Welcome Home, Quinnipiac Athletics (Part 4 - Women’s Hockey vs. Mercyhurst)

 6:04 – Wow, look at this hockey rink!!! We have moved over to the hockey wing of this wonderful building for the Quinnipiac Bobcats and the Mercyhurst Lakers; it’s a Women’s Hockey game, and we’ll have it all for you. 

6:23 – The two teams take the ice. There are about 50 people in the stands right now, and we don’t expect a large turnout; women’s hockey is not a very big draw. 

6:31 – I can’t help myself. This is the same music they play for the Men’s Hockey games during warm-ups, and I’m completely pumped just thinking about how exciting this place is going to be tomorrow for the Bobcats and Holy Cross. The joint will be jumping with over 3200 fans. What a great college hockey atmosphere this is going to be. 

6:36 – The teams are off the ice, and we are less than 30 minutes away from game-time! 

6:52 – The blue and gold CO2 cannons make another entrance to welcome the Bobcats onto the ice for the first time. Spotlights are the only illumination on the rink at the moment. 

6:53 – Mercyhurst’s starters are introduced. Spotlights shine on each player. 

6:54 – Now the Bobcats starting lineups. There is a very good attendance for this game, and they are making a lot of noise. Janelle Wolitski is in goal for the Bobcats. Laura Brennan is the usual starter, but she had a very bad day yesterday, so they go with Wolitski.  

6:56 – Gordie Howe is introduced to a standing ovation from the crowd. He will be joined by President Lahey, ECACHL commissioner Steve Hagwell, and other University dignitaries.  

6:58 – The National Guard provides today’s colors, coming from the zamboni entrance.

7:02 – Gordie How drops the ceremonial first puck, and we are almost ready for game-time.  

7:04 – We are underway! Quinnipiac controls the puck to start. 30 seconds in, the Bobcats change lines. That might have to be a theme today; the Bobcats are playing a Mercyhurst team that is 22-1-2 on the season. If they want to have a chance, they are going to have to find a way to not get physically worn down from a bigger, stronger, and faster team. 

7:06 – Mercyhurst just looks bigger than the Bobcats. QU has had plenty of time in the MC zone, but they just look smaller physically then the top ranked team in the country. 

7:07 – Mercyhurst hits the post, that’s the closest we’ve come to a score in the first 3 minutes. Moments later the Bobcats take a penalty. It’s against Jennifer MacLean for cross checking. 

7:09 – Meghan Agosta takes a high shot that Wolitski covers, but the referee lets the teams play. Eventually, the Bobcats clear. 7:11 – In hockey rinks, you usually see the two teams benches on the same side of the ice. Not so here at the TD Banknorth Sports Center. Here, Mercyhurst is at the far side, the Bobcats bench at the near side. We see that at Yale’s barn, Ingalls Rink, but not at too many other hockey arenas around the country. 

7:12 – In the last few minutes, Mercyhurst has really controlled play. They are out-shooting the Bobcats 3-0. 

7:13 Natashia Pellatt records the first Quinnipiac SOG in the new building. It was a weak wrister that was easily handled by Mercyhurst goaltender Laura Hosier. 

7:15 - 10:44 left, 1^st period, and we still have no score. Quinnipiac looked a little nervous in the first few minutes, but they’ve stepped it up over the last couple of minutes. Their team defense has been very impressive against this very skilled team. Quinnipiac is blocking a ton of shots. As we speak, though, Quinnipiac’s Janine Duffy takes an interference penalty to give the MC power play another chance. The Mercyhurst PP converts 23% of the time heading into action this weekend. 

7:20 – Wolitski’s rebound control has been a bit of a problem early on. Quinnipiac just took another penalty, this one’s on Kristin Alcorn for hooking. QU’s penalty kill is 2-2 tonight. 

7:22 Janine Duffy blocks a shot, and gets a breakaway. She moves in and shoots high glove side, but Laura Hosier is equal to the task. That was a great, world class, glove save. 

7:23 – There’s the first puck into the crowd in Quinnipiac Hockey history. At the NIP, there was netting all around the ice. Here, it’s only behind the net and into the corners. 4:37 left in the 1^st, and surprisingly, no score. Quinnipiac is doing a great job blocking shots in the first period. They are also doing a great job killing penalties. They are now 3-3 killing them, quite an achievement against such an offensively gifted team. 

7:25 – The Bobcats are on the power play. Sherilyn Fraser will go for cross checking. 

7:26 Hosier just made another great glove save, Elyse Cole took the shot. 

7:28 – A really good sized crowd in attendance tonight, probably close to 900 or maybe even 1,000. Meanwhile, Wolitski just made a great save of her own. She was down on the play, and managed to somehow steer the shot away from danger. Both goalies have made some nice saves in this first period. 

7:31 – The first period ends with the two teams deadlocked at no goals apiece. Very impressive defensive period for Quinnipiac; Mercyhurst is bigger and stronger, but Quinnipiac is feisty, and they are showing it by blocking shots, clearing the crease, and playing very smart hockey. Shots on goal: 7 for Mercyhurst, 3 for the Quinnipiac Bobcats. 

7:38 – Quinnipiac has blocked 11 shots, and that’s just in the first period! Very impressive. 

7:47 – Second period underway. 

7:48 – Mercyhurst’s Stefanie Bourbeau is called for an interference penalty away from the play 52 seconds into the second period. Bobcats on the power play. 

