the attack, seniors Kasidy Anderson, Tori Sullivan and sophomore Veronika Pettey are coming off double-digit goal seasons, and adding two-time Swiss Olympic forward Alina Mueller should provide the team with a spark.
Providence
The tools are there for Providence to piece together another successful season, starting with sophomore forward Maureen Murphy, who was named to the Hockey East second team last season. The Friars also return honorable mention senior defender Kate Friesen. Having senior Madison Myers (Colchester, Vt.) back in net should also be a major lift for the Friars, as she allowed just 1.98 goals per contest last season in breakout fashion. What also looks promising for the Friars is that they did not lose anyone on defense to graduation and Friesen is the only senior in that unit.
Vermont
Going 10-20 last season, Vermont is hoping for a bounceback season despite losing some contributors to graduation. The team will turn to its captains — senior forward Alyssa Gorecki, who previously competed on the Team USA U-18 squad and defender Sammy Kolowrat, a member of the Czech Republic national team — for leadership. The top scorer from last season, junior forward Eve-Audrey Picard (25 points) will serve as a co-captain, as will senior defender Taylor Flaherty, who previously played for North Dakota, and junior forward Ali O’Leary (North Reading, Mass.). Offensive improvement will be key for Vermont, which averaged just 1.9 goals per game last season.
