Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Flanagan Focusing on Growth
October 16, 2015 | Women's Hockey
The sophomore defenseman has made noticeable gains in the last year
The last year may not have actually been a whirlwind for sophomore defenseman Kali Flanagan, but from the outside it certainly looks like it could've been.
The Burlington, Mass., product arrived on campus last fall and hoped to play a role on BC women's hockey team – her hope turned into a reality.
She was near her hometown, her parents – her father Bill is a former college hockey star at RPI and a large presence in the New England hockey scene – could come to every game. It was a situation that she hoped for when she was picking a college program.
"I always wanted to be close to home," Flanagan said. "I'm really close to my family, especially my dad. So I wanted them to be able to come to watch all the games. As soon as I came here, I just loved being here."
Her freshman year was going well. She was seeing regular shifts and was a key part on the one of the best defenses in the country for the No. 1 team in the country.
Then late last fall, she got a text. Reagan Carey, director of women's hockey for USA Hockey, was wondering if Flanagan had a few minutes to talk. The winter national team camp was coming up and Flanagan was nervous.
"I wasn't expecting it because I took a full year off from a team," Flanagan said. "I was out of the picture in regards to the national team program. Then I got a text from Regan Carey asking if they could talk to me and wondering when a good time to talk was. They called me about a half-hour later."
What came on that call was an invitation to the national team's winter training camp.
"It was fun, but probably the hardest thing I've ever done," Flanagan admitted. "I'd never competed at that high a level, so it was really hard but it definitely eye-opening because I saw where I needed to get to."
Flanagan returned to BC and through the winter, the Eagles maintained their No. 1 ranking, won the Hockey East regular-season title and advanced to their fifth Frozen Four. Her play didn't go unnoticed.
This summer, another invitation arrived and this time it was for the annual Women's National Team Festival in Lake Placid. At the end of the camp, Flanagan found out she'd earned a spot on the U.S. Under-22 team for its three-game series against Canada.
"I remember waiting when they called your names, and I was like, 'Just breath. Remember to breath,'" Flanagan remembered. "I was sitting next to Lexi (Bender), and she was ineligible because she had aged out of the Under-22 team, and she squeezed my hand and said congratulations because I was just not breathing at all."
Flanagan made three appearances and recorded an assist against the Canadians. As soon as camp and the U22 series was over, it was time to head home, move in on campus and start BC hockey workouts and captains practices.
"I think it definitely helps going to those camps because everyone is so good. When I come back to BC, I can apply those things here – moving the puck quicker, knowing where it's going before I get it."
Of course, playing against what seems like half the national team every day at practice at The Heights doesn't hurt either. Alex Carpenter, Haley Skarupa, Dana Trivigno …
"I said to (associate head coach) Court (Kennedy) at the end of the year that it's so exciting to practice with the people every day that we do. Because everyone is so competitive and everyone is so good. It's impossible to not get better so long as you're putting in the effort. It's just really fun being able to compete against girls like that because they push you to get better every day," Flanagan said.
Now a sophomore, Flanagan has paired with classmate – and national team member – Megan Keller in the first four games. In four wins, the duo is a combined +9 with four goals (all by Keller) and five assists (three from Flanagan). It's a situation Flanagan is excited about.
"Especially this past weekend, getting more comfortable with each other and knowing where each other is, and knowing where each other is all the time, we really, really clicked," Flanagan said. "Playing with her is really fun. There was one particular breakout we had and we came back to the bench and we were laughing and were like, 'Did we just do that?'"
"Kali's doing great for us," head coach Katie Crowley said. "I think there's a noticeable difference from last year to this year. She's a lot more confident and I think part of that is she understands our systems now, but I think part of that could also be that she was able to go to those U.S. camps and had successful camps when she was there. You can see her confidence and you can see her continue to grow."
Flanagan admits she's made a jump from her freshman to sophomore years.
"Being more confident and comfortable this year is definitely a huge help. Last year, getting to know how the systems are and how the games are (took a bit). This year is more natural for me to get involved because it's more comfortable," Flanagan said.
