Quinnipiac Women’s Hockey Prepares For Memorable Season
By Brian Farrell, QBSN Staff Writer
In 2008 Quinnipiac University signed Rick Seeley to become the third head coach of the Bobcat’s women’s ice hockey team. The decision of Seeley to leave Clarkson after a 24-win season in 2007-2008 to become the coach of a Quinnipiac team that won just five games that same season may have been a puzzling one to outsiders, but Seeley understood the potential for both Quinnipiac University and the women’s ice hockey program.
In Seeley’s first season, the team won just three games. The following season, 2009-2010, he led the team to a 16-game improvement in the win column, a first for any coach in collegiate hockey history. This produced the team’s first playoff appearance in ECAC Hockey. Not to mention they enjoyed home ice advantage in the first round. And last season, QU won 22 games and advanced to the conference semi-finals. Heading into this season they are currently ranked ninth in the USCHO.com preseason national poll.
This season, Seeley and the team are looking for more.
“Our best three games last season were our last three games,” said Seeley. “To be able to play the way we did in the most important games of the season provided the team with the confidence we need to take the next step. They couldn’t wait to get started training again last spring.”
“Our best three games last season were our last three games,” said Seeley. “To be able to play the way we did in the most important games of the season provided the team with the confidence we need to take the next step. They couldn’t wait to get started training again last spring.”
One of the main advantages that Quinnipiac has this season is that they only lost two seniors. Nine of their top ten scorers are returning, including the ECAC Player of the Year, Kelly Babstock. But for Seeley and his coaching staff it is not about just one player, but a number of skaters.
“Brittany Lyons has come back in great shape. We have always liked what Brittany brought to the table and this season she has come back with a lot more focus. Felicia Vieweg returned prepared to be the dominant defenseman we expect her to be game in and game out. But most importantly, as a unit, we have all grown up a bit over last season.”
Not only is Quinnipiac returning nine of their ten top scorers they are also welcoming back their star goaltender, Victoria Vigilanti. Vigilanti was recently named to the preseason all-conference team, nudging out Cornell senior Amanda Mazzotta. Vigilanti was tied for the national lead in shutouts last season with nine.
This season marks the first that Seeley will play with a team full of players his staff has recruited. But when asked if this is going to be the first year that he will feel comfortable with the team’s commitment level, he was quick to turn that statement away.
“We got to that point last year because Kelley Davies and Kelsey Britton totally bought into our philosophy. But this year I dread the senior banquet. These seniors have been through everything with us from a 3-26-5 season to being ranked third in the preseason ECAC poll.”
In addition to the returnees, Quinnipiac brought in one of the best recruiting classes in the short history of the program.
“Nicole Kosta is expected to produce right away. She was second in points in the PWHL last year, and is just a complete player” said Seeley.
“Nicole Kosta is expected to produce right away. She was second in points in the PWHL last year, and is just a complete player” said Seeley.
“We are very happy with the way Anna Borgfeldt is playing in practice. She might be one of the best players I have ever had walk into our system and play it so naturally.”
The Bobcats also added a junior transfer from national power house Wisconsin.
“Breann Frykas has obviously had the experience of a national championship team,” Seeley said. “She brings in a lot of speed and determination and should help out offensively and on our power play.”
“Breann Frykas has obviously had the experience of a national championship team,” Seeley said. “She brings in a lot of speed and determination and should help out offensively and on our power play.”
Joining Kosta, Borgfeldt, and Frykas as new comers are forward Morgan Fritz-Ward and goaltender Chelsea Laden.
Quinnipiac currently ranks third in this season’s ECAC preseason coaches poll. Cornell received eleven first-place votes, while Quinnipiac received the other first place vote.
“I would prefer not to be ranked that high,” said Seeley with a smile. “I prefer to continue to be the underdog, but the goal has been to bring this program to national prominence and at some point we have to cross that threshold.”
“I would prefer not to be ranked that high,” said Seeley with a smile. “I prefer to continue to be the underdog, but the goal has been to bring this program to national prominence and at some point we have to cross that threshold.”
With great success comes better scheduling. This season Quinnipiac will open its regular season on the road at nationally ranked Mercyhurst. The Bobcats will then have their home opener the following weekend for a two game set versus Maine on October 7th and 8th. They will then head north to Boston to take on Northeastern and Boston College.
“Those first six games could make or break us in terms of the national tournament” Seeley said.
Yet Quinnipiac is not much of team to look at what other schools are doing. They are focused on their game.
“Our players no longer fear success. We believe if we play hard and play our best we can beat any team we play. We also understand if we don’t we won’t win many games. The bottom line is we believe we could’ve made the NCAA tournament last year and we don’t want to make the same mistakes again.” said Seeley.
Quinnipiac will open the year at the High Point Solutions Rink at the TD Bank Sports Center this Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Durham Jr. Lightning in their only exhibition of the season. The game can be heard live right here via the live stream link.
No comments:
Post a Comment