The SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey team posted a 9-14-2 overall record last season, including a 4-13-1 mark in the ECAC West. Defensively, the Bears put together their best season ever. Potsdam set program single-season records for the fewest goals allowed (73), fewest shots allowed (756) and goals-against-average (2.90). Six of the team’s losses were decided by two or fewer goals. The Bears’ biggest challenge last season came at the other end of the ice.
“We’ve fallen short offensively for the last couple years,” said 10th year head coach Jay Green. “I feel like I can be quite critical of my players, but I can honestly say I’ve walked away the last two years and feeling they’ve done everything we’ve asked. The effort’s been there. The execution’s been there. We just haven’t been able to finish. We’re hopeful that our returners and some of our young players will help us increase goals scored.”
Potsdam lost the offense of Alison Greene and the leadership of Sally Mooney, Katie Marsman and Abby Tardelli to graduation, but expect new faces and leadership to step up to fill their skates.
Seniors Kaylen Van Wagner (Red Hook, N.Y./Hotchkiss) and Amanda Peterson (West Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers) serve as co-captains this season. Senior defenseman Kady Hart (Potsdam, N.Y./North Country Ice Storm) and junior forward Anna-Rose Bertin (Marathon, Ontario/Canadian International Hockey Academy) will be assistant captains.
“Kaylen has demonstrated leadership qualities since her arrival and I am excited to see her in this role,” said Green. “She is a very poised individual that speaks with confidence and calm, which is constructive character in the locker room. She is also very supportive of her teammates and genuinely cares about the people around her.”
“Amanda in a captain’s role is also great choice by her peers. She is a silent leader who comes to the rink every day, whether it be a practice or a game, and comes to play. Amanda leads by example with hard work and a positive approach in all situations, which is visible to all of us.”
“Kady possesses a constructive leadership voice both on the ice and in the locker room. She has demonstrated a great work ethic and level of improvement as a player since her arrival and all of us respect and admire that. She is a great people person as well, which earned her the position of assistant captain.”
“Anna the Rose Bertin is a silent leader type as well. She is an all-around quality person and athlete. She is great in the locker room and very supportive of her teammates both on and off the ice. Anna-Rose is consistent in her play and demeanor in competition and is an encouraging presence at all times.”
Of the 21 players on the 2016-17 roster, nine are new to the program. The Bears have five seniors, four juniors and three returning sophomores to go with one new sophomore and a large class of eight freshmen.
FORWARD
Offensively, the Bears will miss double-digit scorers Greene and Mooney, but return All-USCHO and ECAC West Selection Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y./Rochester Edge). Ott registered 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points last year. Her 47 career goals are the program record and she ranks third in all-time points with 84. With another typical season, Ott will graduate as the women’s hockey program’s all-time leading scorer.
Bertin was third on the team in scoring last season with eight goals, including a team-leading four power-play markers, and six assists for 14 points, while playing in all 25 games. As a freshman last season, Jenna Patterson (Boissevain, Manitoba/Westman Wildcats) totaled six goals and four assists after seeing time in every contest.
“Anna-Rose has shown that she can score goals,” said Green. “She has increased her goal scoring totals in each of her first two seasons. As a junior we are hopeful that she will continue the trend and reach double-digits this year. She’s got a lot of potential, and we need her to find the back of the net.”
Five other forwards return this season. Peterson scored a career-high five goals last year to go with three assists in 24 games. Brenna Wilson (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators), Jaci Morr (Monroe, Mich./Team Detroit) and Taylor Marcellus (Waddington, N.Y./Ontario Hockey Academy) comprise the veteran junior forwards. Wilson had three goals and two assists for five points in 25 games. Morr was limited to 11 contests in 2015-16 and chipped in a goal and a helper. Marcellus had two assists in 15 games during her debut campaign with the Bears. Sophomore Tatum Walber (Orchard Park, N.Y./Buffalo Regals) is also back to give Potsdam another experienced presence up front.
Freshmen Lane Perl (Fulton, N.Y./Syracuse Nationals), Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario/Waterloo Ravens) and Karina Villalobos (Woodhaven, Mich./Little Caesar’s) join the Potsdam attack this season.
“Lane played defense last year, but will be moved to forward,” said Green. “She is a solid, hardworking player with growth potential. She plays with intensity and has good puck handling skills. Lucy has great speed and quickness and a good shot. She handles the puck very well and competes at a high level. Karina also has great speed, quickness and very good puck handling skills. She will be a great asset on the forecheck and will create havoc for our opponents.”
DEFENSE
Three seniors and a sophomore return to Potsdam’s blue line this year. Van Wagner and sophomore Rylie Murray (Berkley, Mich./Honeybaked) will anchor the defensive corps. Van Wagner continued to provide consistent play in the defensive zone last season, but also broke out offensively with a goal and six assists, while seeing action in all 25 games. Murray made an immediate impact in her first season, both on defense and with four goals and four assists on the attack. After transferring from St. Scholastica last year, Madison Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/The College of St. Scholastica) gave Potsdam another sturdy and veteran defenseman. She saw plenty of ice time in every game in 2015-16. Hart had a goal and an assist in addition to providing valuable leadership in her 25 games.
“They’re a very stable foursome,” Green said. “They’re going to be depended upon to show good leadership and continue to play well.”
Sophomore Nicole Watson (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Colorado Selects) and freshmen Delphine Léonard (Montreal, Quebec/Dawson College Prep) and Shelbi Thacker (Chesterfield, Mich./Honeybaked) look to bolster an already solid Bears defense.
“Nicole is a stay at home defender who is very efficient in her approach to the game,” said Green. “She is a great passer with vision and has a good, hard, quick release when shooting the puck. Delphine possesses creative trickery as a defenseman. She also has great vision and is an escape artist when under pressure in her own zone. She will be fun to watch. Shelbi is a powerful skater and has a physical presence to her game. She handles the puck very well and can shoot the biscuit. She too has great vision and competes.”
GOAL
Tardelli played every second in goal for the Bears last season before graduating, racking up nine wins, a 2.92 G.A.A. and a .903 save percentage. Three freshmen newcomers from diverse regions have arrived to continue Potsdam’s tradition of strong goaltending. Alexa Pfeiffer (Sylvania, Ohio/Little Caesar’s) arrives from Ohio with Winnipeg’s Nicole Whitesell (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Balmoral Hall). Watertown native Kayla McCabe (Watertown, N.Y./Syracuse, N.Y.) heads up Route 11 to give the Bears even more depth between the pipes.
“Alexa has good size and is very mobile in the net,” Green Said. “She is aggressive in her approach and challenges the shooter. Whitesell has a track record of coming up big in big game situations. McCabe is a standup style of goaltender.”
SCHEDULE
The Bears will play their usual 18 games in the nation’s toughest conference. ECAC West play opens with a 5 p.m. battle at home against SUNY Cortland on Friday, Nov. 4, to kick off a home-and-home series. Their nonconference slate includes seven contests against familiar foes. Potsdam will play a home-and-home series with Saint Michael’s and Canton, two home games against New England College and a single home contest against Hamilton.
The Bears open the 2016-17 season this Friday when they host the Purple Knights of Saint Michael’s College at 4 p.m.
