University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Gear Up for 2003-04 Campaign
10/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
The 2003-04 Connecticut women’s ice hockey team is no longer a young squad, as two seniors, 12 juniors and five sophomores return under the watchful eye of fourth year head coach Heather Linstad. Coach Linstad’s team has gained invaluable experience on the ice at UConn, playing against stiff competition and appearing in post-season play the last two years. This year, with the addition of eight newcomers joining the veteran squad, the Huskies look to ratchet their play up to another level in the combative Hockey East Conference.
THE SENIORS
Captain Stephanie Snow (Nashua, NH) and Sara Mahoney (Lynn, MA) enter their third season with the Huskies after transferring before the 2001-02 season. Snow, an anchor of the Connecticut defense, has 14 points in her career at UConn and will be counted on to continue excelling in her leadership roll. Mahoney, sidelined for a large portion of the 2001-02 season due to a broken ankle, looks to build on an exceptional junior season. Mahoney recorded a team-high 11 goals and is tied for third on the career list with 29 points.
THE JUNIORS
The Nucleus of the Connecticut women’s hockey program now has two years of experience under its belt and looks to lead UConn to the next level. Forward Jacquelyn McGuire (Glenview, IL) had an exceptional sophomore season for the Huskies. McGuire, who was tied for the team lead in points, looked to get her teammates involved last season, dishing out a team-high 11 assists and hopes the momentum of a solid sophomore season carries over to this year’s campaign. Forward Megan McLeod (Livonia, MI) was tied with her classmate McGuire, notching 16 points in a productive sophomore season. McLeod stands in second place on the career points list at UConn with 32, and needs 17 more points to pass Kim Berry as the all time leader. McLeod’s reputation as a hard-nosed player is not unwarranted as she is one of the hardest working players on the team.
A forward from Mullet Lake, Michigan, Angie Wallace is another aggressive player who found the back of the net six times in 2002-03 and also handed out six assists. Last year, the Huskies played their best hockey when Wallace was on the ice, as she earned the only positive plus/minus rating on the team with a (+5). In her two years with UConn, Caitlin Salazer-Reid (London, ON) proved to be a solid defender who could get involved on offense as well. Salazer-Reid has recorded five goals and 17 assists as a Husky and hopes to return to her form of freshman year when she notched 13 assists from the blue line. A natural leader, forward Tiffany Owens (Belleville, MI) will look to add to her impressive point total this season. Owens has recorded 29 points as a Husky, good for third on the all-time list. Owens will play an important roll on both the offensive and defensive ends this year.
A forward from Baldwinsville, New York, Shannon Connolly looks to get more involved offensively during the 2003-04 season. After a solid rookie campaign which saw Connolly hand-out 15 assists, opposing teams adjusted and Connolly managed eight points last season. Connolly looks to counter adjust and once again become the key offensive piece she was two years ago. Forward Julie Marashio (Wayland, MA) has earned the reputation of going hard and winning the puck along the boards. Marashio notched only one point for UConn last season but had intangible qualities that were unexpendable.
A solid defensive player, Lisa Beck’s (Tolland, CT) value is impossible to measure in points alone. Her plus/minus rating of -4 was one of the best on last year’s team. A versatile player, Erika Spaeth (Dallas, TX) holsters a very good shot and has an uncanny ability to get herself open which will come in handy as she takes on more offensive responsibilities this season.
Lastly, but certainly not least, is goaltender Shannon Murphy (Mapleville, RI). Murphy was honored as Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week four times last season and her 51 saves versus Dartmouth (1/26) were tied for the most saves by a Hockey East Goalie. Murphy earned a save percentage of .908 and a goals against average of 3.02. Murphy and freshman Kaitlyn Shain shared time between the pipes last season, and a similar situation will most likely present itself this season.
THE SOPHOMORES
Coach Linstad’s second full recruiting class enters its second season after a productive and enriching freshmen campaign. This group looks to build off a strong rookie year and become a major factor in helping the Huskies break into the next level.
