Poll: Top Rookies in the league

[hockeyfan17]

Ok I see talk about the Patty starting up and I was wondering what people's opinions were on the freshmen in the league this year. I have not had the chance to see many Freshmen yet this season but I always find the talent of the younger players on the teams capturing to me.
So I would lke to hear from the more experienced womens fans on who you would vote as top rookie for the season so far.
So far I am favoring Katie Johnson for Harvard. I saw her play Providence earlier and she was the freshmen whose caught my eye so far.
Please Enlighten me with your thoughts.

[binnyrus]

Koizumi, UMD. Of course.

[skatinfiend]

Consider Lyndsay Wall at Minnesota. She quarterbacks the best power play in the country and adds size to a historically smaller D corps. Plus, she's currently the top scorer among rookies despite playing D.

[brookyone]

At this early stage, Wall would get my vote as well. Great presence on the ice, can control the flow of the game. Very poised...well beyond her rookie status. Plays like a seasoned vet. International experience has no doubt been very beneficial for Lyndsay.

[thumbtack]

Jenna Spring, Yale.

[Tracy44]

Danielle Ashley would probably up there if she could keep her nose clean and play every game. She is probably one of the best D's in the NCAA. I think she has 5 points in 8 games and is a plus 7 and she has played against strong teams in those 8 games. She has'nt been able to pad her stats yet. I wonder if they will sit her in the second half when they meet tougher teams.

[eastman]

UMD;Harvard; UNH--all have some terrific 1st year players. I was at both Dartmouth/UMD games and it was fun--but not classic hockey. I'm in Hanover,NH a lot and I caught the Yale/Dartmouth game. I was surprised that Yale had so many freshman who could skate and who looked like they were going to be players.At least 7 or 8 of them.Kind of weird thinking that Yale may actually develop a decent women's hockey team.An assistant coach told me that the Yale freshman are even young for college with some of them not 18 yet. Their coach is only 23---she's probably younger than many of the players who play against her team. If they develop they may not be intimidated the 2nd time around against the quality teams.

[thumbtack]

Just a couple of quick things: Witt is 25 or 26 (I can't remember which). In terms of the freshman, Yale definitely has a talented bunch. In the couple of games that I've seen, 7 of the Yale frosh are playing some serious minutes. Of course, one has to wonder about Witt's loyalty to the older players who put in a number of years and hardwork into the program, but that's another story.

The most impressive thing about yale's freshmen is that while Jenna Spring appears to be the most talented, the rest of the groupis almost equally as talented. They are a pleasure to watch play, and I'm looking forward to watching this class in a couple of years as upper classmen. It should be a lot of fun.

[brookyone]

Originally posted by Tracy44
Danielle Ashley would probably up there if she could keep her nose clean and play every game. She is probably one of the best D's in the NCAA. I think she has 5 points in 8 games and is a plus 7 and she has played against strong teams in those 8 games. She has'nt been able to pad her stats yet. I wonder if they will sit her in the second half when they meet tougher teams.


Based on the few times I've seen her play, I'm inclined to agree. I hope she does what she needs to do to get back on the ice. The Gophers could sure benefit from her presence as the schedule gets tougher, which is soon. Sorry to see her missing opportunities for that all important game experience freshman do need.

[cdn4]

Brookyone, Danielle played in the NWHL which is probably the best women's league around. She took a regular shift and was a solid defensemen for the Toronto Aeros. She played against the U.S. team when she was a 15yr old. The Toronto Aeros are probably the most successful team in women's hockey and they don't have tryouts. You get invited to there program. As for getting experience she has played with and against allot of Olympians like Cammi, Hayley, and some of her team-mates like Wendall and Dariwitz. Her Aeros team probably had 7 plus Olympians. I think that is why so many teams recruited her and her Aeros team wanted her to stay home. Your comments are great but she should already be a veteran. I am hoping to grab the games in Ohio in Feb. to watch the Gophers as they sound like they are very talented team. They would be a great unit to bring as a whole to the NWHL.

[brookyone]

cdn4, Thanks for the info. I definetely noticed Danielle played with great poise...much more than you would see from alot of freshman. She's fun to watch...like I said, I'd like to see her in the lineup again...tomorrow would be good.

[ARM]

Danielle Ashley may have experience at a high level, but games played with teammates are still important in getting a team to play to its potential.

[Collegehockeynut]

Actually, Ashley broke into the NWHL witth the Mississauag team. She played there for 1 1/2 years. She switched to the Aeros in the middle of her second year in the league. I was mildly suprised she did not make the Under 22 team or theNational Womens's team evalaution camp, especially with the Aeros coneections at the national level.

The NWHL is a good league but I would consider D1 hockey to be a better "league" overall.

[brookyone]

Originally posted by ARM
Danielle Ashley may have experience at a high level, but games played with teammates are still important in getting a team to play to its potential.


Well said ARM, exactly the point I was attempting to make. Need to get her on the ice in game situations against D1 teams.

[winsorhockeydad]

Christine Capuano, Dartmouth goalie, had a big game against UMD. She has only played in a few games, but may get some more starts now.

[cdn4]

brookyone & Arm your right she needs time with her fellow players. She scans the ice so well and makes those nice break out passes I think with more playing time she will get to know her players and where they will be. Collegehockeynut you are right about her playing with Mississauga her first year and half but she originally started tryouts with the jr. Aeros and KD liked her and wanted to keep her but she was only 14yrs old and she was to young to play jr. But for some odd reason she was aloud to play SR. because there was no rule in place for a young player, so Mississauga picked her up. As for the NT she went to summer school because her parents wanted her to qualify for school. They held her back from training and by what I understand she was out of shape. As for D-1 being better, yes it is getting better every year as seen by stats of some girls like Meaghon Hunter of the Badgers she is still a great player but it will be harder for girls in the future to break records as the league is getting stronger. Maybe the top four would compete against the Aeros, Xtreme and the Thunder but that is about it. The Aeros played the U.S. team and only lost 4-1 a few years ago.

[brookyone]

cdn4, Xtreme, would that be Oval Xtreme ?

[brookyone]

Danielle Ashley returns to the ice Friday vs. Bemidji St. Scores her first goal as a Gopher...congrats to her. Didn't appear to have suffered any from the missed games. Took a couple penalties but overall looked very steady. Has a nice shot from the point too. Good to see her back in action.

[kATEspade]

I think that Massachusetts can boast one of the overall strongest groups of rookies in the league. They have produced strong players in the past, but this year I have been very impressed, mostly by the players coming out of prep schools....Someone mentioned Capuano on Dartmouth, and she is a Mass prep school player and native. I know most of them stay out east, but let me know what others think......

[brookyone]

How bout some more names & current schools so we can check the schools websites for stats & bio's etc. etc. ?