Hockey East Home and Home Between No. 3 Quinnipiac and No. 10 Providence
A top ten battle is taking place between two of the finest Women’s Hockey East squads this weekend. The home and home series features Quinnipiac and Providence, two teams that are looking to continue the long win streaks they are on.
The Bobcats are on a seven-game win streak and only have lost one game on the season to the No. 4 Yale Bulldogs. The Friars are on a six-game win streak, with only four losses in 20 games played this season.
Olivia Mobley is the top point producer for the blue and gold, and is having a career year in almost every stat category. Quinnipiac has two other high point-producing forwards in Shay Maloney and Maya Labad.
Mobley has 26 points in 17 games played this season and freshman Maloney has 21 points in the same number of games played. Sophomore, Labad, has 17 points in 16 games which is a career high for her.
The Bobcats have been playing without senior captain Laxie Adzija, who would be one of their biggest threats offensively this season.
The backend is boosted by junior defensemen Maddy Samoskevich, the sister of Mackie Samoskevich of Michigan men’s hockey. She has 11 points in 17 games and leads all defensemen on the blue and gold.
Samoskevich’s fellow junior defenseman, Kendall Cooper, has 9 points in just 13 games played and plays a large role in the team's structure when available.
Quinnipiac uses two goalies, Logan Angers and Catie Boudiette. Angers, the senior netminder, has played 11 games and won 10. Boudiette has played six games and won all of them. Both goalies are great options for the Bobcats.
The Friars are led by senior forward Sara Hjalmarsson, who is nearing career highs in points, goals and assists. With 13 goals, 12 assists and 25 points on the season, she has been an absolute force in black and white.
Freshman forward Reichen Kirchmair has an impressive 16 points in 20 games with 10 goals to her name. The Oakville, Ontario native has been a very important addition for the Friars this season.
The defensive corps is conducted by Lauren Deblois, Brooke Becker and Claire Tyo. Senior Debois has only nine points in 20 games, while juniors Becker and Tyo have eight each. The defense does not contribute much offensively, but the forwards pick up the slack.
The Black and White stick with one goalie and one goalie only, and that is Sandra Abstreiter. She has played all 20 games winning 15, losing 4 and tying 1. She has a .942 save percentage and a 1.39 goals against average which is spectacular.
Quinnipiac is currently ranked No. 3 in the country, and are looking to continue their rise in the polls against the No. 10 Friars. They will need a weekend sweep in order to make that happen. Providence wants to do the exact same thing and win both in the home and home series.
It should be an exciting series to watch in both Providence, Rhode Island and Hamden. Connecticut. As a fan, expect two hard fought close battles from the two top-ten teams.
Hayden Lewis is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email lewis1818hayden@gmail.com.
