Upcoming Event: Women's Ice Hockey versus Sacred Heart University (Exhibition) on September 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Women's Ice Hockey
vs Sacred Heart University (Exhibition)
3:00 PM
Providence College Athletics
2005-06 Women's Hockey Preview
9/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
The 2005-2006 women's hockey team enters the season in search of the program's third straight HOCKEY EAST title, and its fifth consecutive league title overall. Head Coach Bob Deraney and his team will be building upon the success of a 2004-2005 campaign that saw the Friars earn their first ever NCAA Tournament berth. For their efforts, the Friars ended the season with the No. 8 ranking in the final USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Poll and the USCHO.com Poll.
With a 2-1 defeat over Northeastern University at Schneider Arena on March 6, the Friars earned the HOCKEY EAST regular season title. With the momentum of both a six-game winning streak and being named co-regular season champions, the Friars pushed on to capture yet another playoff crown, defeating Boston College (9-1) and Connecticut (3-1) to capture the Hockey East Tournament title.
The Friars will have to overcome the loss of seven players from last season's roster due to graduation. The seven seniors include Mara Amrhein (Waukesha, Wis.), who battled injuries to finish with 16 games played and added five assists, Emily Gryp (Lexington, Mass.), who played in all 37 games and recorded 15 points on 15 assists, Danielle Bourgette (Anaheim, Calif.) who finished the year with 13 points (one goal, twelve assists), Rush Zimmerman (Grosse Pointe, Mich.), who finished with 57 points on 26 goals and 31 assists, Hilary Greaves (Cranston, R.I.), who netted 10 goals and five assists (15 points), and Christina Redmond (Dorchester, Mass.) who recorded two assists while seeing significant time on the penalty killing unit. Goalie Amy Thomas (Austin, Texas) finished the year with a 20-10-5 record with a 2.54 goals against average and a .896 save percentage.
The FORWARDS: Returning 8; Lost 3; Newcomers 4
The Friars finished the 2004-2005 season ranked second in HOCKEY EAST in goals scored with 65. Junior Karen Thatcher (Douglas, Mass.) finished second in conference scoring with 32 points. Thatcher showed dominance on her way to recording career highs in goals (25), assists (33), and points (58). Included among her 25 goals were a team leading six-game winning goals, three of which were in HOCKEY EAST play. For her efforts, she was named HOCKEY EAST CO-Player of the Year, HOCKEY EAST First Team All-Star, and New England Hockey Journal Player of the Year. Junior Sonny Watrous (Albuquerque, N.M.) also posted career highs in goals (21), assists (18) and points (39). She earned HOCKEY EAST All-Tournament Team honors, and will be looked upon for continued offensive growth after another year of experience in the league.
Senior Katelynn Laffin will provide additional scoring depth as well as leadership for the Friar lineup. A consistent two-way player for the Friars, she contributed 16 points last season on eight goals and eight assists, all career highs.
After gaining valuable experience and playing time in the 2004-2005 season, the sophmore forwards, Rachel Crissy (Naperville, Ill.), Kelli Doolin (Dorchester, Mass.), Cherie Hendrickson (Boxford, Mass.), and Jenna Keilch (Clinton Township, Mich), will look to have breakout seasons in 2005-2006. Led by Crissy, this group added scoring touch to the 2004-2005 squad. Crissy recorded 14 points (eight goals, six assists), including a game-winning goal versus Northeastern(1/22/05). Doolin added six goals and six assists, including the game winner versus New Hampshire (1/29/05). Hendrickson, who appeared in all 37 games, scored three goals to go along with four assists, while Keilch contributed six points (two goals, four assists).
