Completed Event: Women's Ice Hockey at Sacred Heart University on September 25, 2026 , Win , 4, to, 2
Women's Ice Hockey
at Sacred Heart University
Final
4
-
2
Providence College Athletics
Friday, October 2
Hamden, Conn.
3:00 PM
Providence College
at
Quinnipiac University
Women's Hockey Set To Face Off Against #6/6 Quinnipiac
10/1/2026 12:25:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
The Friars will start the series on the road vs. the Bobcats in Hamden, Conn. on Friday before hosting #6/6 Quinnipiac on Saturday.
GAME INFORMATION VS. QUINNIPIAC
OCTOBER 2 | M&T BANK ARENA | HAMDEN, CONN. | 3:00 PM
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OCTOBER 3 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 3:00 PM
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team will face off against their first ranked opponent #6/6 Quinnipiac this weekend in a non-conference matchup. Providence will head to Hamden, Conn. on Friday, Oct. 2 for a 3:00 p.m. puck drop at M&T Bank Arena before returning back home to host Quinnipiac at Schneider Arena on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:00 p.m.
SCOUTING THE FRIARS…
Providence enters the weekend matchup 2-0-0 after sweeping Sacred Heart in their season-opening series. On Friday, Sept. 25, the Friars defeated the Pioneers, 4-2, at Martire Family Arena, as Nicole Norton marked her first career win as head coach and three different Friars scored their first collegiate goals. On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Friars completed the sweep when they shut out the Pioneers, 3-0, in their home opener. Both teams skated scoreless the first two periods, then the Friars tallied three-consecutive goals in the third from freshmen Elizabeth Janovski (Stouffville, Ontario), Grace Van Volsen (Whitby, Ontario) and senior Audrey Knapp (Stevens Pointe, Wis.). Van Volsen led the Friars in her collegiate debut recording three goals in the two-game series. Knapp grabbed her 18th and 19th multi-point games, on one goal and three assists.
RETURNING FOR THE FRIARS…
Providence returns senior forward Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.), who reached 20-plus points for the second consecutive season last year. The rising senior posted seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points and was one of four Friars to reach the 20-point mark. In the 2024-25 season, Knapp was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star, tied for the conference lead in goals with 15 and finished the season with 35 points.
Senior forward Kiara Kraft (Churchville, N.Y.) and junior forward Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria) also return for the Friars. Both players recorded 10-plus points with Kraft recording five goals and seven assists for 12 points while Hofbauer posted five goals and five assists for 10 points.
On defense, junior Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.) led the returning defenseman last season in points with one goal and seven assists for eight points.
FRESH FRIAR FACES
Providence welcomes 10 new players (two transfers and eight freshmen) to the roster for the 2026-27 season. Reese Strauts (Brandon, Wis.) and Hanna Olson (Andover, Minn.) are two sophomore transfers from St. Cloud State University and St. Lawrence University, respectively. The eight freshmen are Bianca Birrittieri (Flower Mound, Texas), Avery Ide (Skaneateles, N.Y.), Elizabeth Janovski (Stouffville, Ontario), Reese Kletke (Oakville, Ontario), Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.), Mackenzie Riches (Pickering, Ontario), Cameryn Shiels (Surrey, British Columbia) and Grace Van Volsen (Whitby, Ontario).
NICOLE NORTON NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH
It was announced on Aug. 16 that Providence College women's ice hockey Head Coach Matt Kelly stepped down. Assistant Coach Nicole Norton will take over the program as interim head coach, while Assistant Coach Katie Burt will be elevated to interim associate head coach.
DANIELLE SLOMINSKI JOINS STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH
Head Coach Nicole Norton announced on Sept. 21 that Danielle Slominski has joined her staff as an assistant coach. Slominski spent the last two seasons at the University of Vermont, where she served as an assistant coach and director of hockey operations.
SANDRA ABSTREITER WINS WALTER CUP
Former Friar goaltender Sandra Abstreiter was a member of the Montréal Victoire PWHL team that won the Walter Cup in the 2025-26 season. Abstreiter became the first Friar to win the Walter Cup.
