2023-24 Season Preview: Rivier Women's Ice Hockey
NASHUA, N.H. – In the third season under the direction of head coach Chris Czarnota, the Rivier women's ice hockey team is eager to get back on the ice after posting a 6-15-3 record last season.
The squad of 26 student-athletes sees nine first years join the team while Czarnota brings back 17 returners.
"We are very excited to begin this season," said Czarnota. "Our group feels prepared, confident, and ready to play our brand of hockey. Our new players have fit in nicely into what we are building from a program perspective, and we look forward to watching their development."
Among the returners are Briana Paxson (8-5-13), Jillian Hallee (1-10-11), and Jessica Driscoll (6-4-10), who served as the top offensive producers in 2022-23. The defensive pairings to start the campaign will be Heather McHatton and Molly Dukesherer on the top unit, followed by Hallee and Grace Arsenault in the second grouping.
Getting the start in goal to start the year is junior netminder Rachel Symmes who saw time in four games. First year Taylor Bruno will serve as the backup, after playing her club hockey with the Boston Shamrocks. The team lost Madelyn Morgan to graduation after she started eight games in her senior season. Despite the loss, the team returns its primary starter in Rachel Hinkley who started 12 games and posted a 2.28 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage.
"Our returning players have come back ready to start a new season and most importantly have gotten healthy," Czarnota added. "The returning players have also helped our ten new players feel comfortable and confident since they arrived on campus."
The Raiders will host 12 games at Conway Arena in 2023-24 as they make a push for the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Alliance (ECHA) postseason with member schools of Worcester St., Anna Maria, and Assumption.
Rivier will start the season on Friday, Oct. 27 with a home matchup against New England Col., before making its way to Henniker to face the Pilgrims on the road the following night.
In the final stretch before winter break, the Raiders will travel north to Vermont to take part in the Castleton Invitational, with a game against the host Spartans set for Friday, Dec. 8, followed by either the championship or consolation game the following day at Spartan Arena.
At the end of the season, the Raiders will get a shot to hoist the ECHA banner in a conference semifinal match on Friday, Feb. 23 with an opponent, location, and time to be determined.
"We are excited to see what we can accomplish as a group this season," Czarnota noted.
