Nicole Anderson, F- One can expect the most physically imposing Friar to take what she did as a rookie in November 2010 (eight games, six goals, seven points, three power play strikes) and see if the hot hand can sustain its sizzle a little longer this time.
Kate Bacon, F- The former Minnesota high school star and U.S. U18er has so far seen her supposed college breakthrough fenced in by inexperience as a freshman and by injury as a sophomore. Is this the year she breaks double digits in the goal column? The year she flirts with a point count in the 20 range?
Corinne Buie, F- The rookie Buie should start young on the lower half of the depth chart but will be expected to take regular shifts and collect fast seasoning as the Friars will have but 12 forwards at their service this season.
Jess Cohen, F- Cohen’s college career started not unlike her four-year stay at the powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary’s. For a rookie, she was gratifyingly productive (6-13-19), albeit with a heavy imbalance favoring assists. With a few more firsthand strikes this season, Cohen will be on the right track to one day fill the roomy skates occupied by the classes of 2011 and 2012.
Ashley Cottrell, F- The team’s most consistent producer all last season as a sophomore, Cottrell’s topmost pledge in 2010-11 should be to continue to spike her scoring rate. If by season’s end she has averaged a little more than one point per game –preferably teetering on the brink of 40 total- she will have played her part.
Lauren Covell, D- Although likely to remain on the third defensive unit by default owing to the seniority of a few colleagues, Covell can still expect to dress every night and lend valuable experience to a blue line brigade consisting of two seniors and three juniors.
Stephanie DeMars, F- DeMars’ college prep background from the National Sports Academy closely resembles what Cohen brought to the Divine Campus last autumn. Accordingly, she is a can’t-miss contender to crash the top six level of Bob Deraney’s depth chart. And even if that doesn’t happen, but she nonetheless acclimates quickly, she will still lend a few more inches of valuable depth.
Christina England, G- Depending on how the outlook of the 2010-11 schedule takes shape and how incumbent starter Genevieve Lacasse persists, England might get a little more of a chance to break in her pads. Regardless, she will be there in the event of an emergency, in which case one will only hope the trough of pure practice hours pays off.
Jen Friedman, D- Now that she is stripped of the training blades that came with working with Colleen Martin, Friedman’s greatest challenge will be partnering with someone new, possibly even switching from mentee to mentor and working with one or both of PC’s two freshmen blueliners.
Abby Gauthier, F- For Gauthier, who will almost certainly find herself on the third or fourth line to begin her junior campaign, the key to an increased productivity level is sniffing out and seizing more opportunities. She nailed four goals over a rather slim 28 shots on goal in 35 games. As a frosh, it was three strikes on just 20 registered stabs.
Emily Groth, F- The Friars will barely have a quorum to fill out all 12 offensive spots on game night this year, so Groth should be ready to suit up regularly after slurping only nine games’ worth of action as a frosh.
Christie Jensen, D- Assuming their chemistry has a shelf life longer than a seven-month offseason and assuming Deraney doesn’t detect any better arrangements, Jensen and senior Amber Yung could once again be a pair on the blue line. And with Colleen Martin’s graduation, they will likely constitute the starting unit.
Genevieve Lacasse, G- No more surprises from and no more elevated expectations for the Scarborough Save-ior as she enters her junior season. She might not start all 33 games as she did in 2009-10, especially now that she has an additional crease colleague in Nina Riley. But depending on how rigid the competition gets, don’t rule out another all-out minute-munching year.
Rebecca Morse, D- A point-based puckslinger at the U19 level, Morse may or may not be immediately ready to lend the Friars a reliable rearguard on the power play. But outside of that, she along with fellow freshman Maggie Pendleton should at least push Deraney to a healthy habit of splitting their shifts as the sixth defender to dress on game night.
Jean O’Neill, F- Odds are O’Neill will see the “A” over her heart morph into a “C” this autumn. If that happens, she can take that as a symbol of the call for an encore after her stirring 14-16-30 junior year. All but sure to once again partner with old friend Alyse Ruff and a third player to be named on the top line, the best way for O’Neill to lead the Friars would be assertively crashing into a point range not reached since Kristin Gigliotti and Sonny Watrous graduated.
