The No. 10 Boston University women's ice hockey team will begin its 2016-17 season this weekend with an exhibition contest against Whitby on Saturday before the regular-season opener against Providence on Sunday. Both games will take place at Walter Brown Arena at 3 p.m.

BU came one game shy of winning its fifth straight Hockey East championship last season and will return 15 letter winners from that squad. The Terriers also have eight newcomers, including two transfers, that will comprise the 23-player squad. They will have back their top two point producers from a year ago in juniors Rebecca Leslie (15g, 39a) and Victoria Bach (22g, 26a), who recorded 49 and 48 points, respectively.

Season openers have been kind to the Terriers over the last five years. They are 4-0-1 in their most recent season openers, including a 2-1 victory over UConn last year at Walter Brown. Rebecca Russo broke a 1-1 tie with 0.3 seconds on the clock to pick up the two points. 

The Terriers are 23-11-2 all-time against Providence and have won the last nine contests against the Friars. BU has been especially dominant against PC at home, boasting a 14-2-1 record, including a 5-1 win at Agganis in February. The Terriers have not lost at home to Providence since the 2008-09 season, and they also bested the Friars in last year's season finale by a 4-2 scoreline.

Bach and Leslie have been potent in their brief careers against the Friars. Bach leads all current Terriers with 10 points (6g, 4a) against Providence while Leslie and senior Maddie Elia each have four goals and five assists for nine points. Senior Samantha Sutherland has lit the lamp and assisted on four other goals against the Friars, while classmate Alexis Crossley has two points (1g, 2a) against PC in her one season at BU. In goal, junior Erin O'Neil won both of her starts against Providence last year, including a 27-save shutout in December.

The Friars went 10-24-2 last season and finished seventh in the conference. PC will return its top three scorers from a season ago, led by senior Cassidy Carels (9g, 20a). Sophomore Christina Putigna tallied 11 goals and 17 assists last year while junior Brooke Boquist led all Friars with 12 goals in addition to 10 helpers Sophomore goaltender Madison Myers is back after starting 25 of 27 games last season. She boasted a 9-14-2 record thanks to a 3.05 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage.

Whitby, which plays in the Provinical Women's Hockey League, will face New Hampshire on Friday night prior to Saturday's exhibition. The Wolves are 5-2-0 thanks to five straight wins last weekend at the Stoney Creek Showcase. Olivia Chefero Giardetti and Adrianna Noble lead the team in goals with five each entering this weekend, with Chefero Giardetti also adding three assists to rank second in points with eight. Alicia Pallister has a team-best seven assists and 10 points. Goaltender Rachel McQuigge has a 2-2-0 record with a 1.58 GAA and .882 save percentage in four games while Makenzy Arseneault is 3-0-0 with a 0.37 GAA and .978 save percentage.