Providence College Athletics

Friday, February 14
Storrs, Conn.
6:00 PM

Providence College

at

University of Connecticut

Women's Ice Hockey player Dylan Berman shooting the puck during a game
Photo by: Brian Foley for Foley-Photograph

Women’s Hockey Squares Off With No. 14/14 UConn

2/12/2025 4:00:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

The Friars are 17-10-3 overall and 13-8-2 in Hockey East.

GAME INFORMATION VS. NO. 14/14 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
 
FEBRUARY 14 | TOSCANO FAMILY ICE FORUM | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 6:00 PM
Game Day Program
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FEBRUARY 15 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 3:00 PM
Game Day Program
Watch Live on ESPN+
Live Stats
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Instagram (@PCWHockey)
 
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team will face No. 14/14 UConn in a home-and-home series, beginning on Friday, Feb. 14, at 6:00 p.m. at Toscano Family Ice Forum, followed by a rematch on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 3:00 p.m. at Schneider Arena.
 
Scouting the Friars
Providence holds a 17-10-3 overall record and is 13-8-2 in Hockey East play.
 
Last weekend, the Friars hit the road for matchups against Holy Cross and Boston University. On Friday, Providence secured a 3-2 win over the Crusaders, rallying from a 1-0 deficit with three unanswered goals. Hannah Johnson (Readfield, Maine) and Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) each recorded their seventh multi-point game of the season.
 
On Saturday, the Friars fell to Boston University, 4-1, at Walter Brown Arena. Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) opened the scoring with her 17th goal of the season, marking her 30th point—the first Friar to reach the milestone this season. However, the Terriers responded with four unanswered third-period goals, ending Providence's 11-game conference point streak.
 
Collecting Points
Despite Saturday's 4-1 loss at Boston University, which ended an 11-game conference point streak, the Friars have earned points in 14 of their last 16 games. Providence currently sits fifth in the Hockey East standings, just two points behind third-place Boston College.
 
Becker Climbs All-Time Games Played List
Graduate defenseman Brooke Becker (Orchard Park, N.Y.) has appeared in 158 games for the Friars, ranking third all-time in program history. She trails only Hayley Lunny (164 games) and Caroline Peterson (166 games) on the career games played list.
 
Friars Shine in Hockey East Scoring Race
Reichen Kirchmair continues to lead the Friars' offense, ranking second in Hockey East with 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 30 games. Her 17 goals rank tied for first in the conference with Audrey Knapp. Knapp sits third with 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists). Hannah Johnson ranks seventh with 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists). This trio, anchoring the top line since November, accounts for 34.7 percent of the team's total points.
 
In conference play, Kirchmair is tied for second with 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists). Knapp follows tied for fourth with 22 points (13 goals, nine assists), while Johnson sits tied for sixth with 18 points (five goals, 13 assists). Kirchmair and Knapp are tied for the conference lead with 13 goals.
 
Battle Tested
With a 4-1 home victory against No. 12/12 Boston College on Jan. 24, the Friars secured their fifth ranked win of the season—the most in a single season under head coach Matt Kelly. Previously, the team's highest ranked win total under Kelly was three, a feat achieved in three different seasons. The last time Providence recorded more than three ranked wins was in 2009-10, when the Friars earned seven. Providence will have at least two more opportunities against ranked opponents this season, facing No. 14/14 UConn this weekend.
 
Three is the Number
Providence earned a 3-2 win on Feb. 7, marking the 16th game this season in which the Friars have scored three or more goals. In those games, they hold a 15-1-0 record. The Friars are a perfect 8-0-0 when scoring four or more goals and 5-0-0 when netting five. Under head coach Matt Kelly, Providence is 91-7-3 all-time when scoring three or more goals.
 
Millie Sirum Competed for Norway in Olympic Qualifiers
Millie Sirum (Oslo, Norway) represented Norway in Olympic Qualifiers from Feb. 6-9 in Gavle, Sweden. Norway finished 1-2-0 while Sirum recorded a 1-2-3 stat line in three games played.
 
Record-Setting January
After the 3-2 overtime victory on Jan. 31 against the University of Maine, Providence finished January with an 8-1-0 record. The last time the program achieved eight wins in January was during the 1998-99 season.
 
Hats Are Flying
Audrey Knapp became the fourth Providence player this season to record a hat-trick with her three-goal performance against the University of Maine on Jan. 31. She joins Kiara Kraft (Churchville, N.Y.), Millie Sirum (Oslo, Norway), and Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) in achieving the feat. The last time Providence recorded four hat-tricks in a single season was 2004-05.
 
Walinski Awarded Stop It Goaltending Goaltender of the Month
Hope Walinski was named Stop It Goaltending Goaltender of the Month for January on Wednesday, Feb. 5, marking her second recognition this season. Walinski led the Friars to an 8-1-0 record in January, the program's first eight-win January since the 1998-99 season. She posted a 1.43 goals-against average, a .941 save percentage, 202 saves, and one shutout in nine starts.
 