Maggie Pendleton, D- What the aforementioned Morse brings in the form of a two-way game, Pendleton offers in the form of size, rivaling upperclassmen Jen Friedman and Amber Yung with her 5-foot-10 posture. She will at the very least garner substantial action to break into the college ranks.
Leigh Riley, D- Returning with the best rating (plus-7) among all PC defenders, Riley could simply continue to work with the likes of Covell, as she did for the better part of her junior year. Or –especially depending on what becomes of the freshmen- she could be rewarded with a promotion to the first or second unit.
Nina Riley, G- Ditto England. Logic says the rookie Riley is the future of the Friars’ crease, so when possible, a few introductory shifts would be in order for the 2010-11 season.
Alyse Ruff, F- Consistently noticeable, but never quite jutting in her first three years, all of which she has finished in or near the 20-point range, Ruff will be leaned on to do just a little more as the Friars’ incumbent starting center. Her freshman bushel of 14 goals still remains a career high and she still tends to saturate the stats sheet with periodic multi-point games rather than ongoing hot streaks. But senior seasons are all but meant to perfect one’s game, anyway.
Laura Veharanta, F- Trying to erase the remnants of a dreaded sophomore slide, Veharanta can stand to revive her acetylene twig as well as cut down on her penalty time. Last season, she upped her PIM total to 36 (50 percent more than her freshman count) and trailed only Ruff for the team lead in that category. Whether the restoration comes from more time on the ice and less in the bin, or if more productivity amounts to less frustration and thus fewer infractions, Friartownies just hope it comes.
Jessie Vella, F- Though confined to a mere 21 games played due to injury last year, Vella made an impression by only once going more than two consecutive appearances without a point. Assuming she stays healthy, only more can be expected of her as a sophomore, even if there is temporary gridlock keeping her out of the top six.
Amber Yung, D- Now that she is the elder stateswoman of the defensive corps, Yung’s chief concern will naturally be shoring up the home front. Nonetheless, she should also be expected to step in and pitch in during onslaughts at the other end, even if some of that goes down as a secondary or even uncredited contribution.
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Women's Hockey Commentary: How To Fan The Flames Of Fandom
There is no way to hide it. The experience of attending a women’s college hockey game is usually lacking in a quality atmosphere. On a constant basis, attendance and outspoken interest in PC’s team, among countless others, is much too shallow to do any justice to the main attraction down at ice level.
Too often, it appears as if the ticket holders are casually socializing and passing through the concourse and the Friends of Friar Room, oblivious to the rink in the middle as if it were the ceiling cavity on the third floor of Providence Place Mall.
What can be done to improve this? Well, where do you want to start? There are several relatively easy methods of enhancing the vigor in the arena on game night and promotional ideas to maintain attention.
I’m not naïve by any means. I understand that Schneider Arena does not have all of the resources to replicate the atmosphere of the TD Garden or even the Dunkin Donuts Center. But just the same, even with what it does have to give, the pleasure of attending a Friars game has yet to play to its full potential. More energy and more professionalism are needed behind the scenes.
This author may not have much experience working a sideshow or running a public relations office, but he does have enough experience with, well, experiences (both good and subpar) at sporting events to confidently suggest the following five steps to reeling in more fanfare at PC women’s games:
Shoot out the lights- There’s something about darkening the building and enlisting a couple of spotlights that draws more attention to the ice and instills extra adrenaline leading up to game time. The PC men’s team has already been doing this for two years running, so why not the women’s?
Power up the playlist- To build on that last point, more needs to be done to corral the attention of the fans early, get them to anticipate the game more keenly, and keep them engaged when they have fixated their eyes on the ice. It all starts by playing more heart-pumping, sweat-flowing music. (Urgent note to the DJ: Sugar Ray never hit a real sports fanatic’s sweet spot and it never will.)
Again, compare/contrast the vibe in Schneider Arena for a men’s game versus a women’s contest. The men’s team typically storms out to the likes of “Enter Sandman” or “Always Hardcore.” The Skating Sorority gets stuck with a canned, dead beat version of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Even worse, that darned clunker of a fight song is recycled for every goal and the start and conclusion of every period.
