Upcoming Event: Women's Ice Hockey versus Sacred Heart University (Exhibition) on September 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Women's Ice Hockey
vs Sacred Heart University (Exhibition)
3:00 PM
Providence College Athletics
Friday, October 4
Providence, R.I.
6:00 PM
Providence College
vs
Saint Michael's College
Women’s Hockey Opens 2024-25 Season With Home Series Against Saint Michael’s
10/3/2024 11:06:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Friars are picked to finish fifth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll.
GAME INFORMATION VS. SAINT MICHAEL'S | OCTOBER 4/5 | SCHNEIDER ARENA| PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 6:00 PM
Watch Live on ESPN+
Live Stats
Gameday Program
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PROVIDENCE, R.I.–The Providence College women's hockey team opens the 2024-25 season with a home series against Saint Michael's College. Providence will host the Purple Knights at Schneider Arena on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, Oct 5. for a 2:00 p.m. start.
Scouting The Friars
The Friars finished the 2023-24 season with a 13-17-5 overall record, including a 12-10-5 mark in Hockey East play.
Providence returns forward Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) who made the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team after recording 14 goals and four assists for 18 points in her freshman season. Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) also returns to the lineup. Kirchmair posted 11 goals and five assists for 16 points last season.
The Friars return top defensemen Brooke Becker (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and Cristina Cavaliere (Mississauga, Ontario). Becker totaled five goals, 11 assists and 25 blocks and was named All-Hockey East Third Team honors. Cavaliere recorded one goal, 11 assists and 30 blocked shots.
In net, Hope Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) returns for Providence. Walkinski started 26 games last season, posting a 2.04 goals against average, a .917 save percentage, four shutouts and 11-11-4 record. Sophomore Taya Currie (Parkhill, Ontario) returns after missing the entire 2023-24 season due to injury. In 2021, Currie was picked in the 14th round of the 2021 OHL draft by the Sarnia Sting, marking the first time a female player had been selected to one of the world's top junior hockey leagues.
Hockey East Preseason Poll
The Friars were picked to finish fifth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, which was released on Monday, Sept. 16. Providence received 55 points and was picked to finish behind UConn (88), Northeastern (81), Boston College (73) and New Hampshire (62). The Huskies, who won the 2024 Hockey East Tournament, received eight first place votes.
Rounding out the poll was Boston University (52), Vermont (47), Maine (36), Merrimack (25) and Holy Cross (20).
Fresh Friar Faces
Providence welcomes eight new players (three transfers and five freshmen) to the roster for the 2024-25 season. Millie Sirum (Oslo, Norway) is a graduate student from Holy Cross. Sarah Davies (Mississauga, Ont.) is a junior from Lindenwood University and Olivia Klunowski (Toronto, Ont.) is a junior from Franklin Pierce University. The five freshmen are Cali Cerruti (Norwell, Mass.), Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Josie Lang (Stillwater, Minn.), Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria), and Jessie Pellerin (Bowmanville, Ont.).
Captains Named
Senior Hannah Johnson (Readfield, Maine) was named captain for the 2024-25 season, along with alternate captains Brooke Becker (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and Lily Hendrikson (Edina, Minn).
Friars Under Head Coach Matt Kelly
Heading into his seventh season with the Friars, Matt Kelly has posted an overall record of 105-75-22 (.574) and 80-55-17 in Hockey East play. In his inaugural season, the 2018-19 Friars tied the school-record with 24 wins. In 2020-21, Kelly led the Friars to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, marking the program's second appearance in school history. The Friars have reached the Hockey East Championship twice under Kelly, in 2020-21 and 2022-23.
Scouting the Purple Knights
Saint Michael's currently holds a 0-2-0 overall record with a 0-0-0 NEWHA conference record. The Purple Knights' faced No. 3 Clarkson on Sep. 27 and Sep. 28. Clarkson defeated Saint Michael's 9-0 on and 14-0 respectively. As a team, Saint Michael's averages 7.5 shots per game.
Who to Watch
Graduate student Mary Leys returns for the Purple Knights after finishing second in total points and first in assists last season with 11 and seven, respectively.
