The Boston University women’s ice hockey team begins its third NCAA season this weekend, opening play in the Nike Bauer Women’s Classic in St. Paul, Minn. with hopes of being an elite team this winter.
The Nike Classic will serve as a test to see how BU stacks up against quality competition. The Terriers play the University of North Dakota on Friday night and the No. 6 University of Minnesota on Saturday.
“This weekend is going to show us where we are going as a team, as well as to show the other teams that we have tremendous strength,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “BU’s women’s ice hockey is a new team. This is our third year, and hopefully we’re going to be good enough to play and win our share of games. We are making a new stand and we are going to have something new happen.”
The Terriers defeated the Mississauga Jr. Chiefs on Sept. 30 in an exhibition matchup meant to get their feet wet before the season.
“The first game of the season went well,” Durocher said. “We got to put some freshmen in the game. They’re pretty darn good hockey players and energized, too. Playing against the [Mississauga Jr. Chiefs] was a test for playing against [University of] Minnesota. Hopefully we’ll be good enough.”
North Dakota has a solid program that has turned around its moment in recent years thanks to new coaches. BU will be an underdog Saturday night, running into a Minnesota team that lost in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association championship game.
“In this particular tournament,” Durocher said, “we’re going to play hard against North Dakota and take that momentum against Minnesota. North Dakota started its new program, so it’s all new, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to win or lose. It’s at our odds that we will be playing in their building, but our effort, our positional playing will hopefully be enough.”
Junior goaltender Allyse Wilcox will be between the pipes Friday night, and Saturday’s starter will be either Wilcox or sophomore Melissa Haber. Durocher said he wants both goalies to see ice time and that Saturday’s goalie will be determined after Friday’s game.
As a young team, BU has had good fortune in collecting talented scholarship athletes from all over the country. This season, the team promises to be hard working on and off the ice. Durocher wants the team to be mentally capable from a playing standpoint and a resiliency standpoint.
The team’s preseason goals are divided into two tiers. The first is to open the season with an intense schedule and show the Terriers have the ability to handle top talent. Secondly, Durocher believes his players have the potential to become an elite team.
“Our goal for this season is to make the top four in Hockey East,” Durocher said. “Then we get to play the top, elite contenders. We’re still growing and developing as a team, and hopefully, at the end of the season, we will make the top four. Two years ago, we were in the top six and last year, we were in the top five. But this year, we will be striving harder and harder.”
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