With the second-ranked Eagles set to open Hockey East play this weekend, look for Flanagan to continue her upward progression.
The Burlington, Mass., product arrived on campus last fall and hoped to play a role on BC women's hockey team – her hope turned into a reality.
She was near her hometown, her parents – her father Bill is a former college hockey star at RPI and a large presence in the New England hockey scene – could come to every game. It was a situation that she hoped for when she was picking a college program.
"I always wanted to be close to home," Flanagan said. "I'm really close to my family, especially my dad. So I wanted them to be able to come to watch all the games. As soon as I came here, I just loved being here."
Her freshman year was going well. She was seeing regular shifts and was a key part on the one of the best defenses in the country for the No. 1 team in the country.
Then late last fall, she got a text. Reagan Carey, director of women's hockey for USA Hockey, was wondering if Flanagan had a few minutes to talk. The winter national team camp was coming up and Flanagan was nervous.
"I wasn't expecting it because I took a full year off from a team," Flanagan said. "I was out of the picture in regards to the national team program. Then I got a text from Regan Carey asking if they could talk to me and wondering when a good time to talk was. They called me about a half-hour later."
What came on that call was an invitation to the national team's winter training camp.
"It was fun, but probably the hardest thing I've ever done," Flanagan admitted. "I'd never competed at that high a level, so it was really hard but it definitely eye-opening because I saw where I needed to get to."
Flanagan returned to BC and through the winter, the Eagles maintained their No. 1 ranking, won the Hockey East regular-season title and advanced to their fifth Frozen Four. Her play didn't go unnoticed.
This summer, another invitation arrived and this time it was for the annual Women's National Team Festival in Lake Placid. At the end of the camp, Flanagan found out she'd earned a spot on the U.S. Under-22 team for its three-game series against Canada.
"I remember waiting when they called your names, and I was like, 'Just breath. Remember to breath,'" Flanagan remembered. "I was sitting next to Lexi (Bender), and she was ineligible because she had aged out of the Under-22 team, and she squeezed my hand and said congratulations because I was just not breathing at all."
Flanagan made three appearances and recorded an assist against the Canadians. As soon as camp and the U22 series was over, it was time to head home, move in on campus and start BC hockey workouts and captains practices.
"I think it definitely helps going to those camps because everyone is so good. When I come back to BC, I can apply those things here – moving the puck quicker, knowing where it's going before I get it."
Of course, playing against what seems like half the national team every day at practice at The Heights doesn't hurt either. Alex Carpenter, Haley Skarupa, Dana Trivigno …
"I said to (associate head coach) Court (Kennedy) at the end of the year that it's so exciting to practice with the people every day that we do. Because everyone is so competitive and everyone is so good. It's impossible to not get better so long as you're putting in the effort. It's just really fun being able to compete against girls like that because they push you to get better every day," Flanagan said.
Now a sophomore, Flanagan has paired with classmate – and national team member – Megan Keller in the first four games. In four wins, the duo is a combined +9 with four goals (all by Keller) and five assists (three from Flanagan). It's a situation Flanagan is excited about.
"Especially this past weekend, getting more comfortable with each other and knowing where each other is, and knowing where each other is all the time, we really, really clicked," Flanagan said. "Playing with her is really fun. There was one particular breakout we had and we came back to the bench and we were laughing and were like, 'Did we just do that?'"
"Kali's doing great for us," head coach Katie Crowley said. "I think there's a noticeable difference from last year to this year. She's a lot more confident and I think part of that is she understands our systems now, but I think part of that could also be that she was able to go to those U.S. camps and had successful camps when she was there. You can see her confidence and you can see her continue to grow."
Flanagan admits she's made a jump from her freshman to sophomore years.
"Being more confident and comfortable this year is definitely a huge help. Last year, getting to know how the systems are and how the games are (took a bit). This year is more natural for me to get involved because it's more comfortable," Flanagan said.
With the second-ranked Eagles set to open Hockey East play this weekend, look for Flanagan to continue her upward progression.
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