That’s not to say this is the sole reason why attendance at women’s games is so sparse and why it’s so easy for the visiting masses to have their voices heard and usurp home ice advantage. But it is definitely an accomplice at best. In fact, so far as this author can tell, this particular area needs to be addressed more than any other if teams like the PC women are going to pile up on public relations.
The solution: first, the quick fix for goals. Ever heard of Rock and Roll Part II? If not, then look up “Providence Bruins goal horn” on YouTube. Or how about Kernkraft 400? For that, simply query “Boston Bruins goal horn” and it’ll cut you to the chase.
As for the pregame buildup, the list of options is vaster and deeper than Team Canada’s Olympic tryout roster.
You could try any one of these (remember, lights off) for the last 3-4 minutes before the players emerge for the first period: “New Divide” by Linkin Park; “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence; “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” by AC/DC; “The Pretender” by Foo Fighters; “Boom” by P.O.D.; “Burn It To The Ground (radio edit)” by Nickelback”; “State of Massachusetts” by the Dropkick Murphys; or even “Time to Go” by the Dropkick Murphys.
And then, once the starting goaltender sets her first blade on the pond, try the opening portion of one of these: “Crazy Train” by Ozzie Osbourne; “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC; “Animals” by Nickelback; “Right Now” by Van Halen; or “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue (as the P-Bruins have proven, once that song reaches “Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops,” you can sense that everyone is ready to go).
Book some good guests- Nothing like two local sports teams crossing their personnel over to show that they are in it together catering to the same fan base. The PC women can easily benefit by –at least on occasion- bringing in other Rhode Island sports figures to drop a ceremonial first puck and/or sign autographs in the lobby at intermission.
Whether it’s a hype-magnet of a new PC men’s basketball recruit, a locally bred PawSox player within tasting distance of the major leagues, or an-ex PC icer now with the P-Bruins (by now you’ve heard Nolan Schaefer is coming back to the Divine City), the possibilities abound. They should be utilized.
Host a team Superskills competition- It doesn’t get a whole lot of publicity at the pro level, and it’s not even clear if any teams still do it. But in the past, NHL teams have been known to assemble a crowd at their home arena, split their team into two squads, and let them flaunt their flair with proceeds going to charity. When the Bruins did this, such events included hardest shot, fastest skater, puck control relay, shooting accuracy, and breakaway relay.
It couldn’t hurt a publicity-starved team to try such an exhibition. The best time for the Friars to do this would probably be a Friday evening when the PC men are slated to play a game at 7:00 while the women are tuning up for a Saturday/Sunday weekend slate. Perhaps, in lieu of the usual 4-6 practice window, Bob Deraney’s pupils could test and flaunt their skills for those waiting to watch the Tim Army Corps. Fans could be let into the building an hour earlier than the usual 6:00 doorbust and be enlightened to the sport’s diversity.
Start a YouTube channel- It came to this author’s attention earlier this past season that the Friars already have a Facebook and Twitter page, so why stop there? Within the WHEA alone, four programs –Boston University, New Hampshire, Northeastern, and Vermont- regularly post game highlights and quick features on YouTube. And once you’re there, you literally have a planet’s worth of prospective viewers.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
Too often, it appears as if the ticket holders are casually socializing and passing through the concourse and the Friends of Friar Room, oblivious to the rink in the middle as if it were the ceiling cavity on the third floor of Providence Place Mall.
What can be done to improve this? Well, where do you want to start? There are several relatively easy methods of enhancing the vigor in the arena on game night and promotional ideas to maintain attention.
I’m not naïve by any means. I understand that Schneider Arena does not have all of the resources to replicate the atmosphere of the TD Garden or even the Dunkin Donuts Center. But just the same, even with what it does have to give, the pleasure of attending a Friars game has yet to play to its full potential. More energy and more professionalism are needed behind the scenes.
This author may not have much experience working a sideshow or running a public relations office, but he does have enough experience with, well, experiences (both good and subpar) at sporting events to confidently suggest the following five steps to reeling in more fanfare at PC women’s games:
Shoot out the lights- There’s something about darkening the building and enlisting a couple of spotlights that draws more attention to the ice and instills extra adrenaline leading up to game time. The PC men’s team has already been doing this for two years running, so why not the women’s?
