Thought I'd start the new season off on a positive note as the 1997 - 1998 Women's Hockey team, who one the first National Championship are inducted into the UNH Athletic Hall of Fame.
1997-1998 Women's Ice Hockey
The American Women's College Hockey Alliance instituted a national championship in 1998 and the Wildcats, under coach Karen Kay and led by All Americans Brandy Fisher and Nicki Luongo, grabbed the first title at the FleetCenter in Boston.
UNH beat Minnesota, 4-1, in the semifinals and knocked off Brown by the same score in the championship game.
The Wildcats won the ECAC regular season title with an 18-1-3 record and finished with a 31-5-3 record, setting a program mark for wins.
"They year was unbelievable," said Carisa Zaban, a defenseman on the team. "One loss in the league the whole year. It's so weird to think it was almost 20 years ago."
Zaban, now the women's hockey coach at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill., on the North Shore of Chicago, had a slightly different take on the season and championship than her teammates.
She hurt her knee in an exhibition game against the United States National team before the season began and had to sit out the year.
"It was a different perspective," she said. "I was able to watch every game from up top in the arena and that was pretty cool. It helped me realize how much I loved the sport. It was a great year and fun to watch. Watching in Boston and then coming out onto the ice afterwards was exciting."
Besides winning All American honors along with Luongo, Fisher was named the inaugural winner of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award that is presented to the best player in women's college hockey. She also was honored as the ECAC Player of the Year.
1997-1998 Women's Ice Hockey
The American Women's College Hockey Alliance instituted a national championship in 1998 and the Wildcats, under coach Karen Kay and led by All Americans Brandy Fisher and Nicki Luongo, grabbed the first title at the FleetCenter in Boston.
UNH beat Minnesota, 4-1, in the semifinals and knocked off Brown by the same score in the championship game.
The Wildcats won the ECAC regular season title with an 18-1-3 record and finished with a 31-5-3 record, setting a program mark for wins.
"They year was unbelievable," said Carisa Zaban, a defenseman on the team. "One loss in the league the whole year. It's so weird to think it was almost 20 years ago."
Zaban, now the women's hockey coach at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill., on the North Shore of Chicago, had a slightly different take on the season and championship than her teammates.
She hurt her knee in an exhibition game against the United States National team before the season began and had to sit out the year.
"It was a different perspective," she said. "I was able to watch every game from up top in the arena and that was pretty cool. It helped me realize how much I loved the sport. It was a great year and fun to watch. Watching in Boston and then coming out onto the ice afterwards was exciting."
Besides winning All American honors along with Luongo, Fisher was named the inaugural winner of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award that is presented to the best player in women's college hockey. She also was honored as the ECAC Player of the Year.
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