Has it really been half a dozen years since the BU varsity women’s program came into being? That’s just too hard to believe.
Seems like only yesterday that the Terriers were something of an hockey Hubanomaly. The lone club program in the Women’s Beanpot. The last place an elite New Englander would even think about playing.
Talk about that being “then.”
What is certainly here and now is the Terriers’ place among the nation’s powers. Currently ranked fifth in the country, BU is serving as both host and top seed for the WHEA tournament.
The Terriers won their first ever league title in 2010 as the third seed, toppling Boston College, UNH, and Providence College, before making their NCAA tourney debut.
Although it was a brief appearance — a one-and-done 4-1 loss to top seed Mercyhurst — that amount of success laid the groundwork for this, their best season yet.
“Each year we’ve moved up and grown,” said Terriers coach Brian Durocher, who has overseen the construction of the program from its very first puck drop. “Two years ago, I thought we played one of our best games and BC beat us, but to do it last year and grab the trophy, I like to think we’re in the right
direction. Stars lined up. We have (Kayleigh) Fratkin, (Louise) Warren, (Kerrin) Sperry and (Caroline) Campbell, who all have the distinctions of being top hockey players and being part of national programs or top prep schools. They could be marquee kids in recruiting classes, but are overshadowed from the other three. I like to think we’re going in the right direction and worry about playing for the common goal and not all-star teams.”
Funny thing about that, because the Terriers have quite a few all-stars among them, and young ones, too.
Sperrin for instance, came onto the scene and not only did she seize the BU goal crease, she led the WHEA in every important statistical category, and that’s just the beginning.
The Terriers have a high-scoring rookie (Marie-Philip Poulin), an even higher-scoring veteran (junior transfer from UNH Jenn Wakefield), the league’s top power play AND penalty kill, and a puck-moving defenseman (Catherine Ward) who has piled up more assists than anyone else in the WHEA. Stitching the group together is Holly Lorms, the team captain and the WHEA’s top defensive forward.
Often matched up against the top opposing forwards, Lorms helped keep order in the Terriers end while managing to pop in 13 goals and rack up 22 points, both career highs.
“Her teammates named her captain,” said Durocher, “and for someone who’s had three significant injuries, from an ACL, to a wrist injury and a head/shoulder/neck injury, we’re fortunate she’s back at full tilt. She’s a wonderful leader. She just had her best year here and (was) a shot in the arm. (When) people like Holly have a career year, that’s when teams have big years.”
Who knows? This may turn out to be their biggest and best yet.