Power up the playlist- To build on that last point, more needs to be done to corral the attention of the fans early, get them to anticipate the game more keenly, and keep them engaged when they have fixated their eyes on the ice. It all starts by playing more heart-pumping, sweat-flowing music. (Urgent note to the DJ: Sugar Ray never hit a real sports fanatic’s sweet spot and it never will.)
Again, compare/contrast the vibe in Schneider Arena for a men’s game versus a women’s contest. The men’s team typically storms out to the likes of “Enter Sandman” or “Always Hardcore.” The Skating Sorority gets stuck with a canned, dead beat version of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Even worse, that darned clunker of a fight song is recycled for every goal and the start and conclusion of every period.
That’s not to say this is the sole reason why attendance at women’s games is so sparse and why it’s so easy for the visiting masses to have their voices heard and usurp home ice advantage. But it is definitely an accomplice at best. In fact, so far as this author can tell, this particular area needs to be addressed more than any other if teams like the PC women are going to pile up on public relations.
The solution: first, the quick fix for goals. Ever heard of Rock and Roll Part II? If not, then look up “Providence Bruins goal horn” on YouTube. Or how about Kernkraft 400? For that, simply query “Boston Bruins goal horn” and it’ll cut you to the chase.
As for the pregame buildup, the list of options is vaster and deeper than Team Canada’s Olympic tryout roster.
You could try any one of these (remember, lights off) for the last 3-4 minutes before the players emerge for the first period: “New Divide” by Linkin Park; “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence; “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” by AC/DC; “The Pretender” by Foo Fighters; “Boom” by P.O.D.; “Burn It To The Ground (radio edit)” by Nickelback”; “State of Massachusetts” by the Dropkick Murphys; or even “Time to Go” by the Dropkick Murphys.
And then, once the starting goaltender sets her first blade on the pond, try the opening portion of one of these: “Crazy Train” by Ozzie Osbourne; “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC; “Animals” by Nickelback; “Right Now” by Van Halen; or “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue (as the P-Bruins have proven, once that song reaches “Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops,” you can sense that everyone is ready to go).
Book some good guests- Nothing like two local sports teams crossing their personnel over to show that they are in it together catering to the same fan base. The PC women can easily benefit by –at least on occasion- bringing in other Rhode Island sports figures to drop a ceremonial first puck and/or sign autographs in the lobby at intermission.
Whether it’s a hype-magnet of a new PC men’s basketball recruit, a locally bred PawSox player within tasting distance of the major leagues, or an-ex PC icer now with the P-Bruins (by now you’ve heard Nolan Schaefer is coming back to the Divine City), the possibilities abound. They should be utilized.
Host a team Superskills competition- It doesn’t get a whole lot of publicity at the pro level, and it’s not even clear if any teams still do it. But in the past, NHL teams have been known to assemble a crowd at their home arena, split their team into two squads, and let them flaunt their flair with proceeds going to charity. When the Bruins did this, such events included hardest shot, fastest skater, puck control relay, shooting accuracy, and breakaway relay.
It couldn’t hurt a publicity-starved team to try such an exhibition. The best time for the Friars to do this would probably be a Friday evening when the PC men are slated to play a game at 7:00 while the women are tuning up for a Saturday/Sunday weekend slate. Perhaps, in lieu of the usual 4-6 practice window, Bob Deraney’s pupils could test and flaunt their skills for those waiting to watch the Tim Army Corps. Fans could be let into the building an hour earlier than the usual 6:00 doorbust and be enlightened to the sport’s diversity.
Start a YouTube channel- It came to this author’s attention earlier this past season that the Friars already have a Facebook and Twitter page, so why stop there? Within the WHEA alone, four programs –Boston University, New Hampshire, Northeastern, and Vermont- regularly post game highlights and quick features on YouTube. And once you’re there, you literally have a planet’s worth of prospective viewers.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
Thursday, June 3, 2010
On Women's Hockey: Outdoor Game A Whale Of An Opportunity
Unlike the debate over the merits of a Super Bowl in metropolitan New York –a full-scale quarrel with no ending in sight even with the event already set in place- no visible breath can be considered wasted when speaking in favor of the occasional outdoor hockey game.
