BOSTON - The Boston University women’s ice hockey team opens its 2006-07 season with an exhibition game on Sunday, Oct. 1, against the Bluewater Hawks. The noon start at Walter Brown Arena will mark the beginning of the second season for the BU women as a varsity team.

The Terriers will start the season with high expectations, as they were picked to finish third in the pre-season Hockey East Coaches’ Poll released on Tuesday, behind University of New Hampshire and cross-town rival Boston College. The team went 12-17-4 in its inaugural season, finishing sixth in the conference. Head coach Brian Durocher will welcome back 17 players, including senior captain Cara Hendry (Calgary, Alta.) and leading scorers Gina Kearns (Norwood, Pa.) and Laurel Koller (St. Paul, Minn.). Both players ended the season with 15 goals. 

Returning as the 2005-06 MVP and the starting goaltender is sophomore Allyse Wilcox (Grand Blanc, Mich.), who was stellar in her first collegiate season, despite a record of 9-14-4. Wilcox ended the season ranked fourth in HEA in saves (736) and fifth in goals-against average (2.63). 

Among the incoming class is junior transfer from the University of Maine, Julie Poulin. Last season, Poulin led the Maine squad in assists with 18 and shots with 109. Eight freshmen will join the team, including Melissa Anderson (Langley, B.C.), who will enter BU with great experience under her belt, scoring 15 points in 14 games while playing for the BC Breakers of the Western Women’s Hockey League.

The team opened its inaugural season last year against the Bluewater Hawks as well, falling in a tough decision 5-3. The Bluewater Hawks are a girls competitive hockey association based out of Sarnia, Ontario. The travel team plays in tournaments and exhibitions games across North America as a tool to help recruiting for women’s college hockey.