One and done.
There are few things in hockey more exciting than a winner-take-all game and this year, for the first time, the Hockey East Women’s Tournament will feature all 10 teams in a single-elimination format.
The games will be hosted on the campus of the higher seed throughout the tournament, which starts Wednesday.
All 10 teams will be in action this week.
The top two seeds are No. 1 Northeastern (27-4-2, 21-3-2 HE) and No. 2 Vermont (21-10-3, 18-7-2).
Northeastern is aiming to make history. The Huskies can capture a fifth consecutive Bertagna Trophy as league champions with three victories. NU will host the lowest remaining seed from the opening round on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The Huskies have perhaps the best goaltender in the nation in graduate student Aerin Frankel, who made 32 saves in a 5-0 win over Connecticut Saturday on Senior Day. Frankel leads the country with 10 shutouts.
“It’s a special group and the 12 seniors have done so much for the program,” NU head coach Dave Flint said.
Offensively, Northeastern has impressive firepower at forward, led by Maureen Murphy (24-22-46), and on defense, sparked by Skylar Fontaine (7-36-43).
This is Vermont’s highest regular-season finish. The Catamounts are led by senior forward Theresa Schafzahl, who scored two goals in a come-from-behind 4-2 win over Boston College last Saturday.
In doing so, the Austrian set a program record for goals (23) and points (43) in a season. Schafzahl is Hockey East’s top scorer and her 21 goals in league play came in just 21 games.
“Big congrats to Theresa Schafzahl on breaking the program record for goals and points in a season. She showed us why she's such a special player,” head coach Jim Plumer said.
The other winner of Wednesday’s opening round will travel to Burlington, Vt., to take on the Catamounts on Saturday at noon.
Here are the matchups:
Opening round
(Both games Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET)
No. 10 Holy Cross (3-29-0, 1-26-0 HE) at No. 7 Providence (15-13-6, 12-12-3)
Providence has never lost to the Crusaders. The Friars are 12-0 in a series that started when Holy Cross joined Hockey East four years ago.
However, Holy Cross played Providence tough this season as the Friars had to go to overtime to claim two of the victories. Holy Cross goalie Jada Brenon has been busy, having made 836 saves this season.
To pull the upset, the Crusaders will need her to make about 40 more.
Led by goalie Sandra Abstreiter, a graduate student from Germany, Providence played well down the stretch, going 6-1-1 in its last eight games.
No. 9 Merrimack (7-24-1, 6-20-1 HE) at No. 8 UNH (11-20-2, 9-16-1)
New Hampshire is tied for most Hockey East tournament titles with four, but the Wildcats haven’t skated around with the championship trophy since 2009. All three games this season were close.
UNH captured a pair of one-goal wins, while Merrimack had a 3-2 overtime victory on Nov. 12.
For UNH, freshman Kira Juodikis (12-8-20) has been an impact player, tying for the team scoring lead, though she didn’t play last weekend in a two-game set with Maine.
Ohio State transfer Teghan Inglis has been a force in her first season at Merrimack. A junior defender, Inglis leads the Warriors in goals (12) and points (17).
Quarterfinal round
No. 6 Boston University (12-14-6, 11-9-5 HE) at No. 3 UConn (22-8-4, 16-7-4)
This season marks just the third time UConn has finished third or better in the regular season. An experienced team, the Huskies are led by the Waback twins.
The graduate students from Winnipeg are major reasons the Huskies are soaring. Morgan Wabick (10-19-29) leads the team in scoring, while Taylor Wabick (5-18-23) is second in assists.
Taylor Wabick set up a goal by her sister in a 4-4 shootout loss to No. 4 Northeastern on Friday, setting a program record for assists (59) by a defenseman.
BU went 0-2-1 against the Huskies this season, scoring just two goals (though they did win via a shootout in one meeting) so getting offense from the likes of senior Courtney Correia (12-9-21) will be crucial.
“You’ve got to go out and play strong defense. They’re a strong team physically,” BU head coach Brian Durocher said of UConn. “We know we have a real tough opponent and one that’s well-coached.”
Puck drop is Saturday at 3 p.m.
No. 5 Maine (14-18-1, 12-13-1) at No. 4 Boston College (19-13-1, 16-9-1)
BC, the 2017 league champion, is looking to make the semifinals for the first time since 2019, while Maine has appeared in the semifinals in three of the last four tournaments (2018, 2020 and 2021). Yet the Black Bears have never advanced to the Hockey East final.
“The good part is we get to host and we like playing in our building,” BC head coach Katie Crowley said. “We’ve earned that right and I’m proud of my team for that.”
Leading BC’s offense are senior Kelly Browne (10-24-34), of Burlington, Mass., and junior Hannah Bilka (16-17-33).
“We have to remember that we’re playing well,” Crowley said. “I think we’re ready for the playoffs.”
Maine goalie Loryn Porter, however, is fully capable of stealing a game. Porter sports an outstanding save percentage (.954).
The teams will meet Friday at 1 p.m.