CINDY CURLEY TO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
Cindy Curley '85 will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 as announced on June 22, 2026. Curley ranks third all-time in Providence history with 225 career points and helped lead the Friars to their first two ECAC Championship titles in 1984 and 1985. She will join Cammi Granato '93 as the only Friar women's hockey alumni inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The induction will be held on November 9 in Toronto, Ontario.
BIANCA BIRRITTIERI WINS GOLD
Freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri won gold with the United States national team at the U18 Women's World Championship in Cape Breton, Canada on Sunday, Jan. 18. Birrittieri played in four games for the United States and posted a 0.50 goals-against average, a .975 save percentage, two shutouts and a 4-0-0 record. In the gold medal game against Canada, Birrittieri recorded a shutout with 38 saves and was named Player of the Game. Birrittieri, originally from Flower Mound, Texas, will join the Friars next season.
BIANCA BIRRITTIERI AND MIRELLA MARTINELLI INVITED TO USA HOCKEY WOMEN'S NATIONAL FESTIVAL
Freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri (Flower Mound, Texas) and freshman defenseman Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.) were invited to the 2026 USA Hockey Women's National Festival on Aug. 2-9 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. The group was comprised of 46 collegiate players and 46 players under the age of 18. The festival marked Birrittieri's third appearance and Martinelli's second at the Festival.
REICHEN KIRCHMAIR SELECTED IN 2026 PWHL DRAFT
Former Friars Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) '26 was selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft. Kirchmair was chosen in the sixth round (64th overall) by PWHL San Jose. Kirchmair becomes the fifth Friar in program history to be selected in the PWHL Draft, joining Sandra Abstreiter '22, '23G (2023), Noemi Neubauerová '23G (2024), Sara Hjalmarsson '22, '23G (2025) and Brooke Becker '24, '25G (2025).
FORMER FRIARS AT THE OLYMPICS
Former Providence College women's ice hockey players Sandra Abstreiter (Germany) '22, '23G, Sara Hjalmarsson (Sweden) '22, '23G and Noemi Neubauerová (Czechia) '23G have been selected to their respective national team rosters for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 5–19 in Italy. Abstreiter will be making her first Olympic appearance, Hjalmarsson her third and Neubauerová her second.
HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Friars were picked to finish ninth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, which was released on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Northeastern was picked first with 89 points overall and eight first place votes.
CAPTAINS NAMED
Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Audrey Knapp were named captains for the 2026-27 season. Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria) was named an alternate captain.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS… Quinnipiac University enter the weekend as No. 6 in the USCHO and USA Hockey polls. The Bobcats are 2-0-0 as they swept Maine in their 2026-27 season-opening series. They won their first game, 2-1, at Alfond Arena on Friday Sept. 25, and then completed the sweep the next day in a 4-1 victory. This Friday will be the Bobcats home opener. The Bobcats were ranked first in the ECAC Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll after receiving 112 points with six first-place votes. This is the first time in a decade Quinnipiac were selected as the preseason ECAC favorite.
WHO TO WATCH FOR QUINNIPIAC… Senior forward Kahlen Lamarche was a unanimous preseason selection as last season she earned AHCA Second Team All-America honors, and was first place in program history to be named a Patty Kazmaier Award Top-10 Finalist. Also named All-USCHO Second Team and All-ECAC First Team. Last season, she recorded 64 points on 42 goals and 22 assists as she led the nation in goals and ranked third in points.
In goal, Felicia Frank is coming off a historic season, being named a Top-3 Finalist for National Goaltender of the Year while earning All-USCHO Second Team, ECAC Goaltender of the Year, All-ECAC First Team, and ECAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In her sophomore season she posted a 29-9-3 record with a 1.56 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage including 10 shutouts. Frank totaled 1,035 saves in a single-season.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE BOBCATS… Providence leads the all-time series, 11-8-2. Providence's last victory against Quinnipiac came on Oct. 8, 2024, in a 3-2 win at Schneider Arena. Their last victory at Quinnipiac came during the 2022 season where the Friars claimed a 3-2 victory. The teams met at Schneider Arena last October, where the Bobcats claimed a 5-2 victory in game one and swept the Friars, 5-0, the next day in game two at Quinnipiac.
