Dawgs Move On

Tonight the semi-finals of the Hockey East women’s tourney took place. On one side of the bracket were the Holy Cross Crusaders @ the UConn Huskies and on the other side were the UVM Catamounts @ the Northeastern Huskies (hosting at their vacation home: Walter Brown Arena).

The powers that be at Hockey East, in their infinite wisdom decided to start the games at the EXACT same time because who would possibly want to watch BOTH games?? (If only there was a font for sarcasm). I tried to watch both via the split screen, but I must have had too many concussions as I only lasted about 3mins before I got a headache.

So I had to make a choice. Which game to watch? I do always root for the underdog and Holy Cross is such a great story this year; but there’s only one team for me in college hockey.

So let’s stop with the preamble and get to the recap already!

Your Northeastern Huskies are back in the Hockey East Championship game for the 10th straight year! That’s right Chumley, it’s been a decade (my daughter is 9 – I wasn’t a dad yet when they started this run!)! It’s their 12th appearance overall and they will be going for their record-breaking 7th title.

As a wise person said earlier tonight: Death, Taxes and the Dawgs in the Hockey East Championship. Can I get a hell yeah?

In tonight’s game, the UVM Catamounts and 60mins of hockey were all that stood in the Huskies path. UVM was feeling it as they dispatched BC last Saturday and the squad enjoyed that so much that they stuck around the city for an extended weekend.

In net for the visitors was Ellie Simmons (4-8-2 this season with 2.77GAA and a .899%SV), who was fresh off her 37-save game at The Heights. Roughly 180ft away in the NU net stood Lisa Jönsson (19-5-1 record with 1.64GAA and a .939%SV). The Big Cat put up 39 saves herself in her last outing, a 2OT win over BU (not a big deal).

The game opened up with good pace and it was Northeastern that cashed in first. I’m not sure if you know this, but the Hockey East Defender of the Year has an absolute cannon and she knows how to use it. With the first shot of the game, Jules Constantinople reminded everyone what a one-timer looks like when she buried one from the left point. Allie Lalonde worked the puck up the LW wall and dished to Constantinople at the left point who wasted no time putting the puck on net. Far side post and in.

That score held for the majority of the period until Morgan Jackson ordered a pizza to be delivered in the slot. An absolute gift of a turnover found Jackson alone about 8ft off the net and she wasn’t missing. A wrister over the glove and under the bar.

Ms. Jackson you nasty.

Jackson’s goal seemed to give UVM a wake up call as they found another gear and were challenging the puck deep in the NU zone. One of their best chances came late in the period but was denied by (checks notes) Lily Shannon filling in behind Jönsson. The Captain blocked that shot on the goal line and was laying out all over the ice in the opening frame to do what she could to keep UVM off the board.

She’s always setting the tone for the squad.

In the 2nd period the zone time evened out as UVM was chasing the puck in all 3 zones. The Huskies maintained their edge in possession due to a dominant night at the face-off dot and a steady stream of power play opportunities. The Huskies were unable to cash in on the advantage, but it certainly kept UVM on their heels and definitely drained the Catamount legs.

In the 3rd Éloïse Caron and Shannon showed off their chemistry in one of the most unique hockey plays I’ve ever seen. Shannon carried into the UVM zone and put the puck across the Caron on the inside of the left wing. Caron rotated up back towards the blue line and attempted to put the puck to Jaden Bogden behind the UVM net. Caron lost an edge and went down and from her backside, somehow batted the puck to Shannon circling back up high. Shan chopped the puck to the ice and fed Caron (now back on her feet) on the wing through 3 UVM defenders. Caron gathered the bouncing puck at the LW dot and took a few strides before tucking the puck into the mail slot above Simmon’s near shoulder.

Snipe City your Mayor has returned.

I mean that’s borderline unfair. And don’t overlook the importance of Bogden buzzing the net and moving through the zone causing mismatches. Welcome back Bogs.

UVM continued to give NU power play opportunities and even survived a short 5:3 as time was winding down in regulation. With about 3mins to play, the Catamounts got Simmons to the bench for the extra attacker. And it paid off!

Sophia DeAnzeris fed the puck across the blue line at the top of the NU zone to D partner Natalie Zarcone. After a few quick strides Zarcone put a heavy wrister on net from the top of the LW circle that beat Jönsson to put UVM on the board. The goal was Zarcone’s first of the year. UVM couldn’t get another despite their best efforts until the final horn.

Rumor has it that the Championship game will be at UConn on Saturday, but I have no confirmation at the time of this blog. No matter where, it’s Huskies vs. Huskies or DAWGS vs. dogs. See you there.

There was a nice moment pregame when some Olympians were in the house to drop the ceremonial puck ahead of the game. Alina Müller and Aerin Frankel dropped the puck to some other Olympians: NU’s Alessia Baechler and UMV’s Julia Mesplède.

Just some Legends of Historic Matthews Arena…

If you’ve read this far you’re clearly a fan of the women’s game. Please like, share, subscribe and follow us on all socials @BTGHockeyPod and give the podcast a try. Thanks!

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