Audrey Knapp Named Hockey East Player of the Week
Audrey Knapp was named Hockey East Player of the Week on Monday, Feb. 3 for the first time this season. Knapp led the Friars over the weekend with five goals, including a hat trick and game-winning goal. On Friday, Jan. 31, she recorded her first career hat trick in a 3-2 overtime victory against the University of Maine. She followed up with a two-goal performance on Saturday, Feb. 1, in a 4-3 overtime win over the University of New Hampshire. With points in both games, Knapp extended her point streak to four games.
 
Reichen Kirchmair Awarded Hockey East Player of the Week
For the second time this season, Reichen Kirchmair was named Hockey East Player of the Week on Monday, Jan. 20. Kirchmair led the Friars in a weekend sweep over No. 15/15 Northeastern University, tallying two goals and an assist. She notched a goal and an assist in Friday's 5-1 victory and scored the game-winning goal in Saturday's 3-2 win at Matthews Arena.
 
Walinski Earns Stop It Goaltending Goaltender of the Week
Hope Walinski was named Stop It Goaltending Goaltender of the Week on Monday, Jan. 13, marking her first career recognition. Walinski led the Friars to a 2-0 weekend with a sweep over Holy Cross. In Friday's contest, she recorded 20 saves in the 3-1 victory and followed it up with a shutout in the 1-0 win on Saturday, making 21 saves. The shutout marked her third of the season and the ninth of her career.
 
Walinski Named to National Goalie of the Year Watch List
The Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) announced on Tuesday, Jan. 14 the 35 goaltenders selected to the "Watch List" for the National Women's Hockey Goalie of the Year Award, given annually to the top goaltender in Division I women's hockey. Providence College goaltender Hope Walinski (Lincoln, R.I) was named to the list. Walinski has posted a 16-9-3 record this season with a 1.84 goals-against average and .923 save percentage over 28 games this year. Walinski ranks in the top-20 among NCAA goaltender in wins, goals-against average, save percentage, minutes played (1694:24), total saves (623) and shutouts (3).
 
Becker Honored as Army ROTC Defender of the Week
Brooke Becker was named Army ROTC Defender of the Week on Monday, Jan. 6, marking her first recognition this season. Becker led the Friars with a power-play goal and an assist on Friday, Jan. 3, in a 5-3 victory over Vermont. Her multi-point performance was her third this season and the 13th of her career. She also tallied four blocked shots in wins against Vermont and Merrimack College.
 
Kirchmair Named Hockey East Player of the Week
Reichen Kirchmair was named Hockey East Player of the Week on Monday, Nov. 25 for the first time this season and second of her career. Kirchamir led the Friars on Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 with two goals, including an overtime game-winner and a shootout clincher against Harvard University. Her two-goal performance on Nov. 23 marked the fourth of her collegiate career and her first since Jan. 20, 2024 against Holy Cross.
 
Goals to Start the Season
Providence scored six-or-more goals in both games against Saint Michael's to start the season. The last time the Friars recorded six-or-more goals in back-to-back games was Sep. 29, 2017 (at Union, 7-3) and Oct. 1, 2017 (vs. Vermont, 6-2).
 
Returning for the Friars
The Friars return 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.
 
Providence returns 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. Walinski 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.
 
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
Including the 2024-25 campaign, Matt Kelly has posted an overall record of 122-85-25 (.580) and 93-63-19 (.586) 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.
 
Following their 3-2 overtime win against the University of Maine on Friday, Oct. 11, the Friars are now 6-1-0 in Hockey East openers under Coach Kelly. In those matchups, Providence has outscored its opponents 25-9.
 
Through 40
In the Kelly era, the Friars are 85-7-5 when taking the lead into the third period. They are 24-19-13 when tied after two periods and 13-59-7 when trailing.
 
Scouting the Huskies
The No. 14/14 Huskies played a pair of games last weekend, traveling to Boston University and hosting Holy Cross. On Friday in Boston, Mass. UConn secured a 3-1 win over the Terriers, taking a 2-0 lead into the third period before senior forward Jada Habisch sealed the victory with a shorthanded goal. The following night, UConn edged Holy Cross 1-0, clinching home ice for the Hockey East Quarterfinals. Habisch provided the game's only goal.
 
Who to Watch For UConn
Freshman Claire Murdoch leads the Huskies with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists), followed by sophomore forward Ashley Allard with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists). Murdoch was named Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week on Monday, Feb. 10. Graduate student Jada Habisch leads the team with five power-play goals.
 
In goal, senior Tia Chang has started 19 games, posting a 12-5-2 record with a .946 save percentage, a 1.46 goals-against average and four shutouts. On Feb. 7, she was named a semifinalist for Hockey Goalie of the Year. Senior Megan Warrener has also seen time in net, starting 11 games with a 7-4-0 record, a 1.65 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage. Warrener's most recent start came on Jan. 31 against Merrimack.
 
All-Time Series with the Huskies
Providence holds a 49-27-12 all-time advantage over UConn. The teams last met on Oct. 18, 2024, at Schneider Arena, where the Huskies took an early 2-0 lead before the Friars tied it in the second period. UConn netted the game-winner early in the third. Providence is winless in its last eight matchups against UConn (0-6-2), with the Friars' last victory in the series coming on Feb. 11, 2022, in a 2-1 win at Storrs, Conn.
 
-GO FRIARS!-

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