Friday, December 21, 2018

Memorable Moments in Hockey in 2018

Well hockey fans, 2018 is coming to a close.

Here are some moments in hockey that stuck out to me this calendar year, in chronological order.  Some moments are bigger than others, some might only be big to me. I could never include everything. I know I'm missing the USports Championship by the University of Manitoba, Laura Stacey's Clarkson Cup winning over time goal for the Markham Thunder, and a very similar Isobel Cup winning goal by Alexa Gruschow of the Metropolitan Riveters, to name a few.

Despite what's missing, I hope you enjoy what's here.

February 13, 2018 Some moments look bigger in hindsight. Senior Tony Ann Miano held down the Boston College blueline last season, when three fellow defenders were centralized and then at the Olympics. Miano helped BC to a Hockey East regular season championship, and put up 43 points in 38 games,  including this Beanpot winning OT goal versus Boston University. The second where she celebrates alone, looking like a Patty Kaz statue before throwing her stick and gloves in the air, is magic. The game was a thriller, with BC jumping out to a 2-0 lead, then trailing 3-2 deep into the third. Darryl Watts tied the game with less than five minutes to go, to send it to OT.

BC finished with a 30-5-3 record last year, with Miano on the blue line. She is now a rookie for the NWHL's Boston Pride. (3 minute video)

February 22, 2018 The image of Jocelyne Lamoureux scoring the fifth goal in the USA Canada shootout is iconic to the 2018 Olympics. Before the Olympics started I wondered who might make a name for themselves at these games. The answer? Veterans in their third Olympics.

The Lamoureuxs played their final three years of college hockey at University of  North Dakota, and are known for their skill but also taking penalties, both averaging over 2 penalty minutes a game, in college. This carried into international play. In fact, although Jocelyne tallied an assist in the 2014 Olympic gold medal game, she was in the box when Marie-Philip Poulin scored in overtime to end it (so was Hillary Knight and Canada's Catherine Ward).

At the 2018 Olympics the Lams were on another level and on the score sheet in the best way: goal scoring. J Lam (and Dani Cameranesi) led all Americans with five points each in five games, while Monique had three points in five games.

It was in the 2018 Olympic gold medal game that the sisters made their most memorable mark to date on women's hockey. Monique tied the gold medal game in the third period, after a bad change by Canada. Jocelyne was the offensive hero in the shootout (We remember you too, Maddie Rooney).

Sweet redemption, in the biggest moment in women's hockey in 2018:


March 3rd, 2018 It's difficult to follow the Olympic moment, but someone has to do it. On March 3rd, Mercyhurst defeated regular season champion Robert Morris in the CHA Championship, earning an auto bid in the NCAA Tournament. The Lakers, backstopped by a 22 save performance by red shirt freshman Kennedy Blair, handed #9 ranked Robert Morris their 8th loss of the season. Nestled into the win was a first collegiate goal for one Laker, and a game changing three point performance for another. The win represented Mercyhurst's 12th CHA Championship. They celebrated by absolutely crushing their goaltender. Photo Credit: Omar Phillips
March 10, 2018 Katie Burt, a four year starting goaltender at Boston College, salutes the crowd at Conte Forum one last time, after falling 2-0 to OSU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A Massachusetts native, she made 39 saves in her final game, and graduated as the all time wins leader for goaltenders in NCAA history (previous record holder was Minnesota alum Noora Raty).

Burt's record stands at 121-15-10. Given the rarity of a four year starter, and at over 30 wins a year, I imagine that record is going to stick for quite some time. Burt is now the rookie goaltender for the Boston Pride, currently tied for first in NWHL standings. Photo credit: Michelle Jay

March 14, 2018 Last year's Frozen Four featured two teams who had never been there before - the Colgate Raiders and the Ohio State Buckeyes. This alone reflects the evolution in NCAA hockey.

The local Frozen Four media coverage of the Buckeyes reflected more change than that, though. Quality coverage, a female reporter (I believe it's Alison Lukan, whose main beat is the Blue Jackets), and Emma Maltais' (Burlington, Ontario) casual references to multiple female head coaches was striking to me.