Janelle Armitage (Kinsella, AB) excelled in her first collegiate season. Armitage tallied seven points on three goals and four assists while playing in every game for Connecticut. She will be called on to generate some more offense this season. Dani Aud, a forward from Riverwoods, Illinois, was another Husky who was willing to do the little things. Aud accumulated a -2 plus/minus rating while she was on the ice and notched two points, both on assists.
Jennifer Houlden (Richmond Hill, ON) played solid on the blueline for UConn last season, and tallied five points on two goals and three assists as well. Houlden will continue to be an important part of the Husky defense.
The sophomore class was highlighted last season by goaltender Kaitlyn Shain (Calgary, AB).
Shain was honored as Hockey East Rookie of the Week five times in, and Rookie of the Month for February. Shain tallied three shutouts and boasted a goals against average of 2.70 in 14 games. Thanks to Shain’s brilliant performance over the last month of the season, she may see even more time between the pipes in 2003-’04.
THE FRESHMEN
The class of 2007 has a tough act to follow in duplicating the feats of last year’s crop of freshmen. However, this bunch is very talented and plans to to make an immediate impact in 2003-04. A forward from Markham, Ontario Leslie Hurlburt knows what it takes to win. Hurlburt led her squads to four consecutive York Region Championships and will bring her winning attitude to Connecticut. Alicia "Bubba" Ramolla (Barrie, Ontario) is a promising defensman who will also make an impact during the 03-04 campaign. Ramolla is a multi-talented athlete who played basketball and ran track on top of playing four years of varsity ice hockey.
A forward from Brandon, Manitoba, Katherine Van Deveire is experienced beyond her years. Van Deveire played for the Manitoba U-18 squad during the 2003 Canada Winter Games against top competition. Katherine should see time as part of the talented Husky frontline. Natalie Vibert (Thunder Bay, Ontario) rounds out the scholarshiped freshmen for the 03-04 campaign. Vibert’s Westgate High School squad won the Ice Gardens High School Championships and also looks to make an immediate impact on the Husky backline.
Rounding out the freshmen class are four talented walk-ons. Molly Garrett (Ridgely MD), Emily Grant (Rutland, VT), Nicole LeFave (Guilford, CT) and Mallory Tosches (Sharon, CT) will all compete for time in 03-04.
THE SCHEDULE
The 2003-04 schedule promises to bring both a high level of competition, as members of the Hockey East Conference continue to elevate their level of play, and more heated rivalries, as the University of Connecticut women’s ice hockey team will now play each league foe four times. However, UConn cannot afford to look ahead to Conference play right away, as a rigorous non-conference schedule awaits them early in the season. This season, UConn will face-off against six of last year’s top ten teams according to the RPI.
The Huskies kick-off the season with a trip to North Dakota for a weekend double-header against the Fighting Sioux on October 11th and 12th. UConn returns to Storrs to square off with College Hockey America Conference champion Mercyhurst on October 18th and 19th. The Lakers finished the 2002-03 season with a 25-8 overall record and a spotless 6-0 in CHA.
UConn’s first Hockey East contest comes at the UConn Ice Arena on October 24th and it promises to be a good one as the Huskies will welcome New Hampshire (27-7-2 last season) to Storrs. November brings another elite non-conference opponent to Storrs as the Princeton Tigers travel to UConn for a double-dip on the 1st and 2nd. The Tigers finished the season with a record of 20-9-2 and 11-5 in ECAC Division I play. Frozen Four participant Dartmouth comes to town on November 15th and 16th for what should be memorable games.
UConn’s final ECAC Div. I opponent is St. Lawrence as the Huskies travel to Canton, NY for a weekend double-header, November 28th and 29th. The Saints finished tied for third in the ECAC with Princeton, and were just two points behind Frozen Four participant Dartmouth.
UConn will then play host to Yale in its only game in December, and will welcome Minnesota State to Storrs on January 9-10. The Huskies’ final 16 games are against Hockey East opponents as UConn looks forward to the Hockey East Tournament March 20-21.