The Providence College women’s team, which based on longevity was probably the only Hockey East team left out of Frozen Fenway that could claim it was snubbed, got rapid reparation yesterday. The Friars will be reeled in to Rentschler Field in East Hartford next winter, when they shall tangle with rival Connecticut on February 13 as part of a 10-day celebration of hockey in The Nutmeg State.
Yesterday, the people in charge of a new movement to revive the Hartford Whalers –an endeavor just as controversial as proposing a Snowglobe Super Bowl- proved they have this much going for them. The committee, led by seasoned NHL executive Harold Baldwin, will stage the so-termed “Whaler Hockey Fest” with, to the best of their ability, every available trimming to match the unique week everyone had in Boston last January. With further details still yet to be finalized, events will reportedly range from a Bruins-Whalers alumni clash, to an AHL Hartford Wolf Pack game, to innumerable youth hockey contests.
Whatever this might ultimately do to bring The Show back to the area, the countless remoras coming over to Rentschler are sure to get the goods they desire.
Of the event’s impact on his group, Friars’ head coach Bob Deraney said in a statement, “Not only does it showcase the sport of women’s ice hockey, but it also features two formidable Hockey East teams that have developed a fierce rivalry with one another.
“Every team wants to play in an outdoor event like this and we are grateful to have this opportunity for our student-athletes, staff and fans.”
For the Friars, who will be in their thirty-seventh year of operation, this is a chance to breathe the same kind of pond hockey air as what the 30-year-old Northeastern and 33-year-old New Hampshire programs soaked in at the Yawkey Yard. It is PC’s chance to reassert itself as being among the grassroots girls of Division I hockey.
And in this particular sport, few methods of seizing attention are more highly recommended than pitting two institutions that are already prominent in the more privileged sports. So for both participating clubs, this will be an unprecedented opportunity to flaunt the flair of the PC-UConn rivalry and let more people know the animosity is hardly confined to basketball. Some novice spectators might even agree to take a history lesson and learn that, unlike in hoops, the two hockey teams have routinely met in the postseason, including each of the last three years.
For the women’s hockey world in general, this will be a helpful follow-up on what was likely the most publicly progressive season in at least a decade. There will be no Olympics in 2010-11 (although plenty of world class players are coming to study and skate around these parts), but there is now another bonfire to be stoked.
Barring any announcements elsewhere in the nation akin to that made yesterday in East Hartford, this will be only the third event of its kind in NCAA women’s history. The other two have happened within the last five months, those being the UNH-NU clash and Wisconsin’s home date with Bemidji State back on February 6.
Predictions are precarious, and there isn’t a whole lot of history to help shape one’s speculation, but this game is sure to draw extra eyes. The Fenway women’s game, which was largely looked upon as an opening act to the BC-BU men’s battle, had a listed audience of 6,889 fans plus an indefinite number of regional TV viewers on NESN and national watchers on the NHL Network. The Badgers played in front of a reported 8,263 fans at Camp Randall Stadium before their male counterparts arrived on the scene along with a much heftier mass of 55,031 rooters.
There is no certainty of live TV coverage for the Friar-Husky game. And unlike the previous doubleheaders, this one will not follow the classic “ladies-first” policy. Rather, it will be the UConn men’s game versus Sacred Heart preceding the Friars’ tangle with Heather Linstad’s pupils.
The difference between seeing who shows up early and watching who sticks around as a courtesy to the female athletes should be interesting. The difference it makes in terms of attendance, if it does make any difference, will only be certain come game day.
But it will be, at the very least, a small plus if the Huskies can play before a crowd bigger than what their full-time home, Freitas Ice Forum, can accommodate. That dinky barn, which in terms of size and atmosphere is far better suited for a Junior B program, seats a mere 2,000 fans. Once they shuffle things over the Rentschler, the maximum capacity will instantly swell up to around 40,000.
