Women’s Hockey: Terriers Rank Seventh in the Nation in Preseason Poll

By: Patrick Donnelly

The USCHO has released its Division I Women’s Ice Hockey preseason poll as a new season is set to begin at the start of next month. After losing to Boston College in the Hockey East Finals last spring, finishing the year ranked eighth in the nation, the Terriers find themselves ranked seventh in the nation to start the year.

Wisconsin, the defending National Champion, is the unanimous top team in the nation after receiving all 15 first place votes. Head coach Brian Durocher’s Terriers squad received 48 total points in the voting. Minnesota and Clarkson round out the top-three, ranking second and third, respectively.

Hockey East foe Northeastern ranks fourth in the nation after finishing fifth last year, while Commonwealth Ave rival Boston College sits at eighth, one spot behind the Terriers and two spots lower than where the team finished last year. Providence College also received seven votes, but is not ranked in the latest poll.

The Terriers will look to build on what was a great year for the team last season, headlined by winning the Beanpot for the first time since 1981 and as a varsity program, with star players Jesse Compher, captain Sammy Davis, and Abby Cook all returning; not to mention the fact that junior goaltender Corinne Schroeder, who had a career season in 2018-19, is back in the fold as well.

After graduating captain Reagan Rust, Mary-Grace Kelly, and Connor Galway last spring, Durocher will likely rely on younger returnees as well as a strong freshmen class to fill the voids. The road to the National Championship will also run through Comm. Ave as Boston University is set to host the Women’s Frozen Four next spring.

Durocher and the Terriers kick off the season on Sunday, October 6th, as they will travel to Union for a matinee matchup before returning for the home-opener at Walter Brown Arena against Merrimack on Friday, October 11th, at 7:00 pm.

Featured Image by Gabi Turi