-GO FRIARS!-
OCTOBER 2 | M&T BANK ARENA | HAMDEN, CONN. | 3:00 PM
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OCTOBER 3 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 3:00 PM
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team will face off against their first ranked opponent #6/6 Quinnipiac this weekend in a non-conference matchup. Providence will head to Hamden, Conn. on Friday, Oct. 2 for a 3:00 p.m. puck drop at M&T Bank Arena before returning back home to host Quinnipiac at Schneider Arena on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:00 p.m.
SCOUTING THE FRIARS…
Providence enters the weekend matchup 2-0-0 after sweeping Sacred Heart in their season-opening series. On Friday, Sept. 25, the Friars defeated the Pioneers, 4-2, at Martire Family Arena, as Nicole Norton marked her first career win as head coach and three different Friars scored their first collegiate goals. On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Friars completed the sweep when they shut out the Pioneers, 3-0, in their home opener. Both teams skated scoreless the first two periods, then the Friars tallied three-consecutive goals in the third from freshmen Elizabeth Janovski (Stouffville, Ontario), Grace Van Volsen (Whitby, Ontario) and senior Audrey Knapp (Stevens Pointe, Wis.). Van Volsen led the Friars in her collegiate debut recording three goals in the two-game series. Knapp grabbed her 18th and 19th multi-point games, on one goal and three assists.
RETURNING FOR THE FRIARS…
Providence returns senior forward Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.), who reached 20-plus points for the second consecutive season last year. The rising senior posted seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points and was one of four Friars to reach the 20-point mark. In the 2024-25 season, Knapp was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star, tied for the conference lead in goals with 15 and finished the season with 35 points.
Senior forward Kiara Kraft (Churchville, N.Y.) and junior forward Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria) also return for the Friars. Both players recorded 10-plus points with Kraft recording five goals and seven assists for 12 points while Hofbauer posted five goals and five assists for 10 points.
On defense, junior Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.) led the returning defenseman last season in points with one goal and seven assists for eight points.
FRESH FRIAR FACES
Providence welcomes 10 new players (two transfers and eight freshmen) to the roster for the 2026-27 season. Reese Strauts (Brandon, Wis.) and Hanna Olson (Andover, Minn.) are two sophomore transfers from St. Cloud State University and St. Lawrence University, respectively. The eight freshmen are Bianca Birrittieri (Flower Mound, Texas), Avery Ide (Skaneateles, N.Y.), Elizabeth Janovski (Stouffville, Ontario), Reese Kletke (Oakville, Ontario), Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.), Mackenzie Riches (Pickering, Ontario), Cameryn Shiels (Surrey, British Columbia) and Grace Van Volsen (Whitby, Ontario).
NICOLE NORTON NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH
It was announced on Aug. 16 that Providence College women's ice hockey Head Coach Matt Kelly stepped down. Assistant Coach Nicole Norton will take over the program as interim head coach, while Assistant Coach Katie Burt will be elevated to interim associate head coach.
DANIELLE SLOMINSKI JOINS STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH
Head Coach Nicole Norton announced on Sept. 21 that Danielle Slominski has joined her staff as an assistant coach. Slominski spent the last two seasons at the University of Vermont, where she served as an assistant coach and director of hockey operations.
SANDRA ABSTREITER WINS WALTER CUP
Former Friar goaltender Sandra Abstreiter was a member of the Montréal Victoire PWHL team that won the Walter Cup in the 2025-26 season. Abstreiter became the first Friar to win the Walter Cup.
CINDY CURLEY TO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
Cindy Curley '85 will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 as announced on June 22, 2026. Curley ranks third all-time in Providence history with 225 career points and helped lead the Friars to their first two ECAC Championship titles in 1984 and 1985. She will join Cammi Granato '93 as the only Friar women's hockey alumni inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The induction will be held on November 9 in Toronto, Ontario.