OSU's Emma Maltais had a 40 point rookie season, winning the WCHA rookie of the year award.

March 18, 2018 Clarkson freshman Elizabeth Giguere's dominance in the NCAA Tournament was a thing to behold. She scored two overtime goals, and assisted another overtime goal in a three game tournament. In her freshman campaign she scored 71 points in 41 games (fourth in the nation in total points). This year, she is scoring at an even higher rate, and will be a Patty Kazmaier award contender. Good news for future international tournaments, Canada: She's Canadian.

Watch her NCAA Championship game overtime winner below.

July 31, 2018: In June the Hockey Hall of Fame Committee announced Jayna Hefford was being inducted into the Hall, in the player category. This image appeared on the Hall of Fame in July. The induction marks the first time that a woman has been inducted in back to back years, making Hefford the sixth inductee.

Hefford has 4 Olympic gold medals and 1 silver. She has one 7 World Championships, and only Hayley Wickenheiser has more points than Hefford's 291 in World Championship play. Hefford's 30 points in Olympic play tie her for 2nd all time. Her most famous goal is the game winner in the 2002 Olympic gold medal game, a breakaway goal with a second left in the second period. She played in the Central Ontario Women's Hockey League, the old NWHL, and the CWHL. She is now the interim commissioner of the CWHL.

At her Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Hefford humbly described her story as a story of opportunity, inviting those who care about the game to continue to create opportunities for people to play.

September 25, 2018: Caroline Ouellette's essay announcing her retirement, penned to her daughter Liv was fantastic. In part, she wrote:

"Throughout my 16-year career with the national women’s team, I believe I embodied what it meant to be an everyday player. I loved it through the highs and always put in the effort to come back from the lows. I wanted to do it over and over again after every event! I participated in four Olympic Games and was part of incredible teams that brought Olympic gold to Canada each time."

She reflected on her time in minor hockey: 

"For eight full seasons, Liv, I was the only girl on my team. It was not always easy and it didn’t help that I was so shy back then. But when you truly love something, you can overlook the darker sides in order to focus on all of the happiness it brings you."

 Hockey Canada and Les Canadiennes released video tributes to honor the four time Olympic gold medalist, six time World Championship gold medalist, and four time Clarkson Cup winner.

Ouellette also won two NCAA Championships with University of Minnesota-Duluth, once as a player and once as an assistant coach. Today, she is the Head Coach of the second place Montreal Canadiennes. Les Canadiennes tribute:


October 13, 2018: This is a silly thing, that probably anyone who has played women's sports can relate to. The women of Minnesota, singing after a win in October. Emma May at the end yes, but don't miss the spin move by Amy Potomak mid video. Watch with sound and try not to smile, I dare you.



October 27, 2018 Mercyhurst's Emma Nuutinen scored a hat trick, including the OT game winner, defeating league opponent Penn State 5-4. In a conference won by two points or less the last three years, there's no such thing as a meaningless game. On the overtime goal (starts around 20 seconds in), stick taps to Maggie Knott for skating the length of the ice to be there as a screen for Nuutinen, and to McDonnell for stopping Penn State's final rush of the game which happened just before Nuutinen's rush, but isn't included below.



November 23rd and 24th, 2018 Wisconsin hosted Harvard for a rare non conference series. Harvard pushed #1 Wisconsin to overtime in both games, but in both games Wisconsin senior forward Annie Pankowski scored in overtime. Pankowski also had a short handed tally on the weekend. Two of her three goals ended up on Sports Center, and it was the first time a Badger had scored overtime goals in back to back games.

A little added drama for fans to enjoy:  Pankowski was  a final cut after being centralized for the 2014 Olympics. The coach of that Olympic team was Katey Stone, the longtime Harvard coach. The Wisconsin faithful have affection for Pankowski and relished seeing her succeed against Harvard, at one point breaking into a chant of "Annie! Annie!" during the second game.

The Badgers sit at 19-1-0 at the break, with their only loss being to number two ranked Minnesota. Watch Annie's OT goals, in two different tweets below.



These are the moments in sports, captured in social media that I thought of when reflecting on the year. I'm sure more year end recaps will come up in the next few weeks and I can't wait to read what stuck out to you.

