From a potential repeat, to the PWHL Draft, rising stars, and red hot goaltenders, each play in the 2024 NCAA women's hockey Frozen Four in New Hampshire will have meaning. Here are four storylines to watch.
From a potential repeat, to the PWHL Draft, rising stars, and red hot goaltenders, each play in the 2024 NCAA women's hockey Frozen Four in New Hampshire will have meaning. Here are four storylines to watch.
The NCAA women's hockey Frozen Four is set to drop the puck in Durham, New Hampshire from March 22-24. It's a single elimination, winner takes all tournament featuring Clarkson, Colgate, Ohio State, and the reigning national champions Wisconsin. Here are four story lines to follow at the tournament this week.
1. PWHL Draft Prospects Get A Final Chance To Impress
PWHL scouts and general managers will be making their way to New Hampshire for a final look at some of the top prospects on the planet in the Frozen Four. Ohio State's roster features a slew of PWHL Draft prospects in Hannah Bilka, Cayla Barnes, Jennifer Gardiner, Stephanie Markowski, Hadley Hartmetz, Lauren Bernard, Raygan Kirk, and Kelsey King. Colgate brings a large crew as well from Danielle Serdachny, Allyson Simpson, Sydney Bard, Dara Greig and Kaitlyn O'Donahue. For Clarkson, players like Dominique Petrie, Alexie Guay, Darcie Lappan, and Brooke McQuigge are all prospects for the draft, while Wisconsin's Britta Curl and Anna Wilgren will be certain picks. With limited scouting opportunities and staffs for many teams, this will provide a unique in person opportunity for teams to begin finalizing their draft lists.
2. Wisconsin Looks To Repeat
Ohio State enters as the number one seed, a distinction that could easily result in a rematch of last year's national championship final, but it was Wisconsin who won that game, and it was Wisconsin who took the WCHA final over Ohio State. One factor in tipping the scale toward Wisconsin in recent weeks has been the spectacular play of Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms, and Caroline Harvey. While Ohio State has been riding their fifth year players, Wisconsin is leaning more toward youth. Which team will come out on top, or will Clarkson or Colgate upset the hierarchy altogether?
3. Claiming The Spotlight
It's not just this year's PWHL Draft crop that will be in the spotlight, there is a plethora of talent coming that could use this Frozen Four as a spotlight to the incredible talent in women's hockey. Never before has the stage been bigger, and whether it's Clarkson's Michelle Pasiechnyk, Haley Winn, and Nicole Gosling, or Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms, Casey O'Brien, and Caroline Harvey in Wisconsin, or Ohio State's Joy Dunne, and Emma Pais, Elysse Biederman, Krystina Kaltounkova, and Sydney Morrow in Colgate, the talent pool is overflowing. Who will emerge with the spotlight centered on them from this tournament as the "next one" to watch?
4. Goaltending Will Be Tough To Beat
Don't expect any high scoring games. Last year's NCAA final was a 1-0 decision in overtime, and this year could be the same with four outstanding goaltenders set to take center stage. In a single elimination tournament, a hot goaltender can mean the difference between a title and going home early. Raygan Kirk for Ohio State, Michelle Pasiechnyk for Clarkson, Ava McNaughton, and Colgate's duo of Hannah Murphy and Kayle Osborne have provided spectacular goaltending this season. Who steps up with the hot hand, could spell a national title.