ACHA Women's Division

masshockey · 09-22-2005, 02:32 PM

Just wanted to open up a place where people can share some insight into the ACHA Women's Division. Who are the favorites this year? Who are the new teams that will make an impact right away?

Congrats to Robert Morris College on winning the 2005 ACHA National Championship last year. I think they will be in good shape to make a run for it again this year.

I think UConn will make a big impact this year in the ACHA Women's Division as well as North Dakota.

tipthepuck · 09-26-2005, 05:56 PM

MASSHOCKEY great Idea!
University of RI has been to the Final Four back to back years and this year could be their year. They where the only team to give Robert Morris a game last year, 0-0 with 4 minutes to go in 2nd period to lose 4-0. Although anyone beating RMC has to be pretty stacked!! UCONN should be scappy with some tough players, however coaching and support could be an issue. North Dakota, that remains to be seen. For sure they will be Varsity in a year or two.

masshockey · 09-27-2005, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tipthepuck

MASSHOCKEY great Idea!
University of RI has been to the Final Four back to back years and this year could be their year. They where the only team to give Robert Morris a game last year, 0-0 with 4 minutes to go in 2nd period to lose 4-0. Although anyone beating RMC has to be pretty stacked!! UCONN should be scappy with some tough players, however coaching and support could be an issue. North Dakota, that remains to be seen. For sure they will be Varsity in a year or two.

Does URI have a talented freshman class coming in? I think they will again be a solid team in the North East, but look for that to be a very competitive division this year with URI, UMASS, NCCC and UCONN fighting for the top spot. Norwich should be much improved this year as well, they have a few good freshman coming in this year.

The Central division looks to be pretty much a lock again for Robert Morris. Although MSU with a new coach and a few new kids will be a very competitive team again this year. Now that these two teams actually have regular season games scheduled against each other this year, it will be a fun division to watch. Also look out for Western Michigan to be atop of the CCWHA once again this year.

I think Lindenwood looks good to take the West division again this year, but North Dakota will be a strong first year team to watch. You can also never underestimate two time National Champion Wisconsin-Madsion. Colorado will be weaker this year with the loss of Stef Metcalf, but they should still have a strong season with the returning players. Minnesota also made a good showing at the National Tournament last year and will be a team to watch in the west.

The South East will again be a battle of the Penns between Penn State and UPenn. Unfortunately the only game these two teams will face off against each other in will be after the final rankings are released. Although UPenn will be traveling up to UMass and URI so there should be a few comparsion game this year to judge these teams on.

NYDad · 09-27-2005, 09:32 PM

Nobody asked but heres my preseason top ten.

1 Robert Morris (Sick!!!)
2 Lindenwood (loaded with new canadians. how DO they get them??)
3 Michigan State ( new coach, and probably a few new kids)
4 URI ( can they score????)
5 UMass ( whole new team, goaltending ?????)
6 Western Michigan ( good crop of new talent but they loose their coach??)
7.Minnesota ( will add to an already good team)
8.Colorado ( is there life after Metcalf??)
9. Wisconsin ( graduated core of team, can they be replaced?)
10 Iowa State ( great goaltending, big freshman class)

I did not consider N.Dakota, or UConn they may be the wild cards.

Ironman33 · 09-28-2005, 09:57 AM

Predictions

1. Robert Morris (Added more talent to tons of talent, could be upset by either LU or MSU in the right situation)
2. Lindenwood
(how do they do it...RMC and LU are both NAIA schools that include women's hockey as part of their athletic department...University Support is how)

The rest...
3. MSU (only 2 new players Korzon -WMU's best defensman, and Parker- a bullet and scorer from Detroit, adding two "old" players who opted to stay with the MSU-White in the CCWHA last year, Wilbur and Wright are back, this gives MSU a very large Defense core, 5'9"-5'11", should be a tough team, it will be interesting to see if new leadership can keep the ball rolling here, need Fine to play in net like she did as a Freshman)
4. URI - (We'll see, they were not as good last year as in 03-04, also a part of athletic department, lots of talent, McCann provides consistent leadership, two good goalies.)
5. UMASS- (another we'll see, they are inconsistent, Like MSU, a team the athletic department wishes would go away, what happens without their goalie?)
6. U-Michigan (quietly building back up, will give WMU a run in the CCWHA)
7. Wisconsin (If Uschan is coaching, this team will be prepared to play even with 8 players, has talent on campus)
8. NCCC- (also a program that is part of the athletic department, get support from the school, good local talent)
9- Western Michigan- (We'll see, should have talent, but turnover may hurt them especially if they have a new coach, and they had some inconsistent goaltending and no depth, I see them as dropping)
10- Minnesota (team on the rise, like Wisconsin, talent has to be there, but a good coach needs to run the show)

stilloffside · 09-28-2005, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYDad

Nobody asked but heres my preseason top ten.

