Women's Ice Hockey Set To Play Exhibition Game Against Ontario Hockey Academy
Quinnipiac University Bobcats (0-0-0) vs.
Ontario Hockey Academy Mustangs (0-0-0)
TD Bank Sports Center - Hamden, Conn.
An Exhibition Matchup
The Quinnipiac University women's ice hockey team will kick off the season with a competitive scrimmage against the Ontario Hockey Academy Mustangs at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, on Friday Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. The game will be open to the public. Admission is free of charge.
Follow The Bobcats
Live Stats for Friday evening's game against the Ontario Hockey Academy will be available. To access live stats, please click on the appropriate links on women's ice hockey schedule at www.quinnipiacbobcats.com.
About The Ontario Hockey Academy Mustangs
The Ontario Hockey Academy is a High Performance Academic-Athletic accredited private preparatory school located in Cornwall, Ontario. It is dedicated to providing boys (Junior Prep, Major Midget AAA, Varsity Hockey) and girls (Intermediate AA, Midget AA) with the very best in academics along with elite hockey. The hockey program is designed to provide the student-athletes with maximum exposure by going to the biggest and most prestigious showcases and tournaments.
2010-11 ECAC Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll
The Quinnipiac University women's ice hockey team was selected to finish fourth in the 2010-11 ECAC Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Bobcats finished last season 11-4-7 in ECAC Hockey, clinching the program's first home playoff series and earning its first playoff victory.
Seeley Celebrated
In his second full season with Quinnipiac, Head Coach Rick Seeley was honored as the 2009-10 ECAC Women's Ice Hockey Coach of the Year. Seeley also finished runner-up for the American Hockey Coaches Association Women's Division I Coach of the Year award.
Historic Turnaround
Seeley and the Bobcats experienced one of the most impressive seasons in college hockey history in 2009-10. Seeley is the first coach in U.S. college hockey history, dating back to 1895, to lead his team, in consecutive seasons, to at least a 16 game improvement in both wins and losses. Quinnipiac improved from 3-26-5 in 2009-10 to 19-10-8 in 2009-10.
Top Ten Finish
Quinnipiac finished the 2009-10 season ranked 10th in the USCHO.com Division I Women's College Hockey Poll, the highest ranking received in program history. Leading up to the final polls of the season, Quinnipiac had received votes in six consecutive weeks.
Rookie Record-Breaker
Quinnipiac goaltender Victoria Vigilanti emerged as one of the most dominant goalies in Division I women's ice hockey during the 2009-10 season. Vigilanti was named ECAC Hockey Goalie and Rookie of the Year, as she compiled the best goals-against average (1.24) and save percentage (.950) in both the league and country. She was a four-time ECAC Hockey Goalie of the Week and a three-time ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week.
Defensive Dominance
The Bobcats hope to remain as defensively dominant as they did in 2009-10 when they led the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 1.38 goals per game. Juniors Bethany Dymarczyk (Hamden, Conn.) and Jordan Elkins (Wasilla, Alaska) are the elder members on defense, and are assisted by sophomore Regan Boulton (Brandon, Manitoba). The trio will mentor freshmen Kara Gust (Orland Park, Ill.), Kelly Lavallee (Salem, N.H.) and Shelby Wignall (Hamilton, Ontario) and Felicia Vieweg (Port Orange, Fla.).
Youth Movement
The Bobcats welcome 11 freshman skaters to the squad this season. In addition to the aforementioned defenders, forwards Kelly Babstock (Mississauga, Ontario), Erica Uden Johansson (Sundsvall, Sweden), Amanda Colin (Burnsville, Minn.), Lindsay Burman (Stanchfield, Minn.), Elena Orlando (Winters, Calif.), Megan Hagg (Ajax, Ontario), Emily MacKinnon (Kirkland, Quebec) and Olivia Brackett (Coopersville, Mich.) look to contribute to the Bobcats offense this season.
Season Opener
The Bobcats open the season when they travel to Dwyer Arena in Lewiston, N.Y. for a two-game set against Niagara on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2.