Re: Providence Friars 2014 - 2015 Season
Oh Canada.....On paper this looks like a pretty good class - can anyone comment?
http://www.friars.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/030315aab.html
March 3, 2015
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's hockey team signed seven players to National Letters of Intent for the 2015-16 season. Natasia Burzynski, Kate Friesen, Danielle Hardy, Emily Landry, Cassidy MacPherson, Madison Myers and Christina Putigna will join the Friars as the class of 2019.
"We are very excited to add these seven terrific students and hockey players to our program," said Head Coach Bob Deraney. "They all complement each other very well. The unique attributes that each brings to our program creates a recruiting class that is well rounded in many aspects such as skill, speed, size, dedication, competitiveness and several other qualities that we needed to add and are necessary for our team to be successful next year and into the future. A class of this size becomes a foundation piece and we are very happy about that."
Burzynski, a forward from Rye, N.Y., currently attends Berwick Academy in South Berwick Maine. She has earned six varsity letters in hockey, while also captaining the team, four letters in lacrosse and two letters in field hockey. She also has played hockey for the East Coast Wizards. For her career, Burzynski has registered 41 goals and 38 assists for 79 points. Burzynski was chosen as an EIL All-Star in 10th and 11th grade and selected to the New Hampshire Select Team ninth through 11th grade. She helped her team win the EIL League Championship four years in a row (2010-14) and contributed to the school's first appearance in the NEPSAC Tournament (2014). In 2014, Burzynski was selected to the National Development Camp. Academically, Burzynski is in the Spanish National Honors Society and has made the 2011-2014 Headmasters list. "Natasia has a strong family connection to Providence," says the coaching staff. "Her leadership position over her career at Berwick, coupled with her work ethic, will make her a good fit for our program."
Friesen, a defenseman from Altona, Manitoba, plays for the Pembina Valley Female Hawks. She spent last year as the assistant captain and this season is captain for the Valley Hawks. She also captained the Bantam Hawks for one year. Currently, Friesen has recorded 21 goals and 42 assists in 53 games played this season, which is her highest-career output. Friesen helped her team win the League Championship 2012-2014, the Western Championship in 2012 and the Esso Cup National Championship in 2012. Scholastically, she has earned the Citizenship Award in 2013 and 2014, and made the honor roll 2012-14. "Kate is a smooth skating defenseman with really good offensive instincts," says the coaching staff. "She will be expected to play important minutes on our blue line immediately."
Hardy, a forward from Nanaimo, British Columbia, played two years with the Pursuit of Excellence U19 team and with Team British Columbia for two years. Hardy captained both the hockey (2011) and lacrosse (2010) teams, and was the assistant captain for hockey from 2013-15. In 2012, Hardy earned MVP honors. She also guided her team to a League Championship in 2011.
"Danielle gives us good size on the front end," says the coaching staff. "She can play center and works hard to take care of both ends of the ice. She can shoot off the pass and will be a threat offensively."
Landry, a forward from Ontario, Canada, currently attends Westside Secondary School, where she has earned three varsity letters in hockey. Landry has also played for the Orangeville Flyers Boys AA (2008-2010), Orangeville Tigers BAA (2010-2012), Brampton Canadettes MAA (2012-2013), Brampton Junior (2013-2014) and Etobicoke Junior (2014-2015). She was the assistant captain for the Orangeville Tigers Bantam AA (2011-2012) and assistant captain for Etobicoke Junior Intermediate AA (2014-2015). Academically, Landry has made the honor roll all four years of high school.
"Emily's speed and skill will allow her to immediately make an impact on our offense," says the coaching staff. "She is driven, hardworking and has a passion for the game."
MacPherson, a forward from Ontario, Canada, attends Thomas A. Blakelock High School. She played one year of high school hockey and led that team to the Halton District Championship. MacPherson also plays for the Oakville Jr. Hornets, co-captaining the team in the 2014-15 season. So far this year, MacPherson has five goals and 11 assists on the season while helping her team to the most games played without a loss in program history. In 2013-14, she finished the year with nine goals and 14 assists. She also won the State Wars Gold Medal for roller hockey with Team Ontario in 2010.
"Cassidy is an excellent two-way center," says the coaching staff. "She has great instincts and plays physical in the defensive zone and then possesses the puck and
creates offense at the other end."
Myers, a goalie from Colchester, Vt., attends Rice Memorial High School, where she's earned four varsity letters in hockey and was a three-time golf state champion. She has been selected five times to the USA Hockey New England Development Camp and the USA Hockey National Development Camp. In 2012 and 2014, Myers was a U19 USA Hockey Tier 1 National participant. Academically, Myers is a four-year honor roll student.
"We look for Maddie to compete for playing time from the moment she steps for on campus," says the coaching staff. "She adds additional skill to our goaltending position and solidifies us at this very important position."
Putigna, a forward from Grimsby, Ontario, attends Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School where she played four years of varsity hockey. Christina has also played hockey for the Grimsby Boys Organization from Minor Hockey Novice AA-Peewee AA, for the Stoney Creek Sabres from Peewee AA-Midget AA and the Oakville Hornets-Intermediate AA. Putigna captained the Grimbsy team for two years, the Stoney Creek team for one year and is co-captain of the Oakville team this year. In three years with the Oakville Junior Hornets, Putigna has put together 125 goals and 75 assists. Putigna earned Athlete of the Month in January of 2015. She was the highest scorer on the Oakville Junior Hornets (2013-14) and Stoney Creek Sabres (2011-12). Scholastically, Putigna has made the honor roll every year.
"Christina has a knack for putting the puck in the net," says the coaching staff. "She protects the puck and makes smart plays at both ends of the ice."
-GO FRIARS-
