Women’s Hockey: ACHA Nationals Preview
The Bishop's University women's hockey team are on their way to the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) D2 National Championships in Columbus, Ohio. They make the trip for the first time in their first official year in the ACHA.
The final ACHA rankings determined that the Gaiters would make the trip to nationals. Bishop's was awarded the second seed in the East.
ACHA D2 National Championships
The top six teams in each of the East and West qualify for the event. There are four pools of three with each team playing the two other teams in their group plus a crossover game. Paired with Bishop's are Assiniboine College (No.3 West) and Adrian College (No.5 West). The top four teams will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, with the National Championship taking place on Sunday.
ACHA Final Rankings and Playoff Seeds
EAST
1. University of Delaware
2. Bishop's University
3. Liberty University
4. Boston College
5. University at Buffalo
6. Montclair State University
WEST
1. Lakehead University
2. Minot State University
3. Assiniboine College
4. North Dakota State University
5. Adrian College
6. Loyola University Chicago
Bishop's Schedule
Wed, Mar. 14 4:45 p.m. Bishop's University vs Adrian College Thu, Mar. 15 4:45 p.m. Bishop's University vs Assiniboine College
Fri, Mar. 16 4:45 p.m. Bishop's University vs Loyola University Chicago
Bishop's University (14-5-0)
The Gaiters are heading to nationals with an 11-4 record since the holiday break. The Gaiters are coming off two big wins over the University of Connecticut (2-10-1) at home. Bishop's beat the Huskies 7-0 and 7-1 two weekends ago. Two of their losses came to ACHA D1 opponent the University of Massachusetts (D1, 16-9-1).
Adrian College (14-2-0)
Adrian College has the fifth seed in the West. They are coming off losses from Feb. 23rd and 24th to Loyola University Chicago 3-1 and University of Notre Dame (8-8-0) 4-2. They also bested Northern Michigan University (8-8-2) 8-5.
Assiniboine College (19-8-0)
Asssiniboine College has the third seed in the West. They are coming into the playoffs after splitting a pair with the University of Minnesota-duluth (1011-3) on Feb. 17th and 18th. Bishop's lost to Assiniboine 5-3 at the Lakehead Challenge Cup in Thunder Bay, Ont. on Feb. 3. The Gaiters took an early lead but by the end of the second period Bishop's was only up 3-2. Assiniboine scored three goals in the third period to win 5-3.
Loyola University Chicago (9-4-1)
Loyola is sixth in the West. They recently beat Northern Michigan University 3-1 and University of Notre Dame 2-1 on Feb. 24th and 25th. Loyola also fell 43 to Notre Dame in the same weekend.
Coach's Corner
"Everyone is excited about nationals and a little nervous," said head coach Brent Bailey. "We don't know what we are going to see from some different opponents, but we can't wait to get to Columbus. We know Assiniboine pretty well, after playing them at the Lakehead Challenge Cup, we know that they are a great team and our history against them makes the preparation a little easier. Our first game against Adrian we will be going in kinda blind having never played them or ever seen them play. For Loyola Chicago, I will be able to watch their first two games and get a better sense of them, so we should be really prepared."
Scoring Super Stars
Kayla Letouzel (L'orignal, Ont./st. Mary's), a third year forward, sits 10th in ACHA scoring with 42 points (21 goals and 21 assists. She had been named Bishop's University Athlete of the Week three times this season.
Freshman forward, Arianne Charette (Sainte-agathe-des-monts, Que. /The Winchendon School ) is 17th in the ACHA standings with 34 points (16 goals and 18 assists).
In her rookie season Jessica Belanger (Sherbrooke) leads the Gaiters in goals with 22. She has four assists and was named Bishop's University Athlete of the Week once since she joined the team in January.
Watch Live:
All games will be broadcasted live online the Bishop’s website.
Stay up-to-date anytime with the Bishop's Gaiters at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @Bishopsgaiters and #Gaiternation