BY MIKE BURSE – FAN FUE BLOGGER
The Boston Blades second season in the CWHL was very successful. Boston finished the season with a record of 20-7 while scoring 107 goals and only allowing 61 goals against. The Blades finished second overall behind the Montreal Stars with 46 points. Their 107 goals scored were good for second in the league, behind Montreal once again. As well the 61 goals allowed were the best of any team in the league last year.
Boston made the Clarkson Cup tournament as the number two seed. Unfortunately their season ended in heartbreak as they finished just one point out of qualifying for the Clarkson Cup Final against the Montreal Stars.
They needed a win against the Montreal Stars in the final game of the round robin in order to make the final. The Blades took Montreal to overtime on the strength of the tying goal (4-4) by Erika Lawler with only 54 seconds left in the third period. Unfortunately the Stars’ Caroline Ouellette scored 45 seconds into the first overtime period ending Boston’s season.
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No doubt that all the returning Blades players will be very motivated to make it to the Clarkson Cup Final this year after their bitter disappointment last season.
In goal the Blades are blessed with the tremendous tending of Molly Schaus. She led the CWHL last season as the best goaltender playing 23 games and finishing with 16 wins and seven losses. She also posted great numbers with a 2.38 goals against average and 0.910 save percentage. They also received great goaltending from their backup Mandy Mackrell, she posted 1.47 goals against average and a 0.923 save percentage to go along with four wins in four games.
The Blades also stocked up on goaltending depth despite their obvious strength at the position. In the 2012 CWHL Draft they selected three goaltenders (Genevieve Lacasse, Caroline Hu and Lauren Patterson). Expect Lacasse to push for some starts but I cannot see Schaus losing her starting role anytime soon.
The final trio in net this year for the Blades will include Molly Schaus, Genevieve Lacasse and Lauren Patterson.
The defence last year was led by Gigi Marvin (32 points), Kacey Bellamy (12 points), Caitlin Cahow (11 points) and Brittany Simpson (7 points). Katelyn Kurth (4 points), Raylen Dziengel (3 points) and Cherie Hendrickson (0 points) rounded out the defence.
In the 2012 CWHL Draft the Blades selected only two defenders (Kasey Boucher and Anne Schleper). Expect Anne Schleper to challenge for a role in the top four on the Boston blue line. She was part of the U22 Team USA squad that recently swept Team Canada’s U22 team in their three game summer series.
This year the Blades defence will consist of Caitlin Cahow, Katelyn Kurth, Gigi Marvin, Kacey Bellamy, Cherie Hendrickson, Anne Schleper, Erin McAuliffe, and Sandra Parlato.
The Blades also acquired USA Hockey great Molly Engstrom from the Brampton Hockey Club. Engstrom has moved to the Boston area to be able to work with Team USA staff in an effort to prepare for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games.
On offence the leaders were Kelli Stack (42 points) and Erika Lawler (33 points). The Boston offence already has great depth with eight players contributing 10 or more points last season. When your number seven (Jessica Koizumi, 12 points), eight (Jaclyn Hawkins, 11 points) and nine (Jill Kirchner, 9 points) scorers are above the level they were it clearly illustrates that the Blades have an offence that can compete best with the defending Clarkson Cup champion Montreal Stars.
Aside from the depth already on the team up front Boston selected five forwards in the 2012 CWHL Draft. Hilary Knight, Jen Schoullis and Kelley Steadman (part of U22 USA team) can be expected to compete for top six scoring roles this coming season.
After training camp the final roster includes the following forwards: Erika Lawler, Karen Thatcher, Lindsay Berman, Whitney Naslund, Kelli Stack, Kate Buesser, Bray Ketchum, Holly Lorms, Jess Koizumi, Alyssa Wohlfeiler, Kasey Boucher, Hilary Knight, Jen Schoullis, Kelley Steadman, Lisa Weiss, Megan Duggan, and Katerina Mrazova.
Unfortunately long time Blades forward Jaclyn Hawkins underwent season ending wrist surgery this off season. All the best to Hawkins for a speedy recovery from her surgery.
Boston also has an international player on the roster this season with Katerina Mrazova from Prague, Czech Republic.
It is clear with Boston’s depth in goal and on offence that they have a very good chance to dethrone the Montreal Stars as Clarkson Cup Champions in 2013.
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