Thanks for reading, and Merry Christmas.
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Sunday, December 9, 2018

My women's hockey Christmas wish list

As a kid, one of the hallmark gifts of Christmas was some sort of hockey gear. Ice hockey gear, road hockey gear, books about hockey, you name it. I remember getting navy blue, leather Hespeler gloves one year. There was a bit of a lull in my minor hockey schedule around Christmas, but I really wanted to wear my new gloves. So, I wore them while playing shinny on an outdoor rink in Northern Canada, when I really should have worn like, snowboarding mitts (or not been out at all). My hands froze of course, and I cried while they thawed when I came back inside.

Great gloves though. It was surely worth it.

Alas, I am no longer a ten year old minor hockey player, and have no need for hockey gear for Christmas. Here is what I want instead:

1- Who's Who in Women's Hockey

This 162 page book is a self published (blurb.ca) player-by-player statistical timeline from modern women's elite hockey leagues, including the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) and National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). It also includes stats from defunct leagues the Western Women's Hockey League, (old) National Women's Hockey League and Central Ontario Women's Hockey League.

This book looks amazing. Huge kudos to the author Richard Scott. As much as I follow women's hockey, beyond college I don't have a great grasp on people's body of work. This should help tremendously, as it contains data on over 2,000 players.

2-  Behind The Bench stickers. Behind The Bench is a website that chronicles the history of coaching staffs by team. They've got  NWHL and CWHL covered, and I look forward to seeing NCAA women's hockey one day as well. The sell Behind the Bench logo stickers (tie and no tie versions) via paypal. I could go for one of each. They are $2 each and sold via paypal at this link: https://www.paypal.me/behindthebenches

3- Just about anything from the CWHL Team Store that relates to the Furies, Inferno, Thunder or Canadiennes. Since I don't have a local team, I am just waiting for my heart to be pulled to a team. The thing is, all those teams have storylines and players or management I like. Even on the logos if I have to pick a best, it's tough. I think...the Furies have a slight lead in my heart, having listened to Sami Jo Small, and read some interviews with her, plus the fact that they stream all their home games now. A Furies toque, sweatshirt, coffee mug, or Clarkson Cup Championship might be nice.

4- Two Mercyhurst wins over Ohio State. What? The best things in life aren't things. Next weekend Mercyhurst travels to Ohio State for a pair of non conference games. According to collegehockeystats.net it's the only Division 1 games happening that weekend, as all other teams will be in holiday mode. Last year, the Lakers split with Ohio State when the Buckeyes traveled to Erie in late December. It was one of Mercyhurst's best wins of the year.

Ohio State versus Mercyhurst is one of my favorite non conference series. In terms of Athletic Department clout it's a bit of a David vs Goliath, yet the Lakers have represented themselves well over the years, going 4-2-0 lifetime.  The 12-6-0 Ohio State Buckeyes were off this weekend, while the 8-7-2 Lakers split with Bemidji State. Common opponents to date include Minnesota and Bemidji State. Hurst split with Bemidji and got swept by Minnesota.  Ohio State split with Minnesota and got swept by Bemidji State.

5- The Down Goes Brown History of the NHL Taking on creating, growing and running a league is an enormous endeavor, as fans of CWHL and NWHL have observed, and as those running those leagues surely know. Sometimes, you just need to laugh at the bizarre stuff that happens, and probably vaguely refer to "the process." Turns out, it's no different than the NHL. The subtitle of Down Goes Brown's History is "the world's most beautiful sport, the world's most ridiculous league" and it is promoted as a lighthearted, informative look at NHL Hockey history.

I wish there was a new tome about women's hockey for readers to devour, but it's not the case so McIndoe's irreverent NHL book will do instead. If you really want to read about women's hockey though, two books from the nineties I recently read include On the Edge: Women Making Hockey History and Crashing the Net. One is written from an American perspective and one Canadian. If you are a long time women's hockey fan, maybe you've already read them. Certainly dated in some ways, could have been written yesterday in other ways, if you are a die hard women's hockey fan, you will appreciate these books.

That's all the hockey stuff I want for Christmas. What about you?

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