BIANCA BIRRITTIERI WINS GOLD
Freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri won gold with the United States national team at the U18 Women's World Championship in Cape Breton, Canada on Sunday, Jan. 18. Birrittieri played in four games for the United States and posted a 0.50 goals-against average, a .975 save percentage, two shutouts and a 4-0-0 record. In the gold medal game against Canada, Birrittieri recorded a shutout with 38 saves and was named Player of the Game. Birrittieri, originally from Flower Mound, Texas, will join the Friars next season.
BIANCA BIRRITTIERI AND MIRELLA MARTINELLI INVITED TO USA HOCKEY WOMEN'S NATIONAL FESTIVAL
Freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri (Flower Mound, Texas) and freshman defenseman Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.) were invited to the 2026 USA Hockey Women's National Festival on Aug. 2-9 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. The group was comprised of 46 collegiate players and 46 players under the age of 18. The festival marked Birrittieri's third appearance and Martinelli's second at the Festival.
REICHEN KIRCHMAIR SELECTED IN 2026 PWHL DRAFT
Former Friars Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) '26 was selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft. Kirchmair was chosen in the sixth round (64th overall) by PWHL San Jose. Kirchmair becomes the fifth Friar in program history to be selected in the PWHL Draft, joining Sandra Abstreiter '22, '23G (2023), Noemi Neubauerová '23G (2024), Sara Hjalmarsson '22, '23G (2025) and Brooke Becker '24, '25G (2025).
FORMER FRIARS AT THE OLYMPICS
Former Providence College women's ice hockey players Sandra Abstreiter (Germany) '22, '23G, Sara Hjalmarsson (Sweden) '22, '23G and Noemi Neubauerová (Czechia) '23G have been selected to their respective national team rosters for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 5–19 in Italy. Abstreiter will be making her first Olympic appearance, Hjalmarsson her third and Neubauerová her second.
HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Friars were picked to finish ninth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, which was released on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Northeastern was picked first with 89 points overall and eight first place votes.
CAPTAINS NAMED
Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Audrey Knapp were named captains for the 2026-27 season. Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria) was named an alternate captain.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS… Quinnipiac University enter the weekend as No. 6 in the USCHO and USA Hockey polls. The Bobcats are 2-0-0 as they swept Maine in their 2026-27 season-opening series. They won their first game, 2-1, at Alfond Arena on Friday Sept. 25, and then completed the sweep the next day in a 4-1 victory. This Friday will be the Bobcats home opener. The Bobcats were ranked first in the ECAC Hockey Preseason Coaches' Poll after receiving 112 points with six first-place votes. This is the first time in a decade Quinnipiac were selected as the preseason ECAC favorite.
WHO TO WATCH FOR QUINNIPIAC… Senior forward Kahlen Lamarche was a unanimous preseason selection as last season she earned AHCA Second Team All-America honors, and was first place in program history to be named a Patty Kazmaier Award Top-10 Finalist. Also named All-USCHO Second Team and All-ECAC First Team. Last season, she recorded 64 points on 42 goals and 22 assists as she led the nation in goals and ranked third in points.
In goal, Felicia Frank is coming off a historic season, being named a Top-3 Finalist for National Goaltender of the Year while earning All-USCHO Second Team, ECAC Goaltender of the Year, All-ECAC First Team, and ECAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. In her sophomore season she posted a 29-9-3 record with a 1.56 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage including 10 shutouts. Frank totaled 1,035 saves in a single-season.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE BOBCATS… Providence leads the all-time series, 11-8-2. Providence's last victory against Quinnipiac came on Oct. 8, 2024, in a 3-2 win at Schneider Arena. Their last victory at Quinnipiac came during the 2022 season where the Friars claimed a 3-2 victory. The teams met at Schneider Arena last October, where the Bobcats claimed a 5-2 victory in game one and swept the Friars, 5-0, the next day in game two at Quinnipiac.
-GO FRIARS!-
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