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 9
Providence, R.I.
2:00 PM
Providence College
vs
#7/6 Northeastern University
Photo by: Jay Ruzicka
Women's Hockey Set For Hockey East Weekend Against No. 7/6 Northeastern and Boston College
10/8/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
The Friars will start the weekend at home vs No. 7/6 Northeastern in Providence, R.I. on Friday before going on the road to play Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. on Saturday.
GAME INFORMATION VS. NO. 7/6 NORTHEASTERN
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OCTOBER 9 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 2:00 PM
Watch Live on ESPN+
Live Stats
Game Day Program
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GAME INFORMATION VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
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OCTOBER 10 | CONTE FORUM | CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. | 2:00 PM
Watch Live on ESPN+
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Instagram (@PCWHockey)
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team is set to open Hockey East play when they host No. 7/6 Northeastern on Friday, Oct. 9 at 2:00 p.m. at Schneider Arena before traveling to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to face Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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SCOUTING THE FRIARS…
Providence enters the weekend matchup 2-2-0 overall after being swept by No. 5/5 Quinnipiac in last weekend's series. On Friday, Oct. 2, the Friars fell to the Bobcats, 3-1, at M&T Bank Arena, as junior Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ontario) scored the lone goal for the Friars. Sophomore goaltender Mallory Hartl (Askov, Minn.) made a career high 38 saves. On Saturday, Oct. 3 the Friars were defeated by the Bobcats, 6-1, in Schneider Arena. Sophomore Bella Paolucci (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) scored the lone goal in the Friars loss. Â
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RETURNING FOR THE FRIARS… Â
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.Â
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).Â
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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SCOUTING THE HUSKIES… Northeastern enters Friday's matchup as No. 7/6 in the polls. The Huskies open the season 0-1-0 overall as they fell to RPI, 2-1, in overtime Friday, Oct. 2. This Friday will be the Hockey East opener for the Huskies. Northeastern was picked as champions in the Hockey East Preseason Poll after receiving 89 points including eight first place votes. During the 2025 season, the Huskies earned Hockey East Regular Season Champions and completed another Frozen Four run, marking the fourth time in program history.
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WHO TO WATCH FOR NORTHEASTERN… Sophomore forward Stryker Zablocki comes into her second season after being named both Hockey East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year last season, the first in Husky history. Zablocki was a unanimous Hockey East First Team All-Star, the Hockey East scoring champion and named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. In her freshman season, she posted 45 points on 20 goals and 25 assists as she led Northeastern and ranked fourth amongst all freshmen in the NCAA.
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In goal, Lisa Jönsson returns to the Huskies after being named a National Goalie of the Year Semifinalist and Hockey East Second Team All-Star. The junior finished her sophomore season with a 1.73 GAA and a .939 save percentage. She tied for the sixth-best mark in the nation by earning 21 wins during the 2025-26 season. Jönsson posted four shutouts and 803 saves in a single-season.Â
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ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE HUSKIES… Providence trails the all-time series, 68-74-13. Providence's last victory against Northeastern came on Jan. 18, 2025, in a 3-2 win on the road. The Friars were able to sweep the series, as they beat the Huskies, 5-1, the day prior at Schneider Arena. The teams met most recently at Schneider Arena this past February, where the Huskies claimed a 4-2 victory.
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SCOUTING THE EAGLES… BC enters Saturday's matchup with a 1-0-0 overall record. The Eagles opened the season with a 17-0 shutout against Stonehill, setting a program record. The 17-goal margin of victory is the largest in NCAA women's hockey history. Eleven different players scored in the BC victory. The Eagles will open Hockey East play on Friday, Oct. 9, against Holy Cross. BC was picked to finish third in Hockey East this season, grabbing 64 points.