1 Robert Morris (Sick!!!)
2 Lindenwood (loaded with new canadians. how DO they get them??)
3 Michigan State ( new coach, and probably a few new kids)
4 URI ( can they score????)
5 UMass ( whole new team, goaltending ?????)
6 Western Michigan ( good crop of new talent but they loose their coach??)
7.Minnesota ( will add to an already good team)
8.Colorado ( is there life after Metcalf??)
9. Wisconsin ( graduated core of team, can they be replaced?)
10 Iowa State ( great goaltending, big freshman class)

I did not consider N.Dakota, or UConn they may be the wild cards.

There is no question that RMC is still and will continue to be the class of the women's division and Lindenwood is right there with them...funny how these schools are able to recruit top players, almost doesnt seem right for club hockey does it? Anyhow 3 through 10 will be a toss up. The coaching changes at Michigan State and UMASS may make an impact on their positioning, along with the UMASS's top goalie over the past 4 years finally graduating. As for URI W. Michigan and Minnesota you can bet that they will all be there when it is all said and done. As for Colorado this seems to be a team that cannot survive without Metcalf, they have poor goaltending and suspect scoring other then Metcalf. ND and UConn may make some noise at the bottom of the rankings this year and will likely move up the ladder quickly in the next 2 or 3. Who knows maybe RMC will play lax against club teams and focus on the NCAA ones...we can only hope!

NYDad · 09-29-2005, 12:03 AM

It's not really hard to imagine schools that have embraced club sports and actually support them, being able to recruit good players.RMC and LU support their club teams financially, that makes them a viable option for a recruit. Some club teams travel more than D1 teams, and that is viewed as a positive with recruits.If the better club teams elevate the status of club hockey, thats great.This is not beer league hockey, and it deserves respect.I don't think the ACHA wants to be the NCAA, but good hockey is good hockey no matter what lable is attached to it.

Ironman33 · 09-29-2005, 03:55 PM

You simply asked "how do they get them" I replied by stating through University support. It is not good,bad or ugly, it is just different than some of the bigger or more presitgious schools...I can say that in the ACHA in both Women's and Men's divisions, teams are not on an equal footing, and it does impact the competitive level. More so in women's because there is not as much talent ot go around, an if you can not offer the talented players admission help or financial incentive then you will not be as competitive. In ACHA Women's this is becoming obvious as NAIA schools and Schools that are part of the Athletic epartment are getting markedly stronger. Gaining admission to RMC or LU is not the same as Michigan or UPenn. By the same token a degree from UPenn or U-M have a different value-ad than RMC or LU after college. It really can be likened to any pro sport, large market team get more support, and more money, thereofre have better teams...it is just the basic answer to "how do the get canadians" I guarentee, when LU calls a canadian recruit, the first thing said is "lindenwood???, where is that?"

NYDad · 09-29-2005, 11:44 PM

Ironman33: When I refer to support, I mean the school pays the teams expenses to play hockey, I do not mean to say the institutions give the athletes any form of aid that is out of the ordinary. RMC was investigated by the ACHA after a coach made an accusation of improper aid being given to the players. RMC was cleared of any wrong doing. I won't comment on Lindenwood. You would assume that schools like Mich State, U Mich, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa State would be able to draw good players based on their huge enrollment. Out of 30, 40, or 60,000 kids you think would have 20 good women hockey players

stilloffside · 10-02-2005, 12:54 PM

Does anyone know how URI did this year in replacing their seniors? And does Lindenwood have a chance to win the National title in their own back yard this year? What is the bzzz around the women's division this season, who are the major movers and shakers?

NYDad · 10-03-2005, 09:27 AM

With very few teams posting their rosters, it's hard to tell what the teams will look like. Is there any inside info out there?? LU looks to have made a big move, only time will tell if it pays off.

masshockey · 10-05-2005, 08:11 PM

URI looks to have picked up 3 players this year and a goalie. They loose 3 seniors including Captian Jen Wallace and linemate Lauren Marx. They also loose Amelia Lyman. They pick up:Beth Laughlin, Kelly Bartram, Katie Eagan, and goaltender Lauren Meyer. Don't know what impact these players will have on the team, but they will have big shoes to fill if URI is going to have the offensive talent they did last season. They will still be tough on defense with Roselle and Pags. They do also have goaltender Pecci coming back from academic inelligibility.

