The captivating essence of historic Fenway Park’s outdoor ice surface brought out the child in everyone — the child who grew up loving the game of hockey. As UNH head coach Brian McClusky summed it up best, “[Friday]’s game will bring out the kid in all of them.”
With Friday’s women’s matchup featuring two nationally ranked hockey teams, and the anticipation of participating in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we’re all in for a treat. The NU Huskies come into the game on the heels of an impressive 2-0 start to the New Year, shutting out both Yale and Princeton. Meanwhile, the UNH Wildcats will be hitting the ice for the first time in 2010. Prior to the holiday break they also finished with a strong two-game winning streak.
When and Where
Friday, Jan. 8, 4 p.m., NESN
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
Records
Huskies (12-4-2, 6-3-2-1 Hockey East, second in Hockey East, No.9 nationally)
Wildcats (12-2-4, 6-1-1 Hockey East, fifth in Hockey East, No.4 nationally)
Head to Head
This is the second meeting this season between the two clubs. Last time out, two short-handed goals haunted Northeastern as they lost a close 2-1 match with UNH. Both team’s netminders were the main story of the contest, with NU’s Florence Schelling making 30 saves and UNH’s Lindsey Minton stopping 21. The Wildcats hold a 25-0 advantage over the Huskies within the past eight years, leading into today’s game.
The two teams will meet again Jan. 20 in Durham, N.H., at the Whittemore Center.
Skinny
The Huskies are having one of the best seasons they have had in years, currently ranked No. 9 in the country and sitting in the second spot in Hockey East standings. NU interim co-head coaches Linda Lundrigan and Lauren McAuliffe feel that their troops can compete with any team in the country and anticipate Friday’s atmosphere to work to their advantage.
“We have three lines that can skate with any team in the country," McAuliffe said.
NU is also extremely solid between the pipes.
“We have two sensational goaltenders that we feel more then comfortable with on any given day," McAuliffe said.
The home crowd and atmosphere of the game is also expected to work in the Huskies' favor.
“I expect adrenaline to take over and the energy of the Boston-based crowd to play in our advantage," Lundrigan said.
Both teams are expecting a larger-than-usual crowd size. McClusky is confident that his team will deliver a consistent performance, as it usually does. His main concern is the size of the rink, to which his team is not accustomed.
“The distance behind the net is definitely the smallest my team has played on,” said McClusky, whose team plays its home games on one of the largest surfaces in college hockey. A successful outcome will depend on their ability to adjust.
Both teams are boasting a long list of Hockey East accolades so far this season and they match up well with each other line for line.
Stat Sheet
NU goaltender Florence Schelling, who will be representing the Swiss Olympic team later in February, has been the backbone of the Huskies this season, featuring an impressive 1.12 GAA and a .960 save percentage in 15 games. She has been named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week seven times is a two-time Bauer Goaltender of the Month. She led the nation throughout the month of December with a 0.99 GAA average and a .640 save percenage.
Kristi Kehoe is leading the Huskies this season with 15 points in 18 games played (9-6-15). She has scored three goals in the last five games, including NU’s lone marker in the Huskies' previous 2-1 loss with the Wildcats.
Senior co-captain Annie Hogan has been on a mission gearing up her Huskies for today’s matchup. She has contributed three points in her last five games and currently sits sixth overall in team scoring.
NU freshmen have been stepping up big time as of late for the Huskies. Casey Pickett has had one goal and four helpers in the last five games and is leading all freshmen Huskies with 12 points on the season. Brittany Esposito, second in team freshman scoring with 10 points, has stepped up in her last six games with two goals and one assist.
UNH’s powerful trio of Kelly Paton, Micaela Long and Courtney Birchard will be biggest threat to NU Friday night. They have compiled a remarkable 31 points in their last eight games.
Paton, who leads UNH scoring with 32 points, has tallied seven assists and five goals in her last eight games, including a hat trick versus RPI on Nov. 21.
Michaela Long has accounted for an impressive 13 points in her last eight games with 11 helpers and two goals. Courtney Birchard has also stepped up with three assists and three goals since Nov. 6.
UNH has been 24-for-78 on power plays and a converts on the advantage 13 percent of the time. This proved to be the dagger in the coffin in the previous matchup between the two clubs.
NU has been 7-for-72 on the season on the power play with a 10 percent rate. However, as of late, the power play has shown significant improvement with three goals in eight games.
Press Box
The Huskies hope Fenway Park can help them break their curse.
The Wildcats are the favorites, but that doesn't mean anything is guaranteed.
In the men's game, the Jack Parker–Jerry York rivalry will take center stage.
Joe Bertagna is happy with where Hockey East is at the moment.
BC's Matt Price and BU's Kevin Shattenkirk stopped by the NESN Garden studio on Thursday to preview the game (no punches were thrown).
A look at some of the best players to come out of BC and BU and make it in the NHL.
Overheard
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will never be forgotten. This is also a tremendous opportunity to help display the women’s game to people who are still unaware of the caliber and level it has gotten to over the years. The game will be something I will never forget.”
–Northeastern senior co-captain Annie Hogan
Outlook
When the puck drops at Fenway Park, history will be made. Although there can only be one winner in the contest, each player, coach, and fan will walk out of the park with a monumental experience that may never occur again.
Northeastern will face a slight advantage leading into Friday’s game as it is the Boston-based team. The energy of the crowd and fan base should work in its favor. The Huskies are on a determined mission to finally put an end to a 25-game, eight-year losing streak against one of their fiercest rivals.
UNH’s play will be determined by the ability to adjust to the ice surface. Particularly in areas behind the net and along the faceoff hash marks, they will need to modify their play. This will also be UNH’s first game of the new year, whereas NU has already played twice. UNH will need to work off any rust it may have encountered in its time off.
