Roughly a year ago, the Boston University women’s hockey team started off its season on the road against the University of North Dakota. In the two-game series, which the Terriers would split with the Fighting Sioux, a new addition to the team began the process of integrating her name into the BU record books.
The player, a transfer from the University of New Hampshire, had a history of being a strong athlete and displayed her talent the first time she officially donned a BU uniform.
In the second period of that first game against North Dakota, then-junior forward Jenn Wakefield notched her first goal as a Terrier to give BU its first lead of a game that it would go on to lose.
The next day, in BU’s first win of the season, Wakefield would score two more goals and have two assists to cap-off a five-point weekend that earned her the title of Hockey East’s Pure Hockey Player of the Week.
During the course of the next six months, Wakefield recorded at least one point in 29 games, established career highs in assists and points, matched a career high in goals and became the record holder for the BU single-season goals and points record with 32 goals and 54 points.
“She is a very, very hard worker and also a very intense individual as far as preparation, focus and her goals,” said BU coach Brian Durocher of Wakefield. “I think it stands out on the ice, it stands out in the weight room and it even stands out in the way she carries herself around campus.”
These were the reasons that led to Wakefield being named the captain of the 2011-12 Terrier squad – a squad that has a target on its back because of extreme success last season.
“On the ice, she is a courageous kid, very tough,” Durocher said. “We’ve talked about the obvious skills that she has: size, hands, speed and a tremendous shot.
“But I look from a personality standpoint. She’s a very focused person and that’s the reason her team saw her as a good prospect to be a captain here.”
This on-ice ability is what led to Wakefield starting off her collegiate career with New Hampshire and the Canadian national team in 2007.
In her rookie season with the Wildcats, Wakefield had more goals, 27, than any other rookie in the nation, leading her to the title of Hockey East Rookie of the Year. Wakefield’s efforts assisted her team in making it to the Frozen Four.
In UNH’s 3-2 loss to the University of Minnesota during the Frozen Four, Wakefield netted the Wildcat’s first goal to give the team an early, but temporary, lead.
During the same season, Wakefield experienced her first Four Nations Cup with the Canadian national team.
“It’s been a long ride with them,” Wakefield said of her time with Team Canada. “You never know kind of where you’re sitting just ‘cause there are so many good Canadian players coming up the system. It’s just been amazing to be able to travel all over the country.”
The next season, Wakefield continued to improve, leading the conference in goals and finishing as a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, an honor presented to the best Division I women’s hockey player.
“She has a lot of experience,” said current teammate and assistant captain Kasey Boucher. “I think she always comes to the rink, to the games, ready to play. She’s a really intense player.”
For the second-straight year, Wakefield participated in the Four Nations Cup. However, her involvement with the national team was about to reach a whole new level. The 20-year-old took a year off from college to play for the Olympic team.
Despite her obvious abilities, the Pickering, Ontario native was cut from the team in late December due to a broken wrist. She did, however, remain with the team as an alternate.
After her year off, Wakefield had to make a decision on what she wanted to do. UNH was no longer a part of that picture.
“I liked it,” Wakefield said of playing for New Hampshire. “I don’t regret it. We had a very good team, we were able to go to the Frozen Four… Just after the year of centralization, I just don’t think it was the right fit for me anymore. I wanted more of a city atmosphere.”
While making her decision, Wakefield turned to a couple of teammates from the Canadian squad.
“I really wanted to stay in Hockey East and I really kind of like the area just being in the city and just Boston,” Wakefield said. “I played with Tara Watchorn and Jenelle Kohanchuk and I talked to them a bit before contacting Boston University and they had nothing but good things to say.”
Thus began Wakefield’s career with the Terriers.
“It’s honestly such a pleasure to be able to work with somebody with her work ethic,” said senior defender and assistant captain Carly Warren. “She came into our program and she’s been a part of Team Canada for such a long time.
“I think the caliber of that and the effort she’s put into that transferred over when she came into our program.”
Wakefield’s efforts last season culminated in BU’s first ever conference title and its first berth into the Frozen Four. In the NCAA quarterfinals, Wakefield notched two goals to help the Terriers surpass Mercyhurst College and advance to the Frozen Four.
At the team’s annual banquet in May, Wakefield was named captain, an honor that came with an understanding of the responsibilities the job would entail.
“I was very excited,” Wakefield said. “I know I’ve heard a lot about previous captains, and I was able to be on the team when Holly Lorms was captain so I know it’s a big responsibility, so hopefully I’ll be able to fill those shoes.”
Warren didn’t seem concerned about her teammates’ ability to lead the Terriers.
“It’s just how she presents herself that you know that you have to give it to her,” Warren said.
“She’s a good leader because when you’re on the ice with her and stuff she’s so passionate about the game and she’s so passionate about our team that everybody wants to work hard and be good for her, be good for themselves and be good for our program.”
After all this, Wakefield’s senior year began just like her first year with the Terriers. The captain started off her second season with BU against North Dakota, this time in the confines of Walter Brown Arena. The team split the series and Wakefield had three points in the win, with two goals and an assist. For her efforts, Wakefield was named the Hockey East Player of the Week.
For Wakefield, her goals for her senior season are the same as her goals for the team as its captain.
“I feel like my goals for myself and the team are just to be better than last year,” Wakefield said. “Hopefully build another contender for the national championship and hopefully win the Beanpot and hopefully Hockey East.”
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