Completed Event: Women's Ice Hockey versus Sacred Heart University (Exhibition) on September 27, 2025 , Win , 6, to, 1
Women's Ice Hockey
vs Sacred Heart University (Exhibition)
Final
6
-
1
Providence College Athletics
Friday, October 4
Providence, R.I.
6:00 P.M.
Providence College
vs
Quinnipiac
Women's Hockey Opens Regular Season Against Quinnipiac
10/3/2019 1:13:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
Puck Drop
The Friars open the 2019-20 regular season with a two-game series against Quinnipiac. Puck drop on Friday (Oct. 4) is set for 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday (Oct. 5) at 3:00 p.m.
Scouting the Friars
The Friars finished 2018-19 with a 24-11-2 overall record and a 16-9-2 mark in Hockey East. The 24 wins tied a program high, previously set in 2002-02. The Friars also posted their highest winning percentage in conference (.630) since 2009-10. The Friars advanced to the Hockey East Semifinals for the first time since 2013.
Providence returns top scorer, Maureen Murphy (Buffalo, N.Y.), who posted 22 goals and 21 assists last season for 43 points. Murphy's 22 goals ranked tied for ninth in the nation. Offensive threat Sara Hjalmarsson (Bankeryd, Sweden) also returns to the lineup. Hjalmarsson tallied 11 goals and 12 assists for the third most points on the team in her rookie campaign.
The Friars return six of seven defensemen from last season, including senior Whitney Dove (Port Moody, British Columbia). She had six goals in 37 games played, including nine assists. Senior captain Avery Fransoo (North Battleford, Saskatchewan) led defensemen in points with one goal and 17 assists last season, playing in all 37 games.
In net, Providence will have to replace Madison Myers (Colchester, Vt.). Myers started 35 of the Friars 37 games last season. She finished her career ranked second all-time at Providence in games played (125), wins (59) and saves (2,938). Myers also finished second in shutouts (13) and ranked fifth in save percentage (.913). Sandra Abstreiter will look to fill the duty in net, after playing in just two games last season.
Exhibition Versus New Brunswick
The Friars defeated New Brunswick, 1-0, in an exhibition game on Sept. 28. Freshman Lauren DeBlois scored the lone goal in the shutout victory on a power play with 1:53 remaining, the game marked DeBlois' first career action in a Friar uniform. Providence posted 37 shots compared to the Reds' 12.
Hockey East Preseason Poll
The Friars were picked to finish fourth in the Hockey East Preseason poll, which was released on Thursday, Sept. 26. Providence received 56 points and was picked to finish behind Northeastern (81), Boston University (71) and Boston College (65).
Rounding out the poll were New Hampshire (42), UConn (41), Merrimack (30), Maine (29), Vermont (25), and Holy Cross (nine)
Friars in the National Polls
The Friars received votes in both the USCHO and USA Hockey Polls to open the season. Providence tallied seven votes in the USCHO poll and three votes in the USA Hockey Poll.
Meet the Staff
Matt Kelly joined the Friars in 2018-19 for his inaugural season at the helm. He led the team to a 24-11-2 record, helping the Friars to tie the program-high for wins in a season. Kelly led Providence to the Hockey East Semifinals for the first time since 2013 and coached three Friars to Hockey East honors at the conclusion of the season.
Prior to Providence, Kelly served as a Head Scout for USA Hockey and the Women's National Team. His primary responsibility was to oversee and maintain the player pools for the U-18 and U-22 squads, in addition to the Women's National Team. During his time with USA Hockey, Kelly won a total of eleven gold medals. He recently captured a gold medal with the Women's National Team at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Additionally, he helped the U18 team win four-consecutive gold medals (2015-2018). This marked the first time any U18 team won four World Championships in a row.
Kelly hired Jake Anderson, Ali Domenico and Doug Ferry to round out his staff. Anderson focused mainly on the Friars' defensive unit during his first season. Providence gave up just 1.89 goals per game in 2018-19, which ranked seventh nationally. The Friars' penalty kill also ranked seventh, killing off 87.4 percent of opponents' opportunities. Domenico guided the Friars' offensive unit in her first season. Providence finished 13th nationally in goals per game, averaging 2.81 per game. The power play unit also finished 13th nationally, converting at on 19.1 percent of chances.
Fresh Friar Faces
Providence welcomes eight new players to the roster for the 2019-20 season. Tatum James (Stratford, Ontario) and Isabelle Hardy (Oakville, Ontario) come from Canada as the remaining six enter Providence from the United States; Lauren DeBlois (Lewiston, Maine), Bailey Burton (Bloomington, Minn.), Delaney Couture (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Sonja Bjornson (Philadelphia, Pa.), Jamie Comeau (Wakefield, R.I.) and Katrina Broccoli (North Haven, Conn.).
Hjalmarsson with Team Sweden
During the off-season, Sara Hjalmarsson had several chances to compete for Team Sweden. She was named to Sweden's National Team roster for the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship. She played four games for Team Sweden without tallying a point.
2018-19 Award Winners
The team had four players pick up Hockey East post-season honors. Murphy earned Second Team All-Star status for the second-consecutive season. Myers and Fransoo were named All-Star Honorable Mentions, marking each of their first-career league honors. Additionally, Sara Hjalmarsson was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Five different Friars earned Hockey East Weekly honors over the course of the season. Myers was named Defensive Player of the Week twice (Nov. 12, Mar. 4). Christina Putigna (Nov. 5), Maureen Murphy (Nov. 19) and Hayley Lunny (Nov. 26) each earned Player of the Week honors. Sara Hjalmarsson was named Rookie of the Week on Oct. 16.
Murphy and Myers were also recognized with monthly awards from the league. Myers was Hockey East Goaltender of the Month in November and February. Murphy was Hockey East Player of the Month in November.
Scouting the Bobcats
Quinnipiac downed Ryerson University, 5-1, in the team's opening exhibition matchup. The Bobcats tallied three goals in the opening period from three separate players, Lexie Adzija, Brooke Bonsteel and Katie Huntington. Bonsteel scored her second goal of the contest with 10 minutes remaining in the third. Quinnipiac went 2-4 on the power play en route to its victory.
Who to Watch
Lexie Adzija and Taylor House are the top two returners for the Bobcats for the 2019-20 campaign. Adjiza netted seven goals and tallied 11 assists last season, compared to House's nine goals and six assists.
Goaltender Abbie Ives will return in net, after posting a 12-15-6 record between the pipes last season. She accumulated a 1.89 goals against average and .924 save percentage on the season.
All-Time Series with the Bobcats
Providence leads the all-time series with Quinnipiac, 7-1.
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