Women’s hockey bounces back to split double header with CU

The MSU Women’s Hockey club isn’t just chasing wins — it is building a culture of inclusivity, empowerment and family that allows female athletes to confidently carve out a spot on the ice. Last week, the ‘Cats brought this spirit to Haynes Pavilion for their home opener against the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) Buffaloes. 

The home opener — which took place on Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 18 — resulted in an 8-1 loss and a 3-1 win for MSU. However, the matchup wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about team spirit, positivity and proving that women’s hockey deserves recognition.

“I learned when playing for [MSU], you always have to be super positive and have lots of energy on the bench in order to be successful. And it's just fun to play in this atmosphere, with students who show up to our games and cheer us on,” said goaltender Reese McConnell.

Friday’s game was difficult for MSU, with the Buffaloes persistently peppering the goaltender and putting pressure on the Bobcats’ offensive zone.

The ‘Cats blocked 39 shots on goal throughout the game, and challenged the Buffaloes' defense across all three periods. MSU secured a second-period goal, with a top-shelf snipe picked up after the rush.

“We definitely had some first-game jitters that we had to get through. But then in the second and third period, [we] really came together with our positivity. Great vibes on the bench overall,” said defensive player Adyson Sawyer. “And I think the game was great. I mean, Boulder is one of our top competitors.”

“It was a bit challenging. We went into the game not really knowing what to expect,” said defensive player Brynn Mckenney. “So, we have to have a good basis as to where we want to improve. It was a very hard defensive game, but I think we did pretty good and we have stuff to work on.”

On Saturday, the ‘Cats prevailed over the Buffaloes, securing a 3-1 win. MSU relentlessly pressured CU’s offensive zone and fired the pucks into the net while successfully defending the house from 31 shots and breaking the Buffaloes' win streak. CU blocked 23 of 26 shots from the Bobcats, securing one insurance goal to stay on the board.

Prior to the home opener, the Bobcats have been very successful, with two wins and one overtime loss.

Club President Sophie Morisset said that the team gained several new players this year who have been improving since the start of the season. “The nerves were there, that's for sure, so there's more mistakes. But they're getting used to it,” she said. “They're listening to not only the coaches, but also the returners, and they're starting to enjoy competing. They're really doing very well.”

The Women’s Hockey club is still relatively new at MSU. It was established in 2022 and was entirely student-run during its first season. In 2023, the Bozeman Amateur Hockey Association (BAHA)’s Youth Hockey Director, Sam Coulter, became the head coach. The club is now coached by George Wolff and plays in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)’s women's Division I league, according to the MSU Women's Hockey club website.

The ACHA is a national organization that governs non-varsity, club-level collegiate ice hockey in the U.S. and parts of Canada. The organization was founded in 1991, offering competitive opportunities to schools that don’t have NCAA hockey programs. The ACHA has 461 teams across North America, according to the organization’s website.

“It's great. We have our time for our studies and stuff outside of hockey,” Morisset said. She added that the balance between competition and commitment makes being on the team enjoyable.

Mckenney said that being part of the MSU Women’s Hockey club means a lot to the players and has given them a sense of belonging. “It's really special. I mean, we're a pretty tight-knit group, and, you know, we all have our own things, and we choose to be here,” she said. “That's the beautiful thing about it. We all choose to be a part of this family and community.”

“If anyone needs anything, someone's going to be there,” Morisset said, explaining that the team recently came together to drive one of their members to her doctor’s appointments when she was injured. “[We’re] checking up on each other, being there, even outside of hockey and outside of the rink. We're doing way more team bonding, doing more things together and just enjoying college together.”

Sawyer said that she is excited to be a part of a team that is expanding and gaining traction. 

“It's been amazing to grow with the University and grow with the team, and get to see such an amazing community come together to support us after four years,” she said. 

According to the players, being a woman in hockey is difficult because the women's teams receive less media attention than the men’s teams. Morisset said the lack of attention is partially due to the women’s sport being less physical, which makes the community around the team different. 

“I want people to just be aware that there's a girls' club team, that it's not all about the boys. We need our support too,” McConnell said.

The women on the team are also active in the Bozeman hockey community and offer coaching to young girls interested in playing.

“We do the majority of our volunteer hours coaching the youth programs or helping out with equipment handouts. Really just trying to get to know the hockey community, because they're our biggest supporters, and we are just trying to spread the word,” Morisset said. 

The team encourages hockey fans to come to their games and support the program. “Women's hockey is growing, and it's a thing, and not only does it really grow the community that we have here, but it's something that we can show our female youth, female athletes — that you can go [play in] college,” Morisset said. 

The ‘Cats remain positive for their upcoming game on Friday, Oct. 24 against the University of Washington at the Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle. 

To keep up with the MSU Women’s Hockey club, visit https://womens.msuhockey.com/ or follow them on Instagram @womensbobcathockey.