Boston University Women's Ice Hockey

We've all heard the stories about Miami. About the comeback. About the 2009 National Championship. Some of us were there, some of us at home, some of us completely oblivious to the fact that our future school was dominating in the Division I Men's Ice Hockey world. Yesterday at the 2012 Women's Hockey East Championships, I was with two people that were in DC that night. And with 7.3 seconds left in the third period, they exploded. One of those people even said "I didn't even react like that in 2009."

For those of you living underneath a rock, yesterday the Boston University Women's Ice Hockey team captured their second Hockey East title and their third straight bid into the NCAA tournament. That's cool. Even cooler when you consider the program's only been a division I sport since the '05-'06 season.

But better than '09? Better than the two goal epic comeback, the overtime win? Can a conference title, one goal epic comeback, double overtime win really top that?

I can't fairly debate on that, but here's what I can fairly tell you: yesterday was the most gut wrenching and gratifying winning of college hockey hardware I've ever witnessed personally.


I've said this a million times before, but this team is the most emotional team I've ever watched. When it comes to hockey, you generally have 20 some odd guys using their strength and their senses to win games. In college, those 20 some odd guys are generally anywhere from 18 to 23 years old (unless you're Merrimack, which I just double checked - not a single guy born after '91, get those dudes some walkers). And when it comes to women, well, yeah. You've got an emotional as all hell group of people.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you women's college ice hockey. The most captivating games you'll ever see.

I don't want to discredit our men's team here, because I do get into those games. But not all of them. And when they lose, not often does my stomach drop and I fall silent. Most of the time I'm pointing out mistakes, a lack of focus, or the other's team's overwhelming desire to want it more. Yet every women's game I've been to - not just the Beanpot, not just the Frozen Four, every last one - I've been devastated after a loss. Think NHL playoff hockey heartbreak. Because without a doubt I can say those girls put every last ounce of energy into that game and put their wills through a rough three plus periods.

The other day I was reading a book about the 1980 Olympic team and I found this awesome quote from Mark Johnson on women's hockey and why he decided not to switch to coaching the men's team at Wisconsin when he had the chance:

"There was another, underlying part of it, too. I've coached two of the last four [men's] world championship teams, and NHL players. When a guy is making six, seven, eight million dollars a year, you can coach him, but are you teaching him, influencing him? On the men's side, if you're dealing with football, basketball, hockey, in the back of those kids' minds, they want to play for money one day. And that changes the parameters of a lot of things that we deal with, especially with the money that's out there now. On the women's side, their dreams are playing on the national team, in the Olympics. They're here for the right reasons. It's like when we played. Their dreams are similar to what ours were."

That literally sums it up perfectly and will carry more credibility than what I could ever say. But let me just add that I'm grateful I get to watch a team - a true team - remain intact and develop over four years. For most, this is as high up as they're going. And they aren't going to waste it.

And when these girls aren't laying it all on the line on ice, they're being great human beings off of it.

Today I went to offer my congratulations to a few players. I just wanted to give them the thumbs up and then walk away. But after they said thank you, they then went on a five minute spiel about how they wouldn't have won if it wasn't for the fan support, for people like me showing up. They talked about how much they genuinely appreciate noise and energy and how much that transfers. And let's not forget that yesterday after they won, they took their championship pictures along the boards - with the band in the back. They stick salute, win or lose. They honest to god love every last scarlet and white clad student that shows up to a game. And that's why it's incredibly easy to be a fan of this team.


But here's the thing - when I came back to Boston and came back on campus this morning, it was fairly lack luster in the spirit department. No, I'm not calling for the duck boats and I know our basketball teams had a tough weekend, but some people did not know the women's ice hockey team won yesterday. People that SHOULD know.

Here's the deal, we're at a point in the season where it's genuinely hard to make it to games and I get that. The next game is in Ithaca and then (knock on wood) the next two would be in Duluth. I doubt any of the usual hockey fan students can make it out to those, and I understand that.

But god damn, show some support back home. This team thrives off of it and they deserve it. If you aren't comprehending how legitimately good this team is, get your head checked. This semester all anyone can talk about that's hockey related is the men's team's drama. Guess what, the women have their own shit and have overcome it with flying colors. Try losing an Olympian for months to injury, a senior for the year due to a concussion, and a captain for a month while she's competing in Canada. They did that, they got over it. They've owned BC (something we can all get behind) all season. They've got players who have set records, scored hat tricks, and been honored as the best of the best. They just spent their Sunday beating a goaltender who made a record number of saves throughout a Hockey East tournament. Last year they were the first ever Hockey East team to make it to the National Championship title game.

Seriously, a little bit of spirit and a "good luck" is all it takes. They take everything to heart and they play with that. Without that goal on Sunday with 7.3 seconds left in the third, the game wouldn't have gone into over time, they wouldn't have won. Without the will power and heart of the team, that goal with 7.3 seconds left wouldn't have been scored. Without fan support, that will power would've been less - a lot less.

So get your act together. I know this season is coming to a close, but next year is right around the corner. And so is every damn year after that. This team has come from being a club team to being the best of the best in division I in such a short time. You've got to be able to appreciate that. And if you want a good game, all it takes is coming to one of the women's.


I know someone's going to try and tell me I'm going all feminist on them with this blog post, to which I say go ahead. Don't be hatin' because my women's team keeps melting your face off day in and day out.