In hindsight, seeing where she currently sits in the aftermath of coach Mark Johnson and Co.'s painstaking selection all-nighter over Sunday/Monday, Karen Thatcher has been granted a considerable cushion via fate and fortune.
With a once 41-member roll call of U.S. Women's Olympic prospects now slimmed to 23 -and with two lockers still needing to be vacated by December- the 2006 PC graduate is essentially both the eldest of the newbies and the youngest of the elders. At age 25, she is the eldest among a rash of forwards who shall pursue their first taste of Olympic ice in the forthcoming Qwest Tour.
And with a cumulative 35 games wearing the Star-Spangled Sweater at other levels and tournaments, she is easily one of the more internationally seasoned players in that same department of neophytes.
Thatcher could not be reached for comment in time for this report, but while addressing the general assembled media yesterday, veteran teammate Julie Chu offered an indirect, though dead-on assessment of her impact.
"I think that 2006 was a bit of a turnover with younger players coming into a situation where, in the past, as a younger player you were on the third or fourth line to kind of get your feet wet," remarked Chu -who saw action in Salt Lake in 2002 and Turin in 2006- during yesterday's assembly in Blaine, Minn. after the Qwest Tour roster was disclosed.
"But (instead) we had players that would come in and become impact players, play on the first or second line, and play critical roles. And it was incredible to see these younger players really take a hold of it and make (themselves) part of the team. So they're the veteran players now."
No question, Thatcher falls under that roomy roof of fast-produced vets. During the Turin Games, one will recall, she was wrapped up in the climax of her final campaign in the Divine City. Upon grabbing her degree at The Dunk, though, she proceeded to fill one of the many new openings in the USA program. That subsequent autumn, she would be one of nine relatively new players to take part in the Four Nations Cup as their first non-U22 competition.
And now, all nine of those players -plus six others who arrived even later, including freshly graduated New Hampshire Wildcat Kacey Bellamy and contemporary Boston College Eagles Molly Schaus and Kelli Stack- were all still standing when the cuts were made yesterday. Conversely, a mere six skaters come in with prior Olympic experience.
Of course, like everybody else, Thatcher still has to ensure she is not one of those last two prospects filtered out between now and the conclusion of the tune-up tour, an unlikely but unpleasant fate that infamously befell fellow Friar alumna and established folk hero Cammi Granato prior to the last Olympic tourney in 2006. That still-debated moved effectively equaled a hiatus in PC influence on the American squad.
But conventional wisdom assumes that between seven defenders and 13 strikers, only one personality from each of those positions will be rooted out. And Thatcher does boast the aforementioned advantage of experience dating back to the start of the program's 2006 overhaul as well as a gold-fingered semipro resume.
Beyond her time with USA Hockey, Thatcher's profile tells of a sparkling rookie year with the British Columbia Breakers in 2006-07 (42 points in 26 games), followed by a Canadian Women's League championship with the Vaughn (Ont.) Flames in 2008, followed by a Women's Western League banner with the Minnesota Whitecaps this past spring.
That is to say nothing of the back-to-back gold medals she has soaked in at the latest two World Championships.
Again, there are no guarantees concerning the events of the next calendar year. But Thatcher's enticing resume and crisp performance at the National Festival does assure her a chance to switch roles for the next USA-Hockey East All-Star contest.
Recall that in the first of those games back in December of 2005, a fall-from-ahead 5-2 falter for the Hockey Easterners, Thatcher consituted part of the starting line and led her one-day squad with three of their 12 shots on net.
She was just short of the international border at the time, though not far off. She has stridden smoothly beyond that line in the three-plus years since then and can now vie to help the Americans' regain their regal posture.
Not to mention, help replenish the customary presence of Providence on the world's topmost stage.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
On Women's Hockey: Lacasse Faces Another Hard Shot At Canada Camp
On the whole, the ultimate prognosis here is quite favorable for all parties concerned in the women’s wing of Schneider Arena.
