Unlike some other conferences, Hockey East was fortunate to have all 10 teams in action during the 2020-21 season. While a number of shutdowns and postponements plagued the flow of the pandemic-impacted season, the league ended up with a trio of teams in the NCAA Tournament.
After a near-perfect regular season and winning its fourth-straight Hockey East tournament title, Northeastern earned the automatic bid for the national bracket, while Boston College and Providence earned at-large bids.
The Eagles and Friars fell in the quarterfinals, but the Huskies continued their dominant season on the NCAA stage, barreling through the first two rounds before being knocked off by Wisconsin in the title game.
Now, with things returning to normal in Hockey East for the 2021-22 season, New England Hockey Journal previews each of the 10 women's teams for the new campaign, which began with non-conference action on Sept. 24. Conference play kicks off on Oct. 1.
Boston University
The Terriers, who finished fifth a season ago, will aim for a home-ice bid behind what should be a solid defense. Senior goaltender Kate Stuart posted strong numbers (.942 save percentage, 1.63 goals-against average) in five appearances in 2020-21. Defensively, leading the way will be senior Alex Allan and junior Nadia Mattivi. Allan has appeared in all 85 of BU’s games over the last three seasons. Mattivi was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team during the 2019-20 campaign. Offensively, head coach Brian Durocher will lean on senior forwards Courtney Correia and Mackenna Parker.
Boston College
Experience in goal will be a key for the Eagles, who are coming off a second-place league finish (14-6-0, 14-4-0 league). Senior Abigail has made 64 career starts, 54 coming during two seasons at Minnesota State. Classmate Maddy McArthur has started 67 games at BC. Kelly Pickreign (Harvard, Mass.) is another senior goalie. Two of the top three scorers from last season are back in senior forward and Burlington, Mass., native Kelly Browne (6-12-18) and junior forward Hannah Bilka (6-7-13). Freshman defenseman Abby Newhook is the younger sister of ex-BC men’s star Alex Newhook. BC has 14 Massachusetts players on its roster.
Connecticut
There is plenty of optimism in Storrs. The program is scheduled to play in a new on-campus rink in fall 2022. Sophomore Tia Chan will miss the season due to training with China for the Olympic Winter Games, but senior Sam Carpentier-Yelle has made 25 career starts in net. Grad student captain Natalie Snodgrass, who has 58 career goals and 110 points, will be a threat any time she’s on the ice. As a sophomore, defender Taylor Wabick turned heads with a 21-point season. Now a grad student, Wabick (51 career points) will anchor the defense. With 14 upperclassmen, the Huskies feel they can play with anyone.
Holy Cross
Averaging 1.5 goals per game, which the Crusaders did last season, won’t lead to many wins. Expected to provide plenty of offense are sophomore forwards Millie Sirum and Bryn Saarela, who led the team with 6-6-12 totals. Sirum, a native of Oslo, Norway, helped Kent School to a New England championship in 2019. She was one of three finalists for Hockey East Rookie of the Year. Jada Brenon is an experienced, talented goalie. The senior started 19 of 20 games last season and has 68 career starts under her belt. Holy Cross is set to begin its fourth season in Hockey East, finishing 10th, ninth and ninth in the previous three campaigns.
Maine
The Black Bears last finished in the top four during the 2017-18 season. Head coach Richard Reichenbach returns all but one key player from last year’s 8-9-1 club. Maine is out to build off strong defensive play. Finnish flash Ida Kuoppala has led the program in scoring both of her seasons in Orono, including a 19-goal, 33-point freshman campaign. Don’t bet against the junior forward filling the nets this season, either. Senior forward Celine Tedenby, via Sweden, has 56 career points and is another dangerous scorer. In net, grad student Loryn Porter has four shutouts in 21 career appearances.
Merrimack
Three transfers were brought in to help the Warriors escape the league cellar. One of them is Ohio State transfer Teghan Inglis, a 5-foot-9 junior defenseman who brings size, strength and an offensive flair to the table. Grad student Dominika Laskova is expected to make the Czech Republic Olympic team after representing her country at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. Senior forward Gabby Jones (Westfield, Mass.) is expected to produce a big season with her team’s supporting cast elevated. A revamped defense should make life easier for junior goaltender Emma Gorski.
New Hampshire
Experience in net and on defense will be crucial for the Wildcats. Senior goaltender Ava Boutilier enters the season second in program history in saves (2,355) and save percentage. Boutilier’s presence in net gives UNH confidence it can improve on last year’s eighth-place finish. Classmates Emily Rickwood and Maddie Truax (Gardner, Mass.) are veteran blueliners. Offensively, senior Lauren Martin, the team’s second-leading scorer from a season ago, is a key piece. Scoring more goals is an emphasis for UNH. Sophomore forwards Nicole Kelly and Chavonne Truter showed promise as rookies.
Northeastern
A season after advancing to the national championship game for the first time in program history, the Huskies are again loaded. Returning in net is grad student Aerin Frankel, who won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the nation’s top player after posting a .965 save percentage. NU returns to its top three scorers — senior Alina Mueller (12-26-38), grad student defenseman Skylar Fontaine (14-16-30; East Greenwich, R.I.) and Chloe Aurard (15-13-28). Don’t underestimate the penalty killing of grad student forward Tessa Ward. The Huskies went 22-2-1 a season ago and are a staggering 62-7-4 over their past three seasons.
Providence
A pair of foreign-born players are key to the Friars’ hopes of finishing in the top four for a fifth straight season. Grad student Sandra Abstreiter started all 21 games last winter, earning a .929 save percentage. Offensively, the team’s leading three scorers are all back, led by senior Sara Hjalmarsson of Sweden. Hjalmarsson (5-12-17), who has 68 career points, and senior Caroline Peterson (East Falmouth, Mass.) combined for 32 points last winter. On defense, sophomore Brooke Becker (3-11-14) supplies offense and solid two-way play. The program promoted Alison Domenico to associate head coach and added assistant coach Nicole Renault.
Vermont
Of the Catamounts’ returning players, five hail from Europe, including one very important one. Senior forward Theresa Schafzahl, a native of Austria, has 25 goals and 54 points in her collegiate career, including a 4-4-8 line in 11 games last winter. Also returning is senior forward Corinne McCool (West Roxbury, Mass.), who scored four goals as well last season. In goal, sophomore Jessie McPherson produced in seven starts last season. The Chatham, Ont., native posted a 1.67 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. In the past three full seasons, Vermont has finished eighth in Hockey East each time.
NEHJ’s preseason rankings:
1. Northeastern
2. Boston College
3. Providence
4. Boston University
5. UConn
6. New Hampshire
7. Vermont
8. Maine
9. Holy Cross
10. Merrimack
This article appeared in the print edition of the September/October 2021 New England Hockey Journal magazine.
