HOCKEY EAST HEADLINES

The UConn Huskies earned an automatic bid into the National Tournament after claiming the school’s first Hockey East Women’s Tournament crown on Saturday in a 1-0 overtime victory against six-time defending champions Northeastern. Megan Woodworth tipped home the game-winner off a shot from Ainsley Svetek with just 35 seconds left in overtime and Tia Chan made 38 saves in the shutout, just the fifth perfect game in the title, first since 2015, and second since 2008. Chan was named MVP for her effort.

Northeastern goaltender Gwyneth Philips made 51 saves on 52 shots, the most stops ever in a Hockey East title game and the most saves in the Hockey East Tournament championship for either men or women, in a game that did not go into multiple overtime periods.

UConn will square off with Minnesota Duluth on Thursday, March 14 at Ohio State.

The 2024 National Tournament games begin on Thursday, March 14 at regional sites. The Frozen Four will take place at the Whittemore Center in Durham, New Hampshire, with the semifinals on Friday, March 22 and the national title game on Sunday, March 24. Tickets are on sale now.

Both Frozen Four semifinal games will be streamed live on ESPN+ on, Friday, March 22. The first semifinal game will air on ESPN+ at 4:00 p.m. and the second at 7:30 p.m. The national championship game will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 24 on ESPNU.

HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tia Chan - UConn

Tia Chan (Jr., G; Hamilton, Ont.) made 38 saves in a 1-0 shutout in the Hockey East title game to earn Hockey East Tournament MVP honors. It was just the fifth perfect game in the title and the first since 2015, and only the second since 2008. She made 24 saves in the semifinals and backstopped UConn to a pair of overtime wins en route to claiming the first Bertagna Trophy in school history.

PRO AMBITIONS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Sammy Taber - Boston College

Sammy Taber (Fr., F; Tewksbury, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal in overtime to deliver the Eagles a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Providence last week and was unanimously named to the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team. She set up the lone goal for the Eagles in a 2-1 overtime set back in the Hockey East semifinals at UConn on Wednesday.

ARMY ROTC DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Ainsley Svetek - UConn

Ainsley Svetek (Gr., D; Burlington, Ont.) had the primary assist on the championship winning goal in overtime to give UConn its first Hockey East Tournament championship in program history. She was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament team for her effort, including several key defensive plays that limited the Northeastern scoring chances and kept the game scoreless.

STOP IT GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Gwyneth Philips - NOrtheastern

Gwyneth Philips (Gr., G; Athens, Ohio) had a historic week as she was named a finalist for National Goaltender of the Year, a Top-10 Patty Kaz finalist, and made 100 saves in her three starts in the Hockey East Tournament, including 51 on 52 shots in the title game. It was the most saves in the Hockey East Tournament championship, men or women, in a game that did not go into multiple overtime periods.