Late Thursday, when Team Canada condensed its pool of U22 goaltending candidates for the 2009-2010 season from eight to five, PC’s own Genevieve Lacasse was among those left still standing. This means a passport back to Calgary next month for another arduous week consisting of practicing and scrimmaging amongst a split Canadian squad (and a band of Swedish guests), with the home girls vying for a spot in the annual three-game U.S. series and next winter’s MLP Cup.
The other skate drops on her, however, in the quite literal asterisk that sits next to the rising sophomore’s name on the roll call. Officially, Lacasse has been designated as a free agent of sorts, assigned to stand in for the tandems of both the Red and White squads, which means she will see sparse action in practice to stay limber and be promoted on an emergency basis should one of the two stoppers from either squad go down.
Furthermore, both Harvard’s Christina Kessler and Wilfred Laurier’s (CIS) Liz Knox, who occupied each of last season’s U22 roster spots, are in the mix again. So, too, is Mercyhurst’s Hillary Pattenden, whom Lacasse couldn’t quite outduel in a half-full, 50-save, 3-0 loss on campus last November.
With all that in consideration, she is assuming an underdog posture and will likely need a miraculous twist induced with the aid of a rabbit’s foot to play on to any international competition in 2009-2010.
But still, regardless of her fate once the week (August 6-14) is up, she will have garnered another coat of worthwhile seasoning after yet again taking time to serve as a walking, talking Shooter Tutor for Canada’s best young puckslingers. At that rate, she has no cause to lose her touch after a sparkling, sharpening rookie campaign complete with 1670 minutes played, 756 cumulative saves, 13 individual bushels of at least opposing 30 shots, and a hugful of hardware in the end.
The way she withstood the yearlong barrage hereby described, and the way she has extended her offseason occupations like this, Lacasse doesn’t cease to impress. And with each development of concern to her this offseason, it just grows exponentially ironic that Lacasse went out of her way last winter to purge her Team Canada-themed mask in favor of one depicting the Providence skyline and mini-murals of the program’s past.
But it should be gently reiterated that this pool is like Puckworld –the world’s most densely competitive pond. And the Scarborough Save-ior needn’t go far for a cautionary reminder.
Freshly graduated two-way connoisseur Erin Normore, who a few months ago outhustled Lacasse in the unofficial race for Team MVP, had been invited to this exact same festival prior to her junior year, but the internal competition was as far as she went. No U.S. series, no Air Canada/MLP Cup, and no invitations back to the same camp in the subsequent two years. Instead, Normore merely got to return to the Divine Campus and not only play in every intercollegiate game possible, but also, on a gamely basis, put in at least one trademark end-to-end expedition with the puck.
And heck, this year, New Hampshire Wildcats’ scoring beacon Kelly Paton didn’t so much as clear the initial hurdle at May’s conditioning camp. Poor Paton can only look forward to spending the length of her junior year serving as an offensive nucleus for the Cats’ drive for a fifth Hockey East crown.
If Lacasse is indeed one of the three goalies filtered out of the mix before the end of next month, it simply means that the Friars can take comfort in her consistent availability. Not to mention, she will be accompanied to Calgary by a grand total of 26 fellow U.S. collegians, four of them fellow Hockey Easterners, and another 10 of whom she should be staring down in the interleague portion of the coming season.
Then again, there is no need to pronounce the race over before the cue-to-go gun is blown. So, as of right now, Lacasse is officially juggling with an opportunity to match an achievement of one of her celestial predecessors, Jana Bugden.
Amidst her sophomore year in 2003-04, Bugden did claim a roster spot for the Air Canada Cup, where she happened to engage in a showdown with a Swiss national team backstopped by a 13-year-old phenom named Florence Schelling –now Lacasse’s contemporary rival from Northeastern. And after all, she only had to miss two starts with the Friars, who between victories by Amy Thomas and Amy Quinlan swept Maine in her absence.
Naturally, the other benefit would be the chance to briefly complement last year’s clash of a red Maple Leaf helmet and Skating Friar sweater with the combination of a Rhode Island State House helmet and red Maple Leaf jersey. That’s what one might call proud dual citizenship.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
Late Thursday, when Team Canada condensed its pool of U22 goaltending candidates for the 2009-2010 season from eight to five, PC’s own Genevieve Lacasse was among those left still standing. This means a passport back to Calgary next month for another arduous week consisting of practicing and scrimmaging amongst a split Canadian squad (and a band of Swedish guests), with the home girls vying for a spot in the annual three-game U.S. series and next winter’s MLP Cup.
