2019-20 Women's Ice Hockey Preview
SALEM, Mass. -- Head Coach Malcolm Spurling begins his third season at the helm of the Salem State women's ice hockey program. The Vikings skated to an eighth place finish a year ago, their first in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC). With a 6-15-4 overall record and 3-10-3 conference mark, the Vikings claimed the league's final playoff seed, which resulted in a hard fought 3-0 loss to eventual champion Norwich in the quarterfinals.
This year, expectations continue to grow, as a senior-laden team led by captains Kyle Currier (Middleton, MA) and Ally Webster (Hanson, MA) looks to continue to build off the momentum obtained last season, which included a mid-season run of three wins in four games. Coach Spurling expects this year's squad to develop into a very hard working team that is aggressive and competes against every opponent in the highly regarded New England Hockey Conference.
13 players from last year's squad return including senior Currier - 2nd leading career point scorer (18g, 21a) at Salem State - who will be looking to build on those numbers as the new season approaches. Other forwards who will be counted on and should all make contributions on the offensive end are - seniors Casie Curtin (Wrentham, MA), Rose Sullivan (Charlestown, MA), Kerryann Goode (Millis, MA) - 8 assists in 2018-2019, Julia Dares (Hanover, MA) and Webster will be looking to continue where they left off from last season. In addition, sophomores Kayla McKim (Wakefield, MA), and Courtney Hardy (Medford, MA) along with transfer Colleen McAnespie (Lowell, MA) will be looking to build on their experiences of last year. Three new freshman forwards have been working hard trying to break into the lineup as well; Carolyn Mahoney (Melrose, MA), Jessica Robert (North Reading, MA) and Alexis Thomas (Barnstable, MA).
The defense will be returning upper classman seniors Amanda Giles (Merrimack, NH) and Vanessa VanBuskirk (Winthrop, MA) junior Ashley Wojewodzic (Lynn, MA) – 74 starts between the trio in 2018-19. Recuited freshman Emma Brennan (Medford,MA), Isabella Perrotti (Winthrop,MA) and Abby Stafford (Lynn, MA) will be looking to make an impact also.
The Vikings will be leaning heavily on our senior goaltender Sarah Plourde (Hooksett, NH) – 2-6-1 last season - with the backups senior Calie Richman (Boston, MA) and "walk on" Dana Smullen (Peabody, MA) "at the ready" to support at any time as the season progresses.
Incoming freshmen defenswomen Emma Brennan, Isabella Perrotti, and Abby Stafford will bring higher athleticism and a knowledge of the game to the "backend" to position the defense at a higher level of play. Each of the forward recruits Mahoney, Robert, and Thomas; and new transfer McAnespie bring different talents that will complement the "TEAM" as they move forward.
Coach Spurling will continue to work towards developing "our players to be good players as well as good citizens who work hard to make themselves and their "TEAMMATES" better each day." "Success usually comes from hard work. So, if we work hard to learn and execute our systems; and keep within our structure we will be successful and compete with any team we compete against."
The Vikings open the season on Tuesday, November 5th at home against Saint Anselm at 7:00 PM.