The William Smith College ice hockey team begins the program’s historic first season with a pair of games at the University of Massachusetts – Boston this weekend.
The Herons will compete in the ECAC West where they will square off with Buffalo State, Chatham, Cortland, Elmira, Neumann, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam and Utica.
“The team has a lot of pride in starting this program off on the right foot,” Head Coach Jaime Totten<http://hwsathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=454> said. “They really want to build a solid foundation for years to come. I can see that in the competitive level that they bring to practice every day. One thing I am looking to see this year is that they carry that ambition with them from start to finish each night and I have no doubt in my mind that this team will compete to the very end.”
Forwards
Rachel McKay<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5546>, Sarah Garrett<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5544>, Catherine Linehan<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5545>, Abigail Symes<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5551>, Johanna Slicklen<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5550>, Krista Federow<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5542>,Dori Craig<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5539>, Kiley Fewster<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5543>, Ashley Bermingham<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5536>, Morgan Bayreuther<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5534>, Andie Plumeri<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5548> and Lizzy Weingast<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5553>will make up the offensive lines for the Herons.
“We have some good skill up front,” Totten said. “The forwards have good shots and good quick releases. They also have the skating ability to help the transition game in both the defensive and neutral zones.”
Defense
Megan Wilmot<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5554>, Grace Durham<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5541>, Hedi Droste<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5540>, Rebecca Begley<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5535>, and Emily Burton<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5538> will all compete for playing time in the defensive end.
“Our defense has made a lot of improvements in camp,” Totten said. “They are good skaters and puck handlers that should be able to help out on the offensive rushes. They are still learning that they need to be backbone in the defensive zone during long shifts and penalty kills.”
Goalies
Megan Messuri<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5547>, Maggie Salmon<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5549>, Emily Spencer<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5552> and Laurel Brown<http://hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5537> are vying for playing time between the pipes for William Smith.
“Goaltending should be a position of strength for us,” Totten said. “They are a young group so they are still learning the mental toughness that it will take to play in goal night in and night out at the college level.”
Schedule
After opening the season in Boston, the Herons will have a home and home with Utica to open conference play. Saturday, Nov. 8, will be the first home game at The Cooler for William Smith. Pregame festivities will include a ceremonial puck drop at center ice and giveaways to fans in attendance. Defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Plattsburgh will make a trip to Geneva Jan. 16-17. William Smith will have a home and home with preseason No. 3 and 2013 national champion Elmira Feb. 13-14. The Herons will close out the regular season with a pair of games against Cortland on Feb. 21-22. In all, William Smith will play six games against teams in the USCHO and D3hockey.com polls preseason poll this season.
Fans in the Boston area are welcome to join the Heron Society and William Smith Athletic Director Deb Steward<http://hwsathletics.com/staff.aspx?staff=5> for a pregame tailgate in UMass-Boston’s Clark Athletic Center Lobby from 4:30-5:45 p.m. before Friday’s game vs the Beacons.
