NOVEMBER 2, 2017

KING'S WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY TO PLAY FIRST-EVER GAMES AT COMMONWEALTH CUP TOURNAMENT IN PITTSBURGH

WILKES-BARRE — Its is not often collegiate student-athletes and coaches can say they have been part of a "first-ever" game in program history.  But that is exactly what will happen on Friday when 15 players and three coaching staff members experience history being made when the King's College women's ice hockey team opens its inaugural season at the Commonwealth Cup Tournament being hosted by Chatham University of Pittsburgh.

King's will play its first-ever game against Neumann University at 7:00 PM in the opening round of the event which will be played at the at the Alpha Ice Complex in Pittsburgh.  The other first-round pairing will feature host Chatham University against Lebanon Valley College.  On Saturday the consolation game is slated for 1:00 PM with the championship game to follow at 4:00 PM.

Fans unable to attend can follow the games online at the following links:

Live Video (Friday):  http://www.gochathamcougars.com/watch/?Live=165&type=Live

LiveStats (All Games):  http://www.sidearmstats.com/chatham/whockey/

Live Video (Saturday):  http://www.gochathamcougars.com/watch/?Live=166&type=Live

In its opener King's will face an established Neumann program that began play in 2001-01 and has made 10 post-season tournament appearances.  The Knights are currently 0-1-1 on the year after falling to Cortland State 4-1 in its opener, then tying Cortland 4-4 in its two-day series last week.

Chatham has sponsored NCAA hockey since 2002-03 and went 7-17-1 last season. The Cougars will be making their season debut Friday night.  Lebanon Valley, meanwhile, is in its second season of competition after having gone 4-17 in its inaugural campaign a year ago.  The Flying Dutchwomen are 0-1-1 on the year after tying Post University 1-1, then falling 4-3 in overtime to Post in its weekend series last week.

King's will be led into its season by head coach Jennifer Kindret who was hired over the summer of 2016 and spent the year recruiting for this season. Kindret will field a first-year roster of 15 players, including 14 freshman and one sophomore.

The Lady Monarchs will have had only three weeks of on-ice practice to prepare for the season, providing Kindret and her staff with the challenge of attempting to turn a group of 15 newcomers into a cohesive unit.

A week ago King's men's team played its inaugural game in front of a packed house at the Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston and the Lady Monarchs are hoping to build on the excitement of arrival of NCAA ice hockey in Wilkes-Barre. KIng's women will also play their home games at Revolution Ice.

"We are super excited to get our season started," Kindret stated. "It was great seeing all the excitement and support for the men's team and we hope to build off that. The girls have been working extremely hard and learning what it takes to be a NCAA Division III college student athlete. It can be information overload at times for any freshmen, let alone majority of your team. We had a short time to prepare to start off against some veteran teams but I am confident in this group of girls as well as my staff that we are laying a strong foundation and building our program the right way. My goal is for us all to get better every day and control what we can control this season. "

King's has one team member with previous collegiate playing experience in sophomore goalie Brittany Rose.  Rose is a transfer from Stevenson University in Maryland where she served as a back-up competing in two games without allowing a goal.

Players looking to contribute offensively include forwards Josée  Aitken, Raeann Clancey, Mary Dyell, Gracen Mahoney, Kellie Munro, Alycia Sandella, and forward-defender Indra Wood.  Defensively, Kings will count on Morgan Almon, Sarah Lawson, Kelly Tuffy, and Wood.  Goalies competing with Rose for playing time include Anna Monsrud, Kiva Sierra Stoltz, and Emma Zeveney.

King's will play a 23-game scheduling including a 16-game slate as a member of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference.  King's, already a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference, will play six games against three other MAC teams who all hold dual membership in the MAC and UCHC. Those teams include Manhattanville, Stevenson, and Lebanon Valley.

After the Commonwealth Cup, King's will make its home debut November 11-12 with a two-day series against Elmira College at Revolution Ice. Both games will begin at 3:00 PM.