Women's hockey restarts journey to frozen four

The Norwich University women's ice hockey team made it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Frozen Four last season. The team finished second place in Division III and nothing less is expected of the team in its upcoming 2010-2011 season, according to the team captain.

Nine freshmen were recruited this year for the women's team.

"I think the kids are really eager, they're just hockey players and can't wait to get on the ice," said Captain Sophie Leclerc, 23, a graduate student, from Barre, Vt.

The success from the 2009-2010 season helped attract new players.

"I think that it drew a lot more interest and more people wanted to come here," said Kelly Fisk, 18, a freshman psychology major from New York, who will be one of three goalies for the team this season.

"The freshmen are going to make improvements in their own way to the program," said head coach Mark Bolding of the nine recruited freshmen. The freshmen are bringing diverse skills and adding depth to the team.

With just two seniors graduating last year, the number of freshmen players may be surprising. The reason: "To make the team a little younger and help develop the team," said Assistant Captain Melissa Rundlett, 21, a physical education major from Saco, Maine.

Since the team has already started its preseason captain's practices, players been able to showcase their talents. "There are a lot of strong players, defensively and offensively, that I think can help contribute," Rundlett said.

The women's hockey team in past years has had a team that has jelled very well. The fact that they are a close-knit group has in part contributed to the team's success as a young program.

"I think more than anything they will be concerned that the chemistry is not altered too much," Bolding said about the returning players and their strong bond.

Leclerc said that having a strong work ethic and a common set of goals is one reason why this team will be able to return to the NCAA frozen four for a third year in a row. "And hopefully it will stay the same, if not get better." she said.

"I think the freshmen will be nervous about competing at a collegiate level and the upper classmen will be more driven," Bolding said.

The incoming freshmen class seems to be meshing well with the returning players during their captains' practices as well as preseason workouts. "I think they are coming in and ready to work," Rundlett said.

The number of the incoming freshmen class may be intimidating for some of the returning players, but this may also help create a stronger intensity on the ice during tryouts as well as in practice. Healthy competition is something that can help any team move on to the next level, said the athletes.

"I think having more freshmen makes the upperclassmen work harder," Fisk said.

"I think it's going to be very competitive," said Brittany Casey, a sophomore criminal justice major from Montreal about the incoming class and how hard it is going to be during practices this season.

The incoming freshmen will have to adapt to the level of play that they will be facing this season. "I think they have the experience already playing at the collegiate level, versus the freshmen who have played at different levels," said Felicia Desorie, 21, a junior civil engineering major from Westford, Vt.

The competition in women's Division III hockey is rapidly increasing. This year's tryouts for NU's women's hockey team could possibly be very challenging for the coaches.

"I think he has the toughest job in the world," Leclerc said. Bolding will have some difficult choices to make for his team, she said. "Not only are there a lot of good hockey players, there are a lot of good kids."

The expectations are that everyone shows up and works hard along with having a lot of determination. The team hopes to not only to repeat the success it had had in the past, but to surpass it.