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WHO TO WATCH FOR BOSTON COLLEGE… Sophomore forward Ava Thomas returns for her second season after being named Hockey East Rookie of the Year and a part of the Hockey East First Team and All-Rookie Team. Thomas, in her freshman campaign, led the Eagles with 46 points on 19 goals and 27 assists. Thomas led Hockey East in points while pacing all rookies in scoring. In their season opener, Thomas recorded a hat trick to lead the Eagles.Â
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Another sophomore returner, Maxim Tremblay, comes into her second season with the Eagles after being named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team last season. She posted 22 points in her freshman campaign on 11 goals and 11 assists. In BC's season opener against Stonehill, Tremblay recorded two goals and two assists.Â
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ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE EAGLES… Providence leads the all-time series, 60-51-4. Providence's last victory against BC came this past season in their most recent matchup on Feb. 13, 2026, in a 2-1 overtime win on the road. BC's last victory against the Friars comes last season, as the Eagles beat the Friars on Jan. 16, 2026 in an 8-2 victory in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
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-GO FRIARS!-
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OCTOBER 9 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 2:00 PM
Watch Live on ESPN+
Live Stats
Game Day Program
X (@PCWHockey)
Instagram (@PCWHockey)
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GAME INFORMATION VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
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OCTOBER 10 | CONTE FORUM | CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. | 2:00 PM
Watch Live on ESPN+
X (@PCWHockey)
Instagram (@PCWHockey)
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team is set to open Hockey East play when they host No. 7/6 Northeastern on Friday, Oct. 9 at 2:00 p.m. at Schneider Arena before traveling to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to face Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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SCOUTING THE FRIARS…
Providence enters the weekend matchup 2-2-0 overall after being swept by No. 5/5 Quinnipiac in last weekend's series. On Friday, Oct. 2, the Friars fell to the Bobcats, 3-1, at M&T Bank Arena, as junior Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ontario) scored the lone goal for the Friars. Sophomore goaltender Mallory Hartl (Askov, Minn.) made a career high 38 saves. On Saturday, Oct. 3 the Friars were defeated by the Bobcats, 6-1, in Schneider Arena. Sophomore Bella Paolucci (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) scored the lone goal in the Friars loss. Â
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RETURNING FOR THE FRIARS… Â
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.Â
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).Â
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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SCOUTING THE HUSKIES… Northeastern enters Friday's matchup as No. 7/6 in the polls. The Huskies open the season 0-1-0 overall as they fell to RPI, 2-1, in overtime Friday, Oct. 2. This Friday will be the Hockey East opener for the Huskies. Northeastern was picked as champions in the Hockey East Preseason Poll after receiving 89 points including eight first place votes. During the 2025 season, the Huskies earned Hockey East Regular Season Champions and completed another Frozen Four run, marking the fourth time in program history.
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WHO TO WATCH FOR NORTHEASTERN… Sophomore forward Stryker Zablocki comes into her second season after being named both Hockey East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year last season, the first in Husky history. Zablocki was a unanimous Hockey East First Team All-Star, the Hockey East scoring champion and named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. In her freshman season, she posted 45 points on 20 goals and 25 assists as she led Northeastern and ranked fourth amongst all freshmen in the NCAA.
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In goal, Lisa Jönsson returns to the Huskies after being named a National Goalie of the Year Semifinalist and Hockey East Second Team All-Star. The junior finished her sophomore season with a 1.73 GAA and a .939 save percentage. She tied for the sixth-best mark in the nation by earning 21 wins during the 2025-26 season. Jönsson posted four shutouts and 803 saves in a single-season.Â
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ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE HUSKIES… Providence trails the all-time series, 68-74-13. Providence's last victory against Northeastern came on Jan. 18, 2025, in a 3-2 win on the road. The Friars were able to sweep the series, as they beat the Huskies, 5-1, the day prior at Schneider Arena. The teams met most recently at Schneider Arena this past February, where the Huskies claimed a 4-2 victory.
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SCOUTING THE EAGLES… BC enters Saturday's matchup with a 1-0-0 overall record. The Eagles opened the season with a 17-0 shutout against Stonehill, setting a program record. The 17-goal margin of victory is the largest in NCAA women's hockey history. Eleven different players scored in the BC victory. The Eagles will open Hockey East play on Friday, Oct. 9, against Holy Cross. BC was picked to finish third in Hockey East this season, grabbing 64 points.
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WHO TO WATCH FOR BOSTON COLLEGE… Sophomore forward Ava Thomas returns for her second season after being named Hockey East Rookie of the Year and a part of the Hockey East First Team and All-Rookie Team. Thomas, in her freshman campaign, led the Eagles with 46 points on 19 goals and 27 assists. Thomas led Hockey East in points while pacing all rookies in scoring. In their season opener, Thomas recorded a hat trick to lead the Eagles.Â
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Another sophomore returner, Maxim Tremblay, comes into her second season with the Eagles after being named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team last season. She posted 22 points in her freshman campaign on 11 goals and 11 assists. In BC's season opener against Stonehill, Tremblay recorded two goals and two assists.Â
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ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE EAGLES… Providence leads the all-time series, 60-51-4. Providence's last victory against BC came this past season in their most recent matchup on Feb. 13, 2026, in a 2-1 overtime win on the road. BC's last victory against the Friars comes last season, as the Eagles beat the Friars on Jan. 16, 2026 in an 8-2 victory in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
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-GO FRIARS!-
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/ Women's Ice HockeySaturday, February 16
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Saturday, January 26
Saturday, January 19