The other skate drops on her, however, in the quite literal asterisk that sits next to the rising sophomore’s name on the roll call. Officially, Lacasse has been designated as a free agent of sorts, assigned to stand in for the tandems of both the Red and White squads, which means she will see sparse action in practice to stay limber and be promoted on an emergency basis should one of the two stoppers from either squad go down.
Furthermore, both Harvard’s Christina Kessler and Wilfred Laurier’s (CIS) Liz Knox, who occupied each of last season’s U22 roster spots, are in the mix again. So, too, is Mercyhurst’s Hillary Pattenden, whom Lacasse couldn’t quite outduel in a half-full, 50-save, 3-0 loss on campus last November.
With all that in consideration, she is assuming an underdog posture and will likely need a miraculous twist induced with the aid of a rabbit’s foot to play on to any international competition in 2009-2010.
But still, regardless of her fate once the week (August 6-14) is up, she will have garnered another coat of worthwhile seasoning after yet again taking time to serve as a walking, talking Shooter Tutor for Canada’s best young puckslingers. At that rate, she has no cause to lose her touch after a sparkling, sharpening rookie campaign complete with 1670 minutes played, 756 cumulative saves, 13 individual bushels of at least opposing 30 shots, and a hugful of hardware in the end.
The way she withstood the yearlong barrage hereby described, and the way she has extended her offseason occupations like this, Lacasse doesn’t cease to impress. And with each development of concern to her this offseason, it just grows exponentially ironic that Lacasse went out of her way last winter to purge her Team Canada-themed mask in favor of one depicting the Providence skyline and mini-murals of the program’s past.
But it should be gently reiterated that this pool is like Puckworld –the world’s most densely competitive pond. And the Scarborough Save-ior needn’t go far for a cautionary reminder.
Freshly graduated two-way connoisseur Erin Normore, who a few months ago outhustled Lacasse in the unofficial race for Team MVP, had been invited to this exact same festival prior to her junior year, but the internal competition was as far as she went. No U.S. series, no Air Canada/MLP Cup, and no invitations back to the same camp in the subsequent two years. Instead, Normore merely got to return to the Divine Campus and not only play in every intercollegiate game possible, but also, on a gamely basis, put in at least one trademark end-to-end expedition with the puck.
And heck, this year, New Hampshire Wildcats’ scoring beacon Kelly Paton didn’t so much as clear the initial hurdle at May’s conditioning camp. Poor Paton can only look forward to spending the length of her junior year serving as an offensive nucleus for the Cats’ drive for a fifth Hockey East crown.
If Lacasse is indeed one of the three goalies filtered out of the mix before the end of next month, it simply means that the Friars can take comfort in her consistent availability. Not to mention, she will be accompanied to Calgary by a grand total of 26 fellow U.S. collegians, four of them fellow Hockey Easterners, and another 10 of whom she should be staring down in the interleague portion of the coming season.
Then again, there is no need to pronounce the race over before the cue-to-go gun is blown. So, as of right now, Lacasse is officially juggling with an opportunity to match an achievement of one of her celestial predecessors, Jana Bugden.
Amidst her sophomore year in 2003-04, Bugden did claim a roster spot for the Air Canada Cup, where she happened to engage in a showdown with a Swiss national team backstopped by a 13-year-old phenom named Florence Schelling –now Lacasse’s contemporary rival from Northeastern. And after all, she only had to miss two starts with the Friars, who between victories by Amy Thomas and Amy Quinlan swept Maine in her absence.
Naturally, the other benefit would be the chance to briefly complement last year’s clash of a red Maple Leaf helmet and Skating Friar sweater with the combination of a Rhode Island State House helmet and red Maple Leaf jersey. That’s what one might call proud dual citizenship.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Providence College Women's Hockey's Final Player Reports
Kate Bacon, forward- A lesser recognized member of the depth chart’s top six, Bacon insidiously beefed up her scoring resume, finishing with an 8-4-12 transcript and three firsthand strikes against almighty New Hampshire and second only to classmate Laura Veharanta with 111 shots on net.