7:50 – Quinnipiac’s Kristin Alcorn is called for hooking; we are 4v4 for 58 seconds. This wide open play that comes with 4v4 play should benefit Mercyhurst. 

7:52 – Mercyhurst is buzzing, but Wolitski just made 2 great saves. She stops the first one, but on the second, she has to reach to the other side of the net, and somehow kept the puck out with her stick. A masterful save that has to pump her team up. 

7:53 – Mercyhurst is on the board. A rocket top shelf by Meghan Agosta gives Mercyhurst a 1-0 lead 4:05 into the period. The play was a 3v1, and that’s rarely going to end well for the defending team. The goal is Agosta’s 27^th of the season. She played for the Canadian Olympic team last year, and it’s easy to see why. She is easily the fastest and strongest player on the ice tonight. 

7:57 – Wolitski makes another save. She’s been good, but her rebound control could definitely use some improvement. I’m sure that’s something goaltending coach Jamie Holden works with her on. 

8:00 – Quinnipiac is called for their 5^th penalty of the game. Janine Duffy will go to the sin bin.  

8:05 – Mercyhurst’s Natalie Payne takes a slashing penalty, and the Bobcats will have their 3^rd PP of the game 

8:06 – Agosta moves in on a breakaway, but Wolitski stones her. The goalie is putting on a show in front of Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe. I can imagine Howe sitting in President Lahey’s box muttering to himself watching these two goalies tonight. 

8:09 – Quinnipiac takes another penalty. This one goes against MacLean for hooking. 4:50 remains in the second period, Mercyhurst still leads 1-0. 

8:11 – Another great kill for the Bobcats, and barely a shot. MC is 0-6 with an extra attacker tonight. 

8:13 – With 1:43 left in the second, Mercyhurst’s Stephanie Jones makes the trek to the sin bin. She’s off for tripping. 

8:14 – A very dumb penalty by Stefanie Bourbeau. She cold cocked a Bobcat, and gets a boarding penalty. QU is on a 5v3. 

8:16 – The Bobcats get a flurry of shots on the 5v3, but can’t beat Hosier, who has been a brick wall tonight. They will have 17 more seconds of 5v3 play when they open the third. Still 1-0 Mercyhurst. They out shot QU 14-5 in the period, and 21-8 for the game.  

8:32 – 3^rd period underway. Mercyhurst kills the rest of the Bobcats power play. 

8:35 – Mercyhurst gets a chance to extend their lead, and Wolitski is forced to make 3 saves as the Lakers buzz in the crease. She has made 22 saves, and we are only 2:30 into the third. 

8:37 – Paid attendance tonight is over 1,700. That sets an all time record for the Women’s Ice Hockey team. I don’t think this rink is 1/3 full, so once again there are a lot of no shows this evening. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was closer to 1,100, though. 

8:43 – Stephanie Jones is stopped by Wolitski. Jones tried going high, but Wolitski would have none of it. She has been forced to make 28 saves, and there’s still 12:01 left to play.  

8:44 – Valerie Chouinard scores top shelf for Mercyhurst, and the Lakers take a 2-0 lead. They are the #1 ranked team in the country, and may be wearing the Bobcats out. 11:33 left in the 3^rd period. Jackie Jarrell will get credit for the assist. 

8:49 – Trudy Reyns rifles one from the blue line, but once again Hosier is equal to the task. Just over 8 minutes remain in the third period, and the Lakers are holding onto a 2-0 lead. 

8:51 – Stephanie Jones gets another Mercyhurst goal off a rebound. It’s her 9^th goal of the season, and the Lakers take a 3-0 lead. Julia Colizza gets the assist on the play. 7:32 left in this one. 

8:56 – Another penalty coming up, and the Bobcats will have a power play. They are 0-6 with the extra attacker tonight. Danielle Ayearst gets called for body checking. 

9:00 – Karrah Stephen gets called for tripping with 3:05 left, negating the Bobcats penalty. In 19 seconds, the Lakers will have one of their own.  

9:04 – It’s a final from the TD Banknorth Sports Center. Mercyhurst 3 – Quinnipiac 0. Quinnipiac fails to score last night, and they don’t score tonight either. They played valiantly tonight; Janelle Wolitski was the star. She made 33 saves off 36 shots.  

9:30 – After the postgame interviews, its time to go home. A long 11 hour day covering Quinnipiac sports is about to come to an end. 

9:57 – I finally key back into my dorm room. Today was one of those days you never forget. It’s really a day you can’t put into words. I’m fortunate enough to be friends with many of the great folks that work in Quinnipiac
Athletics and fortunate enough to know QU Athletic Director Jack McDonald. The ear-to-ear smile they all had on today told the story of the day. Many of them arrived at the York Hill campus at 7 am. None of them went home until close to 10 pm. All of them would do it again in a heartbeat. The TD Banknorth Sports Center is a terrific building. It is a building

Quinnipiac
University is proud of, and with good reason. So, on behalf of all of us at WQAQ, congratulations on a splendid building. It was an absolute honor covering it, and I honestly look forward to many more days and nights in the press box here in
Hamden. Thanks for reading, folks!  

Tomorrow the Men’s Ice Hockey team plays Holy Cross at the TD Banknorth Sports Center, and the atmosphere is sure to be the most electric atmosphere any of us have ever seen. WQAQ will be there with all the coverage you expect from the Soundtrack of Quinnipiac!