2011-12 SUNY Potsdam Women's Hockey Season Preview

Related Media

2011-12 SUNY Potsdam women's ice hockey team

POTSDAM, NY (10/20/2011)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Potsdam women's hockey team enters the 2011-12 season looking to continue the progress the program has made in it's first four seasons. The Bears got off to a slow start in 2010-11, but went 9-6-1 over the second half of the year to post a school record 10 wins. However, at 10-13-2 (6-11-1 ECAC West), Potsdam fell short of its major goal of earning a playoff spot.

"Our goal remains to make the playoffs this season," said fifth-year Bears Head Coach Jay Green. "We missed by small margins last year with very close games against the teams finishing fourth through sixth in the league. Despite having a short roster this season, I am confident with quality leadership and the experienced players we have, the goal is attainable."

Joining Green on the coaching staff this year will be 2011 graduate and four-year captain Courtney Laughlin. The Bears will benefit from a returning core of 12 letterwinners, including six of their top eight scorers and two talented goaltenders. Three freshmen will join Potsdam this season and are expected to make an immediate impact, but it will be the veterans who will shoulder most of the load.

"Strong leadership is necessary from our senior group and I have no doubt that they will provide the direction we are expecting. Three of our seniors, Annmarie Lewis (Newmarket, Ontario/Aurora Panthers), Caitlin Manahan (St. Alban's, Vt./Elmira College), and Brandi Atwell (Cornwall, Ontario/Cornwall Typhoons), have been selected to captain the team. They will be joined by an up and coming sophomore leader in defenseman Brittany Lucky (Kanata, Ontario/Ottawa Senators). Brittany has earned the respect of her teammates both on an off the ice and will be a positive, constructive addition to the group."

Forward

Seniors Lewis and Manahan are back to lead the offense. Lewis led the Bears in scoring with 26 points (11 goals-15 assists) and was second with four power-play goals. In her first season with Potsdam, Manahan finished second in scoring with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points.

Junior Katie Komsa (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/Sault Ste. Marie AA Midget) and sophomores Jessica Silveira (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) and Jenn Crawford (Burlington, Ontario/Stony Creek Sabres) also return to the offensive ranks. Komsa played in 22 games last season, scored two goals including a shorthander and a game-winner and recorded six assists. Silveira was one of Potsdam's top freshman scorers last season with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points. Crawford saw time in all 25 games and finished with seven points (4-3-7).

New to the offense this year are freshmen Alexandra Holowka (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Balmoral Hall) and Izzy Fayerman (Calgary, Alberta/The Edge) from the plains of Western Canada, as well as freshman Keri Dempsey (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./John Jay) from Downstate New York. Dempsey will also see some time on defense.

Defense

Five defensemen return for the Bears. Seniors Breanna Roy (Orleans, Ontario/Nepean Wildcats) and Atwell will guide a very experienced group of blueliners. Roy is not only a steady defender, but was third on the team in scoring with seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points. She also led the team with six power-play goals. Atwell played in all 25 games last season and recorded two assists.

Juniors Brittany Westlake (Georgetown, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) and Nadine Cunningham (Bow, N.H./St. Mark's Prep), who will see time at forward as well, and Lucky complete the Bears defensive ranks. Westlake played in every game last season and registered two goals and an assist for three points. Cunningham played in 22 games and assisted on three goals. Lucky scored three goals, including two on the power play, and assisted on six others.

Goal

Potsdam returns both goaltenders from last season, with each having seen significant time between the pipes.

Junior Jen Conophy (Glenmont, N.Y./Albany Ice Cats) played in 17 games in 2010-11 and made 15 starts. She posted a 7-6-2 record, .917 save percentage, and a 2.88 goals-against-average. Sophomore Dawna Salvarinas (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Thunder) made 10 starts with a 3-7 mark last season. She had a .896 save percentage, a 4.58 goals-against-average, and made 313 saves. Both will continue to share duties this year.

Schedule

The Bears will again play one of the toughest conference schedules in the nation, featuring multiple ranked teams. Potsdam will also play non-conference contests against the brand new Penn State program, St. Michael's, Castleton State, and Division I Sacred Heart.

Potsdam opens its 2011-12 campaign against the Nittany Lions on Oct. 21-22, at Maxcy Hall Ice Arena.