Women’s Hockey Notebook: 2020-21 Season Preview
By Patrick Donnelly
The No. 8 Boston University women’s ice hockey team will finally begin their season on Friday Dec. 4 as they visit the University of New Hampshire for a two-game series.
The Terriers were originally scheduled to travel to the University of Maine for a two-game slate. However, last month, Maine paused its winter sports, leaving BU without a season opener. But this week, as the league has all season so far, Hockey East did some acrobatics with the schedule, matching BU up with UNH.
“Excitement’s the word,” head coach Brian Durocher said. “It’s been a while and a long, long runway compared to what normally is a quick start into September. I think the kids have done their best to really, truly control what they can and not get too stressed out about how things go.
“I can assure you, they’ll be ready to go and if they have to, they’ll walk up to UNH. They want to play some hockey games.”
The Wildcats will have already played two games coming into this weekend’s games, albeit two weeks ago, skating to a 6-2 loss before falling 4-1 to the No. 10 Boston College Eagles. Durocher understands there may be a slight advantage to New Hampshire, already having played and being used to the bigger Olympic ice surface at the Whittemore Center, but does not see it as a valid excuse for the Terriers.
“Let’s hope that energy takes over, and the fact that we’ve got a decent amount of veteran players, particularly up front, helps,” Durocher said. “When it’s all said and done, it’s the same game that most of these kids have played for 15 or 16 years.”
The Wildcats boast returners in sophomore forward Tamara Thiérus, who has a goal and an assist in two games this year after posting 6-14-20 as a first year last season, defensive standout Emily Rickwood, who led the defense with seven goals last season, as well as redshirt junior goaltender Ava Boutilier, who ranked in the top 10 in the nation in save percentage (.940), goals-against average (1.80) and shutouts (six) last season.
Although the Terriers had to wait longer than most teams in Hockey East, Durocher feels the team may have been able to use the extra time to its advantage.
“[The delay] gave us two more weeks to really iron out some things we needed to,” he said. “We worked that much more on the power play and penalty kill. We certainly have had plenty of time and plenty of work put in place.”
“I think the kids have a little bit of a lead up and a good window with conditioning and now a little bit of extra time to sort of fine tune some things.”
Now, a look at this year’s roster, as well as some other notes from Durocher…
Stalwarts in goal
BU is returning with elite goaltending with two-time Hockey East All-Star and senior Corinne Schroeder as well as junior Kate Stuart. Schroeder was top 5 in the nation with a 1.45 GAA and a .943 save percentage last year, both single-season program records, skating to a 16-7-3 record.
Meanwhile, Stuart was exceptional in her own right last season. In 10 games she posted an 8-1-1 record with one shutout, to go along with a sparkling .938 save percentage and career-high 1.58 GAA.
Durocher is confident in each netminder as they gear up for the season.
“We’ve got excellent goaltending,” he said in September. “Schroeder is an all-star, Stuart has played like an all-star if you look at save percentages, and Nicole McGuigan is a great teammate, who pushes everybody and is a great locker room presence.”
Veterans will be counted on
Although the Terriers graduated several key pieces last season, like captain Sammy Davis, defender Abby Cook and forward Deziray De Sousa, there is still a strong base of talent with this year’s returners.
Senior co-captain Jesse Compher burst onto the scene two years ago as a sophomore with 17-44-61 in 37 games, and still managed to put up 29 points (13g, 16a) in 26 games as a junior, despite dealing with some injury troubles last season.
Compher’s fellow co-captain, senior Nara Elia, put up a career season last year with 11-19-30 totals, and has shown plenty of chemistry with Compher and senior assistant captain Kristina Schuler in the past.
Among the key depth pieces for the Terriers are sophomore Julia Nearis, who notched 12 goals (third on the team) as a freshman, and junior assistant captain Kaleigh Donnelly, someone the Terriers rely on heavily to play well-rounded, dependable game.
Durocher knows an experienced and talented group of front will be key to the Terriers’ success this season.
“Up front, you’ve got an unquestioned leader in Compher,” he said at the beginning of the semester. “You’ve got experience with Elia, Schuler, and Rachel Allen, as well as the juniors. There’s enough experience and ability there.”
On the backend, Alex Allan will be tasked with leading the defense as the only upperclassmen among the group. Sophomore Nadia Mattivi is looking to build upon an impressive freshman season, while second year Grace Parker is sure to see an increased role as well.
“I think something that’s really important for me, being an older defender, is just being there for my younger peers, helping them out with things I learned my freshman year that I want them to be able to grow and get better with as well,” Allan said last month, on the opportunity to emerge as a stabilizing presence on the blueline.
An exciting injection of young talent, especially on defense
This year’s freshman class is headlined by defenders Tamara Giaquito and Andi Calderone, as well as forwards Catherine Foulem and Lacey Martin. The Class of 2024 also includes forward Claire O’Leary and defenders Madison Cardaci and Julia Shaughnessy
Giaquinto brings an impressive Hockey Canada resume, skating to a silver medal at the u-18 World Championships with current Terrier assistant coach Tara Watchorn on the coaching staff as well. Calderone, sister of recently-graduated Ali Calderone, boasts a smooth skating ability and solid track record from her time with John Abbott College of the QCHL
Foulem and Martin boast prolific scoring totals from their careers at the high school/prep and junior levels. Durocher sees a lot of promise with this year’s crop of freshman.
“We’ve got a real interesting group,” he said in September. “I’m not sure if there’s just one person I can earmark and say they’re an off the charts player. I think all seven will be contributors.”
With only three returners on defense this season, the Terriers will rely on their youngsters to make contributions early, but the team understands there is a learning process.
“Getting up to speed on the backend is going to be the big thing we want to get to very quickly here,” Durocher said. “When the pace of the game picks up in college hockey, you’ve got to answer the bell with your panic point, your skating ability, your agility, your strength etc.”
“To have four [first years] in a group of seven defenders, will put some pressure on them right away.”
Some advice from an old friend
Durocher spent a lot of his career around legendary men’s hockey coach Jack Parker, playing four years as a goaltender under Parker before serving as an assistant coach alongside him as well before heading the women’s team. With a lot of buzz heading in to this weekend’s opening series, Durocher knows some words of advice from his longtime friend will always ring true.
“His advice is always that ‘everybody’s playing hard and everybody’s playing smart, so relax when you get out there,’” Durocher said. “We don’t have nearly as much influence as coaches as people think. The kids have to play the games and execute. They’re the ones that we count on to make us look good.”
While there is certainly reason for the Terriers to come out flying on Friday night, Durocher understands the importance of players trying to stay calm and work efficiently out on the ice. There’s an old saying form Parker that he likes to remind his players of.
“Be quick, but not in a hurry,” he said. “If we can can do that, it’ll benefit us getting started.”
The Terriers will drop the puck on their season at 6 p.m. on Friday evening before Saturday’s rematch with the Wildcats at 5 p.m.
Featured image: The Terriers celebrate a goal against Northeastern during the 2020 Beanpot final at Walter Brown Arena on Feb. 11, 2020. Photo by Hannah Yoshinaga.