LOWELL — March 20, 2022 was a special occasion for the Austin Prep women hockey program.
It marked the top of 1 period and the beginning of one other.
The Cougars capped off probably the most dominant seasons in women hockey historical past, defeating Arlington 4-1 on the TD Garden to say the Division 1 state historical past. As the Austin Prep women skated off the ice following the epic 27-0 season, they knew it was the final time they’d be competing as an MIAA member college. Exactly two months earlier, Austin Prep introduced it was leaving the MIAA on the finish of the college 12 months to hitch the NEPSAC.
Even although the transfer meant an even bigger problem from a scheduling standpoint, the Cougars have been as much as the problem, beginning the season with a 8-1-1 file. Considering they’re enjoying with a revamped roster as a result of heavy commencement losses, head coach Stephanie Wood is greater than happy with the outcomes.
“This has been a very positive change for us,” Wood mentioned. “This is an efficient alternative for our program and the gamers in this system to problem themselves. We misplaced 12 gamers from final 12 months’s staff, which is the largest group I’ve misplaced in my 10 years right here, so we’re pleased with the best way issues have gone up to now.
“There’s always that concern when the landscape changes a bit. But this is a great chance for our players to go up against very good competition and that will help them when they move on to play in college.”
Austin Prep athletic director Patrick Driscoll knew the soar from the MIAA to NEPSAC would have some bumps within the highway alongside the best way. What he did know was the aim piloting the ladies hockey program of their transition from MIAA energy to NEPSAC beginner was the least of his issues.
“Stephanie knows what it takes to build a program, she’s done that in her 10 years here,” Driscoll mentioned. “The experience she has is priceless, she’s been a very important part of the early success the team has achieved so far.”
Hockey has all the time been in Wood’s DNA, although the teaching part took a while. She grew up in New Brunswick, Canada and went on to play her school hockey at Northeastern. Wood earned her grasp’s diploma from Boston University and wasn’t positive she was going to remain within the sport till a chance to hitch the native Islanders Hockey Club introduced itself.
“While I was there with the Islanders, a few of the parents of players were at Austin Prep and they mentioned that there was a coaching opening and I jumped at it.” mentioned Wood, who stays as the ladies’s director for the Islanders. “Some people actually tried to talk me out of it because the program wasn’t very strong at the time and they knew how competitive I was, but I told them I got this.”
It took a 12 months, however Wood progressively turned this system into an influence. Her second staff went 12-8 and superior to the state quarterfinals. The subsequent two squads would attain the semifinals earlier than the 2016-17 staff broke by means of, going 22-2 and profitable the college’s first state staff championship.
That was the beginning of probably the most dominant runs in women hockey. Over its final 100 video games as a MIAA member college, Austin Prep went a watch popping 93-3-4 with two state titles (one was a co-championship as a result of MIAA canceling the state finals as a result of COVID). The Cougars’ closing season was one for the ages as they rolled by means of 22 regular-season opponents and outscored their 5 event foes by a 30-2 margin.
“There was a little sadness, playing the finals at the Garden for the last time (as an MIAA school) was an experience we’ll truly never forget,” Wood mentioned. “There’s always some pressure when you’re on top, but we were definitely motivated to get what we wanted (a state title).”
Bye bye MIAA, whats up NEPSAC.
Austin Prep understood the problem that enjoying within the NEPSAC was a much more daunting activity, but the gamers have accepted and embraced the chance as Wood hoped they’d. Senior proper wing McKenzie Cerrato mentioned it didn’t take to note the distinction in kinds of play.
“It is more of a challenge, but I love it,” Cerrato mentioned. “The game is much faster in the NEPSAC, you have to make quicker decisions with the puck. The speed is definitely the biggest difference, there are things you can get away with at the lower level that you cannot do here.”
They’ve definitely acquitted themselves properly. The solely blemish on the file is a 5-1 loss at St. George’s again on Dec. 16.
“We learned that there are no bad teams here,” mentioned ahead Madison Vittands. “We have to show up every single day ready to compete to win games. The last few years, some of the games came easier and we didn’t have to work as hard as we’re going to have to now.”
Wood is happy about the way forward for this system, pointing to the very fact the college is welcoming its largest incoming class. As to what league Austin Prep finally lands in stays to be seen, however Wood makes no bones in regards to the reality she needs to compete in opposition to the most effective.
“I think it’s going to take two or three years to get to that level. If you want to be the best, you gotta compete against the best,” Wood mentioned. “I look at a program like Nobles. They have a record number of NEPSAC titles and I have a lot of respect for (coach) Tom Resor. He deserves a lot of credit for helping to evolve the girls game. We get to play them this year, so it’s going to be like the veterans against the new kids on the block.”
These new youngsters are shortly proving they belong on the block.
Source: www.bostonherald.com