Katy Beach, forward- Immediately after Beach nabbed her 16th point on the year for a career high at the end of January, enticing hints of a booming exit were cruelly curtailed. She would whiff on her next 18 registered shots and was held utterly scoreless in her final month as a Friar.
Danielle Ciarletta, goal- Though confined to the bench by Genevieve Lacasse’s season-long hot streak, Ciarletta had to have done something right if she put in nine appearances for a career total of 56, enough to surpass Amy Quinlan for fourth all-time in the Friars’ goalie guild. And she only needed three years to do that.
Ashley Cottrell, forward- The most frequent first-line centerpiece for the majority of the schedule, Cottrell has demonstrated a growing comfort with every responsibility that comes with that. Her playmaking propensity hardly fizzled in the second half (she finished the year with 16 assists, second best on the team), she stamped an altogether assuring +9 rate on the year, and her winning percentage at the face-off dot exponentially improved on a nearly nightly basis.
Lauren Covell, forward- The rising sophomore is still evolving after a scoreless, 24-game freshman campaign.
Jackie Duncan, forward- Duncan will surely be itching for a smoother personal road next season after a handful of injuries cut her back to merely 22 games played.
Jennifer Friedman, defense- The tenacious, towering newbie fed well off of captain Brittany Simpson on the No. 1 D-Unit for the duration of the second half. In hindsight, her curious January scoring spurt (six points in seven games) may have been a little fluky, but her proficiency in the depths of the Friars’ zone is hardly in question.
Abby Gauthier, forward- Her first Friar campaign as a whole did not steadily balance with the hype, but the ex-St. Mary’s of Lynn scoring beacon chipped in a worthwhile six points –including two goals versus UNH in the stretch drive- to up her transcript to 3-7-10.
Christie Jensen, defense- Her season briefly disrupted by a head injury sustained versus Connecticut on January 31, the rookie blueliner recovered quicker than one would have expected and proceeded to finish with a +5 rating in 32 games played.
Genevieve Lacasse, goal- After two tattered, terminated starts at Cornell and Dartmouth in early January, Lacasse swiftly restored her rigidity in the cage en route to the league’s rookie and goaltending crowns. The natural laws of the game combined with her near-Sara-Decosta-like data (.933 save percentage, 1.94 GAA, six shutouts) point to her as the nucleus of a long-yearned-after PC resurgence.
Colleen Martin, defense- The final plus/minus leader among all PC skaters (+10) also retained an admirably clean nose with merely 14 penalty minutes in 33 ventures. Going on her senior year, Martin figures to be the prime candidate for next year’s captaincy.
Pam McDevitt, forward- Pitted amongst up to four other candidates for the final three game night forward positions, McDevitt ultimately earned the right to suit up in each of the last 12 outings after missing a sparse three of the first 24.
Steph Morris, forward- Like McDevitt –her eventually established linemate- the senior centerpiece had nailed her nightly roster spot by early January and cultivated a game clincher versus Connecticut on January 31.
Erin Normore, fwd/def- Permanently placed up front upon Jensen’s return, Normore sealed her celestial career with a genuine, productive fervor, posting 4-4-8 totals in the final 10 games. Her overall transcript boasted a career high nine goals and 26 points, coupled with a .122 shooting efficiency rate. She tied top gun Laura Veharanta with 15 power play points, thus factoring into nearly half of the team’s 31 total conversions.
Jean O’Neill, forward- Having restored her health, O’Neill linked up with Beach and Gauthier on a stable grind line. Although she still has yet to replenish her former productivity rate, which will indubitably be her top priority as a junior next fall.
Mari Pehkonen, forward- Not unlike Normore, Pehkonen’s passion accelerated in proportion to her collegiate sand timer. She unleashed 35 shots on net in her last eight games for a season total of 106 in 30 games and enhanced her scoring log from 4-3-7 at the half to 11-6-17 at the curtain.
