2012-13 College Hockey America Women's Hockey Preview

The key theme for the upcoming College Hockey America women's hockey season is change. That message was sent during the 2012 CHA Tournament championship game. In every NCAA conference, the 2012 women's hockey playoffs resulted in the No. 1 seed being upset, and the CHA was not immune. Despite being selected for the eighth consecutive NCAA hockey tournament (an NCAA record), the Mercyhurst Lakers were upset by the Robert Morris Colonials in the championship game.

In less than one year, the CHA has lost members Wayne State and Niagara University. The result has been a shakeup which has seen three new schools join the CHA sorority. The Lindenwood Lady Lions, coming off an 8-21 record in their inaugural season of Division I hockey, are joined by two programs that are also new to Division I competition. The Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers won the NCAA Division III Frozen Four and are hoping to continue their winning tradition at the Division I level, while the Penn State Nittany Lions have jumped from the club level.

6. Penn State Nittany Lions

2011-12 record: Does not apply

Head coach: Josh Brandwene

Key recruits: Kendra Rasmussen (Honorable Mention All-State Minnesota), Brooke Meyer (won 2012 State League Central Title with Chicago Huskies)

Transfers: Taylor Gross, Nicole Paniccia, Jenna Welch (all from Connecticut Huskies), Jess Desorcie, Connecticut College (Division III)

Outlook: Their inaugural season in Division I play may be tougher than expected. With the shroud of the football coaching tragedy hanging over PSU athletics, a difficult season may be compounded. While no one is expecting Penn State to win the Frozen Four, the challenge of building a winning program is never an easy one.

Head coach Josh Brandwene will have one of the toughest coaching jobs in Division I, and patience will be the theme for his upcoming season. From a roster standpoint, there are only two Canadians on the squad, and that will add to the obstacles of an inaugural season.

5. Lindenwood Lady Lions

2011-12 record: 8-21-0

Head coach: Vince O'Mara

Key recruits: Lyndsay Kirkham (played at Edge School - JWHL), Brooke Peden (won provincial championship with Edmonton Thunder), Kara Wendell (versatile player from Champlin Park High School in Minnesota)

Transfers: Jocelyn Slattery (Connecticut Huskies), Chelsea Witwicke (Niagara)

Outlook: Like an expansion team in the NHL, Lindenwood has to endure growing pains and understand that it will take a lot of losing before the team can start winning. A four-time national champion at the American Collegiate Hockey Association level (2006, 2008-10), Lindenwood had a rude awakening when it joined Division I.

The Lady Lions opened their inaugural 2011-12 season with a painful sweep at the hands of the defending national champion Wisconsin Badgers. The combined score of the two games was 24-0, and was a true Welcome to Division I moment. While the losing woes will continue, the Lady Lions have the advantage of playing against other weak teams in the conference. Therefore, the opportunity to improve may come sooner than expected.

4. Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers

2011-12 record: 28-1-1 (ECAC West Division III)

Head coach: Scott McDonald

Key recruits: Kristina Klishko (dual American-Russian citizenship, played on Under-18 Russian team), Casidhe Kunichika (older sister currently plays for Tigers)

Transfers: None

Outlook: After years of being one of the elite teams in Division III, the RIT Tigers have earned a promotion to Division I play. Despite their 2012 NCAA Frozen Four Division III triumph, the Tigers will have to endure their lumps the way Lindenwood did last season. While Lindenwood is in Missouri, the Tigers are based in New York State, and their geographical advantage should be a key factor in recruiting talent from nearby Ontario.

The one disappointment for RIT is the dissolving of the Niagara Purple Eagles program. With a distance of only 107 miles between the two, the potential for a great rivalry among New York State clubs (including Syracuse) will not materialize. While the Tigers may not be competitive this year, the potential to develop a rivalry with Syracuse (an 88-mile distance) may be the key to a brighter future for both programs.

3. Syracuse Orange

2011-12 record: 10-22-3

Head coach: Paul Flanagan

Key recruits: Emily Auerbacher (competed in the JWHL All-Star game), Danielle Leslie (played at Balmoral Hall, will anchor the blue line), Nicole Renault (offensive-minded defender, played for Little Caesar's)

Transfers: None

Outlook: The previous season was a step backward for what was an up-and-coming program. A factor in the decline of the Orange was the transfer of superstar Isabel Menard to Boston University. In the last few seasons, the Orange have done a respectable job at recruiting Canadian talent. Goaltender Jessica Drinkwater gives Syracuse a chance to remain competitive in every contest.

With the emergence of the Robert Morris Colonials as a conference power, the Orange will need to wait a few more seasons before challenging for first place.  

2. Mercyhurst Lakers

2011-12 record: 23-8-3 (regular season champions)

Head coach: Michael Sisti

Key recruits: Jenna Dingeldein (2011 PWHL scoring champion), Emily Janiga (2012 PWHL scoring champion)

Transfers: Kaleigh Chippy, Jenna Hendrikx, Kelsey Welch (all from Niagara)

Outlook: Last season, the Lakers won their 10th consecutive regular season title, but were not able to win the postseason title for the 10th time. Despite their track record, the Lakers were defeated by a vastly improved Robert Morris Colonials squad in the postseason tournament. While every conference endured upsets in the 2012 playoffs, the tone of this postseason for Mercyhurst was different. With superstars like Hilary Pattenden, Bailey Bram, Kelley Steadman and Pamela Zgoda graduating, there was a feeling that the torch was being passed.

Although the Lakers have an outstanding coaching staff (with Canadian national team member Delaney Collins, and Louis Goulet) and the ability to recruit great talent annually, this season will be one of transition and adjustment. The loss of so many superstars (including the transfer of Hailey Browne) is too big of a burden for any team to bear. Despite the talent the Lakers still have, the upcoming season will find the Lakers in an unfamiliar position: second.

1. Robert Morris Colonials

2011-12 record: 19-9-4

Head coach: Paul Colontino

Key recruits: Megan Eady (participated in Chowder Cup), Anissa Gamble (played in the Canada Winter Games, while helping Burlington win the PWHL title)

Transfers: Kelsey Gunn, Kristen Richards (both from Niagara)

Outlook: The Colonials' biggest barrier to continued success may be their own competitiveness. After years of recruiting superlative talent and waiting for it to culminate, the 2011-12 season yielded the winning results that were years in the making. Assistant coach Brianne McLaughlin (member of the United States national team) was a key factor in the unexpected success the program had. She was instrumental in mentoring goaltender Kristen DiCiocco, the 2012 CHA goaltending champion, and 2012 CHA Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Offensive stalwarts like Katie Fergus, Thea Imbrogno and Rebecca Vint will be counted upon to take on a bigger leadership role. While teams will be better prepared for them this season, Colontino was a long-time assistant coach with Mercyhurst, and is used to dealing with superstars and high-pressure situations. An NCAA tournament berth is a strong possibility for this talented squad.