Women's Hockey East Preseason Poll Released
9/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
WAKEFIELD, Mass. -- The University of Maine women's ice hockey team was selected eighth in the 2011-2012 Women's Hockey East Preseason Coaches Poll realeased on Tuesday, Sept. 20 by Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna. The Black Bears received 18 points in the poll overall.
Boston University was selected to win the 2012 Hockey East Title, in the 10th anniversary at of the league. The Terriers received sixth first-place votes and 55 points overall. Boston College was selected second with two first-place votes and 51 points overall. Northeastern was third with 42 points followed by Providence (39 points), Connecticut (30 points), Vermont (24 points), New Hampshire (21 points) and Maine.
Head coach Maria Lewis returns for her second season as head coach of the Black Bears. She led the Black Bears to the Hockey East Tournament in her first year behind the bench and doubled its win total from the previous season.
Maine returns 14 letterwinners for the 2011-2012 season. Among the returning players are nine forwards, three defensemen and a pair of goalies. Maine adds eight newcomers for the upcoming season, several who are expected to make an immediate impact.
Myriam Croussette (Baie-Comeau, Quebec) and Brittany Dougherty (Chesterfield, Mich.) tied for the team lead in scoring last season. Each finished with 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points. Danielle Ward (Lansing, Mich.) added 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points a year ago. Captain Dawn Sullivan (Enfield, Nova Scotia) tallied eight goals and nine assists for 17 points.
Maine returns netminders Brittany Ott (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) and Candice Currier (Goffstown, N.H.). Ott saw action in 30 games in goal and finished 10-15-4 with a 2.49 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. Currier played in five games and was 2-2-1 with a 2.26 goals against average and a .880 save percentage.
The Black Bears open the 2011-2012 season on Friday, Sept. 23 when they host Sacred Heart at 7 PM at Alfond Arena. The two teams will then close the series on Saturday, Sept. 24 with a 3 PM game.
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