Lindenwood seems to have filled there weakest link this season: goaltending. They bring back all the players that count, including Kat Hannah that was rumored to be headed else where at the end of last season. We'll see if their new talent provides the needed depth it will take to contend with Robert Morris.

Penn State looks to have a really short bench this season. They lost 8 seniors and only have 8 returning players this year and look to bring in 4 freshman and two juniors. This brings them to a grand total of 12 position players and 2 goalies. I think depth will be the killer for Penn State to go anywhere this season. Look for them to have another so so season.

UMass has 4 freshman, and a transfer in this years recruiting class. Freshman forwards Jill Clark and Whitney Thames will surely bolster the offense as well as St. Anselm/Northeastern transfer Melissa Jubinville. The loss of last years starting goaltender Becky Trudel will cerntainly have an impact on the position. They also loose leading scorer Aleta Mills and the solid play of Samantha Louras, all three were all-americans last season. On Defense UMass brings in freshman Alyssa Gable and Kait Frost.

If any one else has any insight into the recruiting classes of other teams please share.

stilloffside · 10-09-2005, 09:18 PM

Lots of movement in the eastern conference, anyone heard from NCCC? BYW is Wisconsin back in the mix this season and are any of the upper level teams in club hockey ready to make the jump to either DIII or DI as Boston University did this season?

OhiohockeyDad · 10-10-2005, 04:01 PM

Looks like Lindenwood has closed the gap with RMC, after this weekend. This will be an interesting matchup all year, I would think.
Another team that no one had in their top ten, looks to be Ohio State- sweep MSU this weekend and split with Michigan the weekend before. Could be a year or so away, but the coach works harder at recruiting than most D3 schools.

Ironman33 · 10-10-2005, 04:16 PM

It does appear the LU has closed the GAP or that RMC as come back to the pack a bit...Ohio State is getting better, as is Michigan (OSU swept MSU's "B" team, not the "A" team) The "A" team seems to have beaten Michigan and Victory Honda U-19 this weekend. No word on Northern and Western Michigan's series.

NYDad · 10-11-2005, 12:15 AM

Yes LU is much improved this year, primarily at the Goalie position. With only two weeks of practice under their belts RMC has yet to hit their stride, and with four solid lines will be tough to beat when they do.

ramsfan · 10-13-2005, 10:02 PM

[quote=masshockey]URI looks to have picked up 3 players this year and a goalie. They loose 3 seniors including Captian Jen Wallace and linemate Lauren Marx. They also loose Amelia Lyman. They pick up:Beth Laughlin, Kelly Bartram, Katie Eagan, and goaltender Lauren Meyer. Don't know what impact these players will have on the team, but they will have big shoes to fill if URI is going to have the offensive talent they did last season. They will still be tough on defense with Roselle and Pags. They do also have goaltender Pecci coming back from academic inelligibility.

Where did you get your information about URI's team??

masshockey · 10-14-2005, 04:42 PM

[quote=ramsfan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by masshockey

URI looks to have picked up 3 players this year and a goalie. They loose 3 seniors including Captian Jen Wallace and linemate Lauren Marx. They also loose Amelia Lyman. They pick up:Beth Laughlin, Kelly Bartram, Katie Eagan, and goaltender Lauren Meyer. Don't know what impact these players will have on the team, but they will have big shoes to fill if URI is going to have the offensive talent they did last season. They will still be tough on defense with Roselle and Pags. They do also have goaltender Pecci coming back from academic inelligibility.

Where did you get your information about URI's team??

This was from thier ACHA team page/roster : http://www.achahockey.org/league.php...&seasonID=3511

I know that one of the girls I believe it is Lauren Meyer is from the Connecticut Clippers, and is a pretty decent forward.

ramsfan · 10-14-2005, 10:11 PM

Lauren Meyer is a goalie that was on the team in the 03-04 season... And I'm pretty sure the only player returning off your list is Kelly Bartram, but i could be wrong.

masshockey · 10-15-2005, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramsfan

Lauren Meyer is a goalie that was on the team in the 03-04 season... And I'm pretty sure the only player returning off your list is Kelly Bartram, but i could be wrong.

Looks like my information from the ACHA website was not current. URI looks to have added 8 new players. Cara Murphy, Cathrine Bartlett, Kate Garcia, Keri Houhoulis, Emily Touhey, Hannah Becker, Lindsey Maturi, and Amanda Ingemi. They wont get a real test until they face UMass in November with their first 4 games against Buffalo and UPenn, but we will see in the first few weeks if the incoming recruiting class can provide URI with the offensive pressence they lacked last year.