2008-09 Composite Schedule Released

(Click Here To View Complete Release in PDF Format)

ALBANY, N.Y. -- ECAC Hockey today announced its 2008-09 women's composite schedule, which includes 132 conference contests and a total of 253 games.

Quinnipiac begins an ambitious early part of its 2008-09 campaign Friday, September 26 as it visits Madison for a two-game set with NCAA Frozen Four runner-up University of Wisconsin.  New Head Coach Rick Seeley's Bobcats battle the Badgers in a two-game season-opening series.

Returning 19 letterwinners from a squad that finished sixth in ECAC Hockey conference-play last season are the ingredient for high expectations in Ithaca, NY this season.  Head Coach Scott Wiley's Raiders open the season by hosting Syracuse, Friday, October 3, who is embarking on its first-ever season on the Division I level led by former St. Lawrence University Head Coach Paul Flanagan. 

Rensselaer and Union open the season Friday, October 3 as familiar Hockey East foes Northeastern and Boston University travel east for inter-league clashes.  The Engineers will host Huskies first, Friday October 3 and then take on the Terriers Saturday, October 4, while the Dutchwomen will play host to the Terriers Friday, October 3 and the Huskies, Saturday October 4.

Newly appointed Co-Head Coaches Matt and Shannon Desrosiers will be tested out-of-the-gate as they lead the Golden Knights into Kelley Rink Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5 taking on the Boston College Eagles in two matinee affairs.

Recently given the reigns of the St. Lawrence Women's Hockey program, that was runner-up in both ECAC Hockey conference and tournament action last season, Chris Wells will begin his journey as Head Coach, Friday October 10 as the Saints visit Providence College.

Brown, Cornell, Princeton, and Yale all begin regular season play Friday-Saturday, October 24-25.  Led by durable goaltender senior netminder Nicole Stock the Bears travel to WCHA power St. Cloud State for a two-game series.  Coach Doug Derraugh will look for another year of improvement in play from the Big Red as they open this season's campaign travelling to Vermont.  Princeton opens the season at home playing host to Connecticut in a two-game set.  Yale faces a tough challenge in its first contest of the season, as it travels to national-power University New Hampshire in a non-conference clash. 

League action officially begins Friday, October 31, as defending regular-season and tournament champion Harvard travels to Quinnipiac to take on the Bobcats.  The Crimson return 21 letterwinners from a team that participated in last season Frozen Four, including 2008 Patty Kazmaier Award winner forward Sarah Vaillancourt.  Harvard will raise its ECAC Hockey championship banner the following Friday, November 7 when it hosts Rensselaer in league-play.  2007-08 NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Tournament participant Dartmouth will also step onto the ice for the first time Friday, October 31, as they battle Princeton in a conference game. 

League plays gets into full swing November 7 as all 12 teams compete in two-game sets versus league opponents.  Travel-partner parings include Brown-Yale hosting Clarkson-St. Lawrence, Union-Rensselaer at Dartmouth-Harvard, and Colgate-Cornell hosting Princeton-Quinnipiac. 

For the fourth consecutive season the ECAC Hockey Championship format once again features the element of action at unknown campus sites.  A total of eight teams qualify for the championship and are seeded based on regular-season standings.  The 2009 championship will commence the weekend of February 27-March 1 when the top four seeds host Nos. 5-8 respectively in quarterfinal competition.  The four quarterfinal winners advance to the championship round at the home site of the highest remaining seed.  The semifinals and championship will be conducted Saturday-Sunday, March 7-8 respectively.

The 2009 NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey Championship will be held in Boston, MA from March 20-22 with Boston University hosting the championship for the first time.  The single elimination tournament will be comprised of eight teams seeded one through eight.  These teams will play in quarterfinal on campus sites March 13-15.  These regional  winners advance to the Frozen Four at Agganis Arena on the Boston University campus, with semifinal action taking place Friday, March 20 at 5 and 8 p.m., and the national championship game Sunday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m.

Other schedule highlights include:

Dartmouth travels to Duluth to take on defending NCAA Champion Minnesota-Duluth for a two-game series beginning Friday, November
28 and Saturday, November 29 at the recently-renovated and historic Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.  The Big Green will not be the only ECAC Hockey team making the trek to Duluth, as Princeton will also play a two-game set versus the defending national champions, Saturday-Sunday, December 13-14.

St. Lawrence will host Ohio State at Appleton Arena Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29.

Yale and Quinnipiac will spend the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend in Storrs, CT playing in the Nutmeg Classic November 29-30.

Rensselaer and Yale will be competing in the Easton/St. Cloud State Chowcase in a post-holiday tournament in St. Cloud, MN, Friday-Saturday, January 2-3.

Harvard will defend its Beanpot title as it travel across town to Matthews Arena on consecutive Tuesday's in February, beginning February 3, first taking on Boston University and then playing either Boston College or Northeastern on the 10th.

A full composite schedule accompanies this release.

About ECAC Hockey
ECAC Hockey boasts elite student-athletes and teams from 12 of the nation's most prestigious institutions - Brown University, Clarkson University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, Quinnipiac University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St. Lawrence University, Union College, and Yale University.