As a new season approaches for the St. Thomas University Tommies women’s hockey squad, the
team is zeroing in on the process required for success.
Head coach Peter Murphy said it’s a must if STU hopes to have another year like its record-setting 2015-16 season.
As Murphy enters his 15th season behind the Tommies’ bench, the team’s approach will be similar to last year if it wants to stay near the top of the Atlantic University Sport conference and have another playoff run.
“Instead of being like ‘we need to win this game,’ we’re thinking about everything we have to do at practice during the week to win games on weekends,” said Murphy.
Last season, the Tommies finished third in the AUS with a 16-7-1 record.
STU swept the Dalhousie Tigers in the first playoff round and the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues in the AUS semifinals before losing to the Saint Mary’s Huskies in three games.
The Tommies advanced to nationals and fell 3-0 to the Guelph Gryphons before upsetting the McGill Martlets 2-1 in the consolation and falling 4-0 to the Calgary Dinos in the fifth-place game.
“We’ve come a long way [as a program] from where we started,” said Murphy.
“We’ve had great players help build the team to this status, and as the results come, so does
recruiting and you keep getting better players.”
This year, Murphy said, he doesn’t see why the Tommies can’t be in the conversation for an AUS title or a trip to nationals once again.
Where most of this year’s roster includes returning players, the coach said, he thinks all the pieces are in place for another solid season.
As for new recruits, Murphy said STU has added two-way rearguard Alex Woods and defensive blueliner Alison Bruder on the back end.
STU has also brought on Lauren Legault down the middle, along with Alexandra Swift – who joined the Tommies as a defender but became a forward where the team had no more holes to fill on defense.
But the Tommies’ returning veterans may look just as good, if not better, than the rookie players – at least in terms of some of their resumés.
Murphy said STU will have the same top line as last year. That line was anchored by captain Kelty Apperson, the 2015-16 team and conference MVP.
“That line is bound to have an impact on our team,” said Murphy.
Murphy said rearguards Eliza Snider, in her fifth year, and Jessica McCann – who was second in the AUS in points among defenders last year as a rookie – should keep improving, along with forwards Becky Conner and Lauren Henman.
He said forwards Myf Thomson and Teah Anderson are also doing well.
“Nobody is allowed to coast,” said Murphy. “Everyone is expected to get better.
“Otherwise, we won’t get where we want to go, so the onus is on every returning player to be better than last year in any possible way.”
The Tommies’ pre-season began Sept. 23 with a 2-1 overtime win at home over the University of Ontario Technical Institute Ridgebacks and another 2-1 win over the Aigles Bleues on Sept. 24 at Grant-Harvey Centre.
STU then blanked the Aigles Bleues 3-0 on the road Sept. 25.
The Tommies faced the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers in a home-and-home series Oct. 1 and 2, with the first game being played Saturday in Fredericton before STU headed to the island on Sunday.
STU won 3-2 Saturday at home and 4-1 Sunday on the road over UPEI.
The Tommies open their regular season at home Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. against the Huskies before hosting the St. Francis Xavier University X-Women on Oct. 16 at 2 p.m.
