Leclerc, Banfield and Cone give NU women's hockey team local appeal
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Spaulding graduate Sophie Leclerc handles the puck during a game against St. Anselm earlier this season. JEB WALLACE-BRODEUR/TIMES ARGUS FILE |
Toolbox
By KRIS MARTIN Correspondent - Published: December 5, 2009
The hockey tradition that spans a century at Norwich is rich with memorable players, moments and championships. For years, the men's program has been the focus of local fans – and deservedly so, thanks to the Cadets' perennial inclusion in the postseason.
But this year it's not only the men that are making opponents take notice – it's the women as well.
In his third year as head coach of the NU women's hockey team, Mark Bolding has seen his squad continue to progress. Given the Cadets' 7-0-2 start to the 2009-10 season, it might not be long before the men are sharing the headlines. It's also no coincidence that some local talent has been blossoming in the process.
Senior Sophie LeClerc of Barre, junior Kelsey Cone of Manchester and sophomore Caitie Banfield of Montpelier each garnered accolades as their team's best players during their high school careers. With all three now sitting on the same bench, it's their talent, enthusiasm, and love of the game that has helped to build a young program into one of the top teams in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference. As Bolding suggested after Friday's 2-2 tie against Holy Cross, it's local kids who will bring more local fans out to watch the games.
"They're talented, and they know what they're doing with the puck," Bolding said. "We anticipated internally that the team would get good fast. Hockey is a big deal here at Norwich. The school takes it seriously and the kids see this as a hockey environment and they want to be a good team."
LeClerc, Cone and Banfield have all been huge contributors for the Cadets, though each player brings something different to the table.
"Caitie has good vision and moves the puck well with a good shot," Bolding said. "She's a reliable defenseman and I think she worked hard over the summer. Her consistency is starting to catch up with her skills. She's always been skilled, putting in a pile of goals in high school at Montpelier. We converted Kelsey from a high school (Burr and Burton) defenseman to a forward. She's adapted great, she has good skills and wants the puck on her stick with a chance to score. She is a big, rangy kid who uses her body to protect the puck and then uses her strength, reach and athleticism to get to the puck."
The Norwich coach had equally high praise for Leclerc.
" Sophie has energy – she doesn't take a slow shift and that's exciting for us to have her out on the ice," he said. "She's a tough kid to replace and not have out there. She shoots really hard and she just digs in with her skill and energy."
It's obvious that while the pressure of playing college hockey can be overwhelming at times, Norwich's top players are also enjoying their time playing in front of local fans.
"The intensity is so much higher than in high school and with a much higher skill level," Banfield said. "It's so much faster and an adjustment for sure. I worked hard before the season putting on 10 pounds of muscle, and while the scale doesn't tell me it's a good thing, I feel that it has paid off come game time. I looked at seven other schools before choosing Norwich, but right now I love it and feel it's a perfect fit."
While LeClerc's route to Norwich was a bit more circuitous – including a stop at UVM and five knee surgeries – she maintains that playing for a program that can only grow is part of what playing hockey is all about.
"It's such a respected program around the area, and being part of the 100-year hockey anniversary is a lot of fun," LeClerc said. "At this point the women have always been in the shadow of the men, but now it feels really good to go out and get some of that time for ourselves. We're getting more fans at each game and spreading the good vibes. The community's eyes are starting to open up to the women's game."
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