Seahawks cut the ice in a new way

By: Allison Staab
Posted In: Sports

The Salve Regina University women’s ice hockey team skated to a completely new level this season. While setting a school record for wins in a season with a record of 11-13-3, the Seahawks earned their highest seed ever in the ECAC Division III conference tournament.

“This year was different for a number of reasons,” Senior captain Aimee Provencher said. “We set goals and accomplished a good number of them.”

Provencher has been a big reason for the programs success this season and became the school’s all-time leader in assists with 37.

“I’m especially happy for Aimee Provencher,” Salve Athletic Director Del Malloy said. “She has certainly paid her dues.”

As a four-year team member, Provencher experienced the program at both ends of the spectrum. Her freshman year team finished just 3-19-3. Since then, a new coach, new talent and an improved sports department have all contributed to the team’s turnaround.

“Coach Cox is determined and dedicated to this team and will not settle for anything less than perfection,” Provencher said. “Coach has recruited tremendous talent from all across the country and as a result the ability of the players has changed dramatically from when I first got to Salve.”

The combination of new and returning talent has pleased Malloy.

“I am extremely proud of the women’s ice hockey team,” Malloy said. “Coach Cox brought in a talented and energetic group of freshman student-athletes and the returning members of the team provided the necessary leadership to help bring the new team members along.”

Provencher also said that the support of the sports department as a whole has changed since she first started playing at Salve and that the women’s ice hockey team has even developed a dedicated fan base.

“We have fans that attend every one of our home games, and they traveled with us to our playoff games,” Provencher emphasized.

The Seahawks achieved another milestone in March defeating No. 4 Norwich University 2-1 in overtime to advance to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

SRU had dropped the previous two contests with Norwich this past season and Provencher said that the key to winning the playoff game was staying positive.

“We had the talent to beat them; we just needed to know we did,” Provencher said. “We stayed together and encouraged each other.”

Freshman Danika Williams scored the game winner in overtime for Salve, who traveled to Northfield, Vt. for the contest. The goal came just 2 minutes and 19 seconds into the overtime period on a power play.

Fellow freshman Molly Golden netted the first goal of the game off a feed from junior Caitlin Campbell. Campbell broke her own single-season scoring record this year with 15 goals. She is also the school’s all-time leader in goals with 39 and points with 65.

However, the end of the road came a game too early for the revamped Seahawks as No. 1 seeded Manhattanville defeated Salve 6-1 in the conference semifinals.

But with this past season done, there is only one thing for the women’s ice hockey team to do and that is to look forward.

“I think the team is going to continue to grow and progressively get better as time goes on,” Provencher said. “It’s likely that they will be one of the top 3 teams in ECAC East next year. If they keep working hard, stay disciplined, and manage to survive our Assistant Coach Sid’s ‘boot camp,’ there is no doubt they will accomplish any goals they set.”

And that is surely what they intend to do.