BY RANDY SCHULTZ –
Women’s Hockey has returned to Niagara University.
Twelve years after NU Administrative officials announced that the University was cancelling the Division I Women’s Ice Hockey program, a women’s club hockey program program was organized. Play began this Fall in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), with NU competing in Division II of the ACHA Women’s League.
Historically speaking, the original NU Women’s Hockey program lasted 12 seasons (1998-2010). The team even made it to the Frozen Four in 2002.
Then on March 19, 2010, without any warning, the DI program was cancelled.
Now a new women’s hockey history is being written by the Purple Eagles. With Anna Quattro coaching the team, Ashley Beebe as assistant coach and Sara Primiano named its President, women’s hockey is back at NU’s Dwyer Arena.
“Our boss, Tom Mooradian, who is director of club hockey at Niagara, was asked to put a women’s team together last December,” recalled Quattro. “They had just added another men’s club hockey team here, so they began putting together a women’s team.
“Tom is the one who recruited all the players on the women’s team for this year. He’s the one who hired me, bought team jersey’s and planned the whole season.”
What made Quattro pursue the head coaching position with the team?
“I played with Ashley here at Niagara when we were in college,” answered Quattro. “I love the university and I love coaching.
“I enjoy working with Tom and Ashley. It was the perfect package for me to become a part of.”
With only 12 players on the roster, Quattro admits that things can get a little difficult at times.
“Recruiting was not easy,” said Quattro. “That’s why Tom only got 12 girls on the team.
“It’s hard to run practices with only 12 players. You’re always worried that someone is going to get hurt.
“The good news is that we’ve already committed five players to play for next season. We’re looking at getting as many as 25 next season.
“We’re looking into the possibility of playing ACHA Division I next year.”
Those 12 players include: Primiano, Daphnee Goudreau, MacKenzie Coyle, Mary Whelen, Haylee Luderman, Grace Miller.
Jessica Yu, Courtney Schum, Mya Teijeira, Zoe Hallowell, Skylar Berube and Morgan Brown.
How does this team look to Quattro for this season?
“Goaltending will win games in women’s hockey,” stated the NU head coach. “Defense will win games in women’s hockey.
“That is what we will concentrate on this year. We have a good defensive corps this year. Offense will take care of itself.
“We have a ‘team first’ mentality on this team. Keep a positive attitude and work with each other. We encourage that on our team.
“I just expect our team to play hard every game. Hopefully we will make it to the Nationals. Just try to stay positive all season.”
Beebe has close ties to the University as well.
“I played youth hockey here and then came back later to attend college here,” said Beebe. “To see this program start back up and have great funding, it’s great to see great support from NU for the team.”
Beebe admits that the way the team plays reflects the positions both coaches played during their playing days.
“I played defense and Anna was a goaltender,” stated Beebe. “We have two very defensive coaches.
“We’re opposites when it comes to coaching. Anna is very talkative and outgoing while I’m more like the quiet type of leader.
“We’re both just happy that women’s hockey is back and that’s it’s growing.”
Quattro summed up the NU women’s hockey team and its future.
“The plan is to get our program now and move it up to an ACHA DI program,” concluded Quattro. “Our hope is to eventually have two women’s teams here at the ACHA level.
“NU will be a hockey hotbed and a premier destination for girls to play hockey at in the Buffalo area.”
(Photos by Janet Schultz Photography/NY Hockey OnLine)
