It’s really hard to believe the hockey season is upon us. It doesn’t feel like it’s been seven months since I wrapped up my fourth year of voicing Beaver women’s hockey on the radio and said farewell to the three seniors who I had the honor of watching play from their very first glides along the ice at the John Glas Fieldhouse to their last strides at the final game at the Sanford Center. I can’t help but get nostalgic as I think back and reminisce about how far this BSU women’s hockey program has come in just my four years of broadcasting. It sure has been fun and I am already looking forward the years to come.

Watching this year’s squad practice a week ago, it was weird not seeing an Erin Cody, Annie Bauerfeld or Erin Johnson out on the ice. Strange seeing Cody’s #13 on the back of junior forward Molly Arola. Hopefully that “lucky” jersey will bring Molly some of that scoring success Cody once had. Molly gave up her #23 jersey to sophomore transfer Kristi King from the University of Maine.

This year’s Beaver squad has six seniors, eight juniors, five sophomores and seven freshman. The defensive core of this squad will be solid with Montana Vichorek and the Wheelhouse sisters returning to the blueline along with other experienced returners in Kim Lieder, Allie Duellman and Alex Ehlert.

The key component of this defense though is veteran goaltending. Not only does Olympian Zuzana Tomcikova return, but a solid back-up to her is her fellow senior, and one of this year’s captains, Alana McElhinney.

It will be interesting to see who steps up on the scoring side of things with Cody, Bauerfeld and Johnson gone.

I have a feeling this will be another very exciting Beaver hockey season!

GO BEAVERS!!

–K–