The offensive attack will be bolstered by five new recruits the coaching staff has added to the roster. The new forwards include Katy Beach (Middleburg Heights, Ohio), Maura Grainger (Ithaca, N.Y.), Stephanie Morris (South Burlington, VT), and Brittany Lomond (Barrie, Ontario). Beach was a five-year letter winner in ice hockey and a four-year letter winner in track and field, and she finished her career with 134 goals and 101 assists. Grainger led her Ithaca High School hockey team to a section IV championship in 2005, and finished as the school's all-time leading scorer. Morris earned letters in field hockey and softball at South Burlington High School as well as in ice hockey at the North American Hockey Academy, where she registered 18 goals and 23 assists. Simpson enters Providence as a four-sport athlete who captained her rugby, ice hockey, and soccer teams. She was also named to the Team Ontario hockey team after the 2004-2005 hockey season.
The DEFENSE: Returning 3; Lost 3; Newcomers 3
With the guidance of junior defenseman Kristen Gigliotti (Sauquoit, N.Y.), the Friars will look to overcome the loss of Amrhein, Bourgette, and Gryp due to graduation. Gigliotti had a breakout year in 2004-2005, as she registered career highs in goals (6), assists (17), and points (23). She finished first in the league in scoring among defensemen, and also contributed two game-winning goals, including the HOCKEY EAST tournament winning goal. Sophomores Caitlin Malboeuf (Fairfield, Vt.) and Kathleen Smith (Waterloo, Ontario) will have increased responsibilities on the 2005-2006 squad. Smith impressed many in her first year with the Friars, recording two goals and 15 assists. She also registered a + 11 mark, a team best among defensemen. She was named to the ITECH All Rookie Team and to the HOCKEY EAST Second Team. Malboeuf gained valuable experience as she appeared in all 37 games for the Friars.
Joining the Friars to help provide depth and defensive help are freshmen Brittany Simpson (Dorchester, Mass.), Erin Normore (Cambridge, Ontario), and Meredith George (Westwood, Mass.). Lomond earned letters in soccer, ice hockey, and field hockey while attending Lawrence Academy. She also was team captain of her hockey team. Normore will add athleticism to the Friar lineup as a five-sport athlete, having earned letters in ice hockey, volleyball, basketball, badminton, and soccer at Monsignor Doyle Catholic. George earned letters in four varsity sports and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors at Cushing Academy following the 2004-2005 season. These newcomers should help the Friars maintain a level of excellence on the blueline.
In GOAL: Returning 2; Lost 1, Newcomers 1
The goaltending position should prove to be one of the most competitive positions of the 2005-2006 squad, with each goalie vying for more playing time. Senior Jana Bugden (Corner Brook,Newfoundland) missed all of the 2004-2005 season due to injury. She is striving to regain her form from the 2003-2004 season in which she backstopped the Friars to back-to-back HOCKEY EAST titles as a freshman and sophomore. With the departure of Thomas, junior Lauren Florio (North Providence, R.I.) became the only Friar goaltender to face collegiate level game action in 2004-2005, appearing in six games (starting two). Florio recorded a 3.30 goals against average and a .861 save percentage on her way to a 1-1 record. Bob Deraney and his coaching staff have also brought in Stacey Scott Messena, NY) to strengthen the goalie corps. She earned letters in hockey and soccer at Massena Central School. She captained the hockey team at the North American Hockey Academy, and led her squad to the Gold Medal at the Empire State Games in 2003 and 2004.
WRAP-UP:
The Friars have the challenge of once again defending their HOCKEY EAST Championship, and they look to be up to the task. To do so, new leaders must come to the forefront and help overcome significant losses from the 2004-2005 roster. With additional experience gained among the remaining players, and many superior athletes among the incoming freshman class, the Friars feel they have what it will take to contend for their fifth straight league title; get back to the national tournament, and ultimately compete for their first NCAA Championship.
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
/ Women's Ice Hockey
Forward
/ Women's Ice Hockey
Forward
/ Women's Ice Hockey
Goaltender
/ Women's Ice Hockey
Forward
/ Women's Ice Hockey
Forward
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Defense
/ Women's Ice Hockey
Defense
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Forward
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