By Janet Schultz, NYHOL Writer/Photographer
(Feature Photo is file copy)
Well the season came to an end with most Championships in women’s hockey being completed just before the cancellation of events due to CoVID 19. In the women’s collegiate hockey scene, only the biggest Championship was canceled…the NCAA Frozen Four.
With that being said, the Schultz’s, your NYHOL staff that covers women’s hockey, had it’s own challenges this season. Randy had cancer surgery in August, back surgery in November and with recuperation they did not make as many collegiate games as they usually did. In fact, for the first time in many years Janet never made it to RIT for their media day or a game and she apologizes. We are hoping things will be better in the Fall and we look forward to the 20-21 season.
While Janet and Randy may not have gotten to the arenas, they did follow the teams and thank the Sports Information people at each College for making sure press releases were sent and the web sites were up-to-date! This is one time when the world wide web kept NYHOL going.
So without further ado, here is a recap of the season, with photos from Janet’s archives!
North
Potsdam
Potsdam was eliminated from post-season playoffs after Cortland won their final game. Potsdam recorded a 10-12-1 season
Kaylee Merrill was named to the NEWHL All Rookie Team and Senior Delphine Leonard was named to the NEWHL Second Team.
Congratulations to Seniors Miranda Kolb (Watertown/SUNY Cortland), Lucy Condon, Shelbi Thacker, Kayla McCabe (Watertown/Syracuse Nationals) and Alex Pfeiffer.
Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh followed their historical trail of wins with a 26-1-0 season trip to the NEWHL Tournament and a win at that Tournament. They beat Cortland 3-0 in the semi-finals; Oswego 6-1 in the Championship game.
With plans to go to the NCAA DIII Tournament, they found it canceled due to the nation-wide Corona Virus. They would have played Norwich, ranked #8. Plattsburgh took their 8th consecutive conference championship and were seeded #1 for this year’s Frozen Four, looking for their sixth national championship in 7 years.
With all that they still recorded numerous accolades for the team and players.
Annie Katonka was named NEWHL Player of the Year
Ashley Davis, NEWHL Goaltender of the Year
Head Coach Kevin Houle and Assistant Coach Julia Duquette received the NEWHL Coaching Staff of the Year Award. Houle is in his 17th season and Duquette, who joined the team this season as an assistant, comes from a coaching position at Bishop Kearney in Rochester. She played four seasons with Plattsburgh (all winning seasons) and four years with the Monsignor Martin Girls Varsity Hockey team in the WNY Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League.
Hannah Kiraly, Erin McArdle, Sara Krauseneck and Taylor Whitney were named to the All NEWHL Team and Ivy Boric and Kendall Wasik to the NEWHL All Rookie Team.
Katonka had 21 goals/20 assists; Krauseneck, 19 goals/16 assists; Boric 10 goals/25 assists led the scoring leader board. In Goal it was Davis with a 19-0-0 record and six shutouts.
Seniors Jen Manning, Hannah Kiraly and Sarah Wolf (Fairport/Boston Shamrocks Elite/Buffalo Bisons) have been part of the 107-8-3 record, two national championships and four conference championships
Clarkson
Another NYS team that has numerous championships and continues it history of winning. They ended with a 25-6-6 record.
In the ECAC they beat Colgate twice in the Best of Three quarterfinals and lost to Princeton in the semis. Their quest to the NCAA Tournament, where they would have faced the University of Wisconsin was canceled.
This season’s top scorers included Elizabeth Giguere with 37 goals/29 assists and Gabrielle David, 14 goals, 24 assists.
In Goal Marie-Pier Coulombe had a 23-6-5 record with seven shutouts and a .949 save percentage.
Clarkson says good-bye to Seniors Michaela Pejzlova, Ella Shelton Katherine Beaumier, Cartram Longergan, Taylor Turnquist and Kayla Friesen,
Turnquist and Friesen were selected in the 2020 NWHL draft. Turnquist went in the fourth round to Boston and Friesen went second over all to the Whale.
These Clarkson players have been recognized with several honors this season:
Marie Pier Coulombe: Second Team ECAC All Star and ECAC Goaltender of the Month finalist
Gabrielle David: USHO Rookie of the Year; ECAC Rookie of the Year and ECAC All Rookie Team
Elizabeth Giguere: Patty Kazmaier Award Winner; First Team All American, ECAC Player of the Year, ECAC Best Forward and First Team ECAC All Star.
Ella Shelton: Second Team All American, ECAC Best Defenseman finalist, First Team ECAC All Star and All USHO Second Team All Star
Head Coach Matt Desrosiers is in his 11th year. He is a three-time Coach of the Year and has guided the Knights to three NCAA National Championships. He has established this team as one of the premiere women’s hockey programs in the NCAA.
Canton
The Roos season ended with a 2-1 loss to Oswego and a 8-16-1 record.
Alex Parigi was named NEWHL Player of the Week and Hanna Desrochers was NEWHL Rookie of the Week on February 18.
One player graduates this year and that is Brook Susac.
Heading the leader board this season were Breanna Bedborough with 7 goals/10 assists; Sara Kosnaskrie, 9/4; Alex Parigi, 7/5 and Meghan Best 4/8.
In goal were Susac with 796 minutes played and a 2-10-0 record with one shutout and Sirena Alvarez with 619 minutes played and a 5-5-1 record and two shutouts.
Coach Dave Labaff is in his sixth season with the Roos.
St. Lawrence
Coming off a 13-16-7 record the Saints were handed two losses from Cornell in the ECAC Quarterfinals, ending their season.
Kayla Vespa had 13 goals and 20 assists to tie up first place on the scoring list for the season. Also with 23 points were i Anna Segedi with 11 goals and 12 assists and Sharlynn Snow with 6 goals and 17 assists.
Keeping the puck from going in was Goalie Lucy Morgan who in 1507 minutes had an 8-12-7 record with four shutouts and a .928 save percentage. She was named to the ECAC Hockey All Rookie Team and to the ECAC Third Team.
Graduating are Jaimee Cook, Jacquie Deffley, Kali Grant (Potsdam/Nepean Jr. Wildcats), Vespa, Steph Keryluk, Dakota Golde, Maggie McLaughlin and Amanda Butterfield.
Coach Chris Wells is in his 12th season with the Roos.
Northern Notes
Jordan Ott has taken a position as Head Coach of the Womens Ice Hockey Team at Kings College. She will be the third coach in the history of the DIII program. Prior to this she was a volunteer assistant coach at Potsdam, Head Coach of the Softball team at Potsdam and played four years of ice hockey at Potsdam. She also played one season for the NWHL Buffalo Beauts.