Junior goaltender Annika Lavender played in 31 games for the Purple Knights last season. Lavender recorded 1,171 saves last season for a .904 save percentage and a 4.36 GAA. Last weekend, Lavender posted 69 saves with a .908 save percentage.
All-Time Series with the Purple Knights
This weekend will mark the first matchup between the Friars and Purple Knights.
-GO FRIARS!-
Watch Live on ESPN+
Live Stats
Gameday Program
X (@PCWHockey)
Instagram (@PCWHockey)
PROVIDENCE, R.I.–The Providence College women's hockey team opens the 2024-25 season with a home series against Saint Michael's College. Providence will host the Purple Knights at Schneider Arena on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, Oct 5. for a 2:00 p.m. start.
Scouting The Friars
The Friars finished the 2023-24 season with a 13-17-5 overall record, including a 12-10-5 mark in Hockey East play.
Providence returns forward Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) who made the Hockey East Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team after recording 14 goals and four assists for 18 points in her freshman season. Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) also returns to the lineup. Kirchmair posted 11 goals and five assists for 16 points last season.
The Friars return top defensemen Brooke Becker (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and Cristina Cavaliere (Mississauga, Ontario). Becker totaled five goals, 11 assists and 25 blocks and was named All-Hockey East Third Team honors. Cavaliere recorded one goal, 11 assists and 30 blocked shots.
In net, Hope Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) returns for Providence. Walkinski started 26 games last season, posting a 2.04 goals against average, a .917 save percentage, four shutouts and 11-11-4 record. Sophomore Taya Currie (Parkhill, Ontario) returns after missing the entire 2023-24 season due to injury. In 2021, Currie was picked in the 14th round of the 2021 OHL draft by the Sarnia Sting, marking the first time a female player had been selected to one of the world's top junior hockey leagues.
Hockey East Preseason Poll
The Friars were picked to finish fifth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, which was released on Monday, Sept. 16. Providence received 55 points and was picked to finish behind UConn (88), Northeastern (81), Boston College (73) and New Hampshire (62). The Huskies, who won the 2024 Hockey East Tournament, received eight first place votes.
Rounding out the poll was Boston University (52), Vermont (47), Maine (36), Merrimack (25) and Holy Cross (20).
Fresh Friar Faces
Providence welcomes eight new players (three transfers and five freshmen) to the roster for the 2024-25 season. Millie Sirum (Oslo, Norway) is a graduate student from Holy Cross. Sarah Davies (Mississauga, Ont.) is a junior from Lindenwood University and Olivia Klunowski (Toronto, Ont.) is a junior from Franklin Pierce University. The five freshmen are Cali Cerruti (Norwell, Mass.), Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Josie Lang (Stillwater, Minn.), Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria), and Jessie Pellerin (Bowmanville, Ont.).
Captains Named
Senior Hannah Johnson (Readfield, Maine) was named captain for the 2024-25 season, along with alternate captains Brooke Becker (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and Lily Hendrikson (Edina, Minn).
Friars Under Head Coach Matt Kelly
Heading into his seventh season with the Friars, Matt Kelly has posted an overall record of 105-75-22 (.574) and 80-55-17 in Hockey East play. In his inaugural season, the 2018-19 Friars tied the school-record with 24 wins. In 2020-21, Kelly led the Friars to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, marking the program's second appearance in school history. The Friars have reached the Hockey East Championship twice under Kelly, in 2020-21 and 2022-23.
Scouting the Purple Knights
Saint Michael's currently holds a 0-2-0 overall record with a 0-0-0 NEWHA conference record. The Purple Knights' faced No. 3 Clarkson on Sep. 27 and Sep. 28. Clarkson defeated Saint Michael's 9-0 on and 14-0 respectively. As a team, Saint Michael's averages 7.5 shots per game.
Who to Watch
Graduate student Mary Leys returns for the Purple Knights after finishing second in total points and first in assists last season with 11 and seven, respectively.
Junior goaltender Annika Lavender played in 31 games for the Purple Knights last season. Lavender recorded 1,171 saves last season for a .904 save percentage and a 4.36 GAA. Last weekend, Lavender posted 69 saves with a .908 save percentage.
All-Time Series with the Purple Knights
This weekend will mark the first matchup between the Friars and Purple Knights.
-GO FRIARS!-
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