Boston College Athletics
W. Ice Hockey Announces 2011-12 Schedule
September 13, 2011 | Women's Hockey
Sept. 13, 2011
2011-12 Women's Ice Hockey Schedule 
Chestnut Hill, Mass. -Four NCAA Tournament participants from a season ago and a 21-game Hockey East slate headline the 2011-12 Boston College women's ice hockey schedule as announced by Eagles Head Coach Katie King Crowley on Tuesday.
"We are very excited about our strength of schedule this year," Crowley stated. "We're happy to add to our very strong league matchups with non-league trips to Minnesota-Duluth and other out of conference opponents. We look forward to the chance to defend our Hockey East and Beanpot titles and returning to the NCAA Tournament. Boston College was one of two teams that represented Hockey East at last year's Frozen Four, so we are eager to start up another exciting year in BC women's hockey."
The first puck drop for Boston College will take place at Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. The two-game series concludes the following day at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs squad ended the 2010-11 season ranked No. 5 in the nation and has won two of the last four NCAA Championships.
The Eagles return to the east coast and play their inaugural Hockey East matchup at New Hampshire on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. The two teams then travel south to the Heights for BC's home opener on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.
The October slate continues as Quinnipiac and Dartmouth come to town Friday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 23. Quinnipiac is coming off one of its best seasons to date and is led by 2010-11 ECAC Player of the Year Kelly Babstock. Last year's meeting with the Bobcats ended in a 3-3 overtime draw, while BC topped Dartmouth 4-2 at home. After earning a tournament berth, the Big Green garnered the No. 8 ranking in the final 2010-11 poll.
Other non-league matchups include Princeton (Nov. 25), Brown (Nov. 27), two games against Mercyhurst (Dec. 9-10), St. Lawrence (Jan. 5) and Clarkson (Jan. 6). Mercyhurst concluded the season ranked sixth by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine, after falling to BU in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
The beginning of November marks the time for cross-town rivalries to be renewed. Boston College hosts BU on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., before heading down Commonwealth Ave. to take on the Terriers on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. The first meetings with Northeastern occur on Thursday the 17th at 7 p.m. (away) and Friday the 18th at 7 p.m. (home).
Boston University will host the 2012 Beanpot. The Eagles open the tournament against Northeastern on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. The second round will take place one week later (Jan. 7) with times and matchups contingent on the outcomes of the first round.
The Eagles close out the regular season with an away-and-home series against Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 11 and Sunday, Feb. 12, respectively, and a home stand versus Vermont Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18.
Quarterfinals of the Hockey East Tournament are going to be contested at campus sites from Friday, February 24 to Sunday, February 26. The semifinals and final are slated for Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4 at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center in Hyannis, Mass.
The NCAA Tournament gets under way with regional play on Friday, March 9 at selected host sites. The "Frozen Four" will take place the following weekend, beginning on Friday, March 16 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn.