Arianna Rigano, forward- Still acclimating to the upgrade in tempo from Division-III, Rigano saw action in 26 games, pitched in a sparse four points, and was one of the odd women out when the time came to cement the active forward lines on the cusp of the playoffs. Look for her to brandish an extra coat of self-assurance, hunger, and maturity as a senior next season.
Leigh Riley, defense- Finally a constant in the lineup after a year-and-a-half’s worth of waiting, Riley made her case to stick around with a trusty +6 rating on the season, sprinkled three assists over the last eight games, and went penalty-free in the last seven.
Alyse Ruff, forward- Once known strictly for a bloodhound’s nose for the corners and a knack for polishing off scoring plays, Ruff has rapidly broadened her horizons in recent months. She perfectly doubled her point totals (10) from the holiday break to 20 –with eight of those in the form of assists- and is also a newly established penalty killer with an assertive way of clearing the zone.
Brittany Simpson, defense- Of all the constants in PC’s lineup, their captain was one of the least penalized, ultimately visiting the box a mere five times in all 36 games. Additionally, Simpson charged up a career-best 12 assists on the year, eight of them on the power play. And if only not for one abysmal Senior Night falter versus Boston College –wherein she endured a minus-4 rating- she would have easily finished in the black under that heading.
Jen Smith, goal- Smith saw all of six minutes and 59 seconds worth of relief duty in a 7-3 slip at Dartmouth on January 13, facing zilch in the way of shots on net. With Ciarletta’s graduation, she should not expect such an undemanding workload next season. She figures to put in at least six or seven lengthier appearances behind the incredibly stable –though still human- Lacasse.
Laura Veharanta, forward- The radiant rookie’s stats from the first four months may have gone to her head in the stretch drive, amounting to a six game point drought in the thick of February. But assuming she learns from that, Veharanta (team-best 16 goals, 31 points, and 140 shots on goal) can only evolve into a stronger scoring asset for the next three seasons.
Amber Yung, defense- Her Normore-like behavior beyond the opposing circle tops has all but dissolved. Instead, Yung devoted her sophomore campaign to strict defensive duties and was a standout shot-blocker in the climax of the playoff run.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
Katy Beach, forward- Immediately after Beach nabbed her 16th point on the year for a career high at the end of January, enticing hints of a booming exit were cruelly curtailed. She would whiff on her next 18 registered shots and was held utterly scoreless in her final month as a Friar.
Danielle Ciarletta, goal- Though confined to the bench by Genevieve Lacasse’s season-long hot streak, Ciarletta had to have done something right if she put in nine appearances for a career total of 56, enough to surpass Amy Quinlan for fourth all-time in the Friars’ goalie guild. And she only needed three years to do that.
Ashley Cottrell, forward- The most frequent first-line centerpiece for the majority of the schedule, Cottrell has demonstrated a growing comfort with every responsibility that comes with that. Her playmaking propensity hardly fizzled in the second half (she finished the year with 16 assists, second best on the team), she stamped an altogether assuring +9 rate on the year, and her winning percentage at the face-off dot exponentially improved on a nearly nightly basis.
Lauren Covell, forward- The rising sophomore is still evolving after a scoreless, 24-game freshman campaign.
Jackie Duncan, forward- Duncan will surely be itching for a smoother personal road next season after a handful of injuries cut her back to merely 22 games played.
Jennifer Friedman, defense- The tenacious, towering newbie fed well off of captain Brittany Simpson on the No. 1 D-Unit for the duration of the second half. In hindsight, her curious January scoring spurt (six points in seven games) may have been a little fluky, but her proficiency in the depths of the Friars’ zone is hardly in question.
Abby Gauthier, forward- Her first Friar campaign as a whole did not steadily balance with the hype, but the ex-St. Mary’s of Lynn scoring beacon chipped in a worthwhile six points –including two goals versus UNH in the stretch drive- to up her transcript to 3-7-10.
Christie Jensen, defense- Her season briefly disrupted by a head injury sustained versus Connecticut on January 31, the rookie blueliner recovered quicker than one would have expected and proceeded to finish with a +5 rating in 32 games played.