Cue the cliché tempest. This means that the limits are astronomically high. And on the eve of the next Valentine’s Day, some new people might learn to love women’s puck.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
The Providence College women’s team, which based on longevity was probably the only Hockey East team left out of Frozen Fenway that could claim it was snubbed, got rapid reparation yesterday. The Friars will be reeled in to Rentschler Field in East Hartford next winter, when they shall tangle with rival Connecticut on February 13 as part of a 10-day celebration of hockey in The Nutmeg State.
Yesterday, the people in charge of a new movement to revive the Hartford Whalers –an endeavor just as controversial as proposing a Snowglobe Super Bowl- proved they have this much going for them. The committee, led by seasoned NHL executive Harold Baldwin, will stage the so-termed “Whaler Hockey Fest” with, to the best of their ability, every available trimming to match the unique week everyone had in Boston last January. With further details still yet to be finalized, events will reportedly range from a Bruins-Whalers alumni clash, to an AHL Hartford Wolf Pack game, to innumerable youth hockey contests.
Whatever this might ultimately do to bring The Show back to the area, the countless remoras coming over to Rentschler are sure to get the goods they desire.
Of the event’s impact on his group, Friars’ head coach Bob Deraney said in a statement, “Not only does it showcase the sport of women’s ice hockey, but it also features two formidable Hockey East teams that have developed a fierce rivalry with one another.
“Every team wants to play in an outdoor event like this and we are grateful to have this opportunity for our student-athletes, staff and fans.”
For the Friars, who will be in their thirty-seventh year of operation, this is a chance to breathe the same kind of pond hockey air as what the 30-year-old Northeastern and 33-year-old New Hampshire programs soaked in at the Yawkey Yard. It is PC’s chance to reassert itself as being among the grassroots girls of Division I hockey.
And in this particular sport, few methods of seizing attention are more highly recommended than pitting two institutions that are already prominent in the more privileged sports. So for both participating clubs, this will be an unprecedented opportunity to flaunt the flair of the PC-UConn rivalry and let more people know the animosity is hardly confined to basketball. Some novice spectators might even agree to take a history lesson and learn that, unlike in hoops, the two hockey teams have routinely met in the postseason, including each of the last three years.
For the women’s hockey world in general, this will be a helpful follow-up on what was likely the most publicly progressive season in at least a decade. There will be no Olympics in 2010-11 (although plenty of world class players are coming to study and skate around these parts), but there is now another bonfire to be stoked.
Barring any announcements elsewhere in the nation akin to that made yesterday in East Hartford, this will be only the third event of its kind in NCAA women’s history. The other two have happened within the last five months, those being the UNH-NU clash and Wisconsin’s home date with Bemidji State back on February 6.
Predictions are precarious, and there isn’t a whole lot of history to help shape one’s speculation, but this game is sure to draw extra eyes. The Fenway women’s game, which was largely looked upon as an opening act to the BC-BU men’s battle, had a listed audience of 6,889 fans plus an indefinite number of regional TV viewers on NESN and national watchers on the NHL Network. The Badgers played in front of a reported 8,263 fans at Camp Randall Stadium before their male counterparts arrived on the scene along with a much heftier mass of 55,031 rooters.
There is no certainty of live TV coverage for the Friar-Husky game. And unlike the previous doubleheaders, this one will not follow the classic “ladies-first” policy. Rather, it will be the UConn men’s game versus Sacred Heart preceding the Friars’ tangle with Heather Linstad’s pupils.
The difference between seeing who shows up early and watching who sticks around as a courtesy to the female athletes should be interesting. The difference it makes in terms of attendance, if it does make any difference, will only be certain come game day.
But it will be, at the very least, a small plus if the Huskies can play before a crowd bigger than what their full-time home, Freitas Ice Forum, can accommodate. That dinky barn, which in terms of size and atmosphere is far better suited for a Junior B program, seats a mere 2,000 fans. Once they shuffle things over the Rentschler, the maximum capacity will instantly swell up to around 40,000.
Cue the cliché tempest. This means that the limits are astronomically high. And on the eve of the next Valentine’s Day, some new people might learn to love women’s puck.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
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