Genevieve Lacasse, goal- After two tattered, terminated starts at Cornell and Dartmouth in early January, Lacasse swiftly restored her rigidity in the cage en route to the league’s rookie and goaltending crowns. The natural laws of the game combined with her near-Sara-Decosta-like data (.933 save percentage, 1.94 GAA, six shutouts) point to her as the nucleus of a long-yearned-after PC resurgence.
Colleen Martin, defense- The final plus/minus leader among all PC skaters (+10) also retained an admirably clean nose with merely 14 penalty minutes in 33 ventures. Going on her senior year, Martin figures to be the prime candidate for next year’s captaincy.
Pam McDevitt, forward- Pitted amongst up to four other candidates for the final three game night forward positions, McDevitt ultimately earned the right to suit up in each of the last 12 outings after missing a sparse three of the first 24.
Steph Morris, forward- Like McDevitt –her eventually established linemate- the senior centerpiece had nailed her nightly roster spot by early January and cultivated a game clincher versus Connecticut on January 31.
Erin Normore, fwd/def- Permanently placed up front upon Jensen’s return, Normore sealed her celestial career with a genuine, productive fervor, posting 4-4-8 totals in the final 10 games. Her overall transcript boasted a career high nine goals and 26 points, coupled with a .122 shooting efficiency rate. She tied top gun Laura Veharanta with 15 power play points, thus factoring into nearly half of the team’s 31 total conversions.
Jean O’Neill, forward- Having restored her health, O’Neill linked up with Beach and Gauthier on a stable grind line. Although she still has yet to replenish her former productivity rate, which will indubitably be her top priority as a junior next fall.
Mari Pehkonen, forward- Not unlike Normore, Pehkonen’s passion accelerated in proportion to her collegiate sand timer. She unleashed 35 shots on net in her last eight games for a season total of 106 in 30 games and enhanced her scoring log from 4-3-7 at the half to 11-6-17 at the curtain.
Arianna Rigano, forward- Still acclimating to the upgrade in tempo from Division-III, Rigano saw action in 26 games, pitched in a sparse four points, and was one of the odd women out when the time came to cement the active forward lines on the cusp of the playoffs. Look for her to brandish an extra coat of self-assurance, hunger, and maturity as a senior next season.
Leigh Riley, defense- Finally a constant in the lineup after a year-and-a-half’s worth of waiting, Riley made her case to stick around with a trusty +6 rating on the season, sprinkled three assists over the last eight games, and went penalty-free in the last seven.
Alyse Ruff, forward- Once known strictly for a bloodhound’s nose for the corners and a knack for polishing off scoring plays, Ruff has rapidly broadened her horizons in recent months. She perfectly doubled her point totals (10) from the holiday break to 20 –with eight of those in the form of assists- and is also a newly established penalty killer with an assertive way of clearing the zone.
Brittany Simpson, defense- Of all the constants in PC’s lineup, their captain was one of the least penalized, ultimately visiting the box a mere five times in all 36 games. Additionally, Simpson charged up a career-best 12 assists on the year, eight of them on the power play. And if only not for one abysmal Senior Night falter versus Boston College –wherein she endured a minus-4 rating- she would have easily finished in the black under that heading.
Jen Smith, goal- Smith saw all of six minutes and 59 seconds worth of relief duty in a 7-3 slip at Dartmouth on January 13, facing zilch in the way of shots on net. With Ciarletta’s graduation, she should not expect such an undemanding workload next season. She figures to put in at least six or seven lengthier appearances behind the incredibly stable –though still human- Lacasse.
Laura Veharanta, forward- The radiant rookie’s stats from the first four months may have gone to her head in the stretch drive, amounting to a six game point drought in the thick of February. But assuming she learns from that, Veharanta (team-best 16 goals, 31 points, and 140 shots on goal) can only evolve into a stronger scoring asset for the next three seasons.
Amber Yung, defense- Her Normore-like behavior beyond the opposing circle tops has all but dissolved. Instead, Yung devoted her sophomore campaign to strict defensive duties and was a standout shot-blocker in the climax of the playoff run.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
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