Clarkson Opens Women's Hockey Season with Impressive Effort

Danielle Skirrow tallied five points, including four assists in the win over Ottawa - photo by Gary Mikel

If Saturday’s 14-0 victory over Ottawa PWHL in exhibition play at Cheel Arena is any indication, the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team will be a strong force in NCAA play this season. Thirteen of the Golden Knights’ 14 skaters accounted for a point with junior Shelby Nisbet (Wiseton, SASK) leading the way with a four-goal, two-assist effort.

Junior Carly Mercer (Exeter, ONT) also put up six points, all assists. Senior Danielle Skirrow (Trenton, ONT) recorded five points, including four assists.

Clarkson took control right from the start, jumping out to a 7-0 first-period lead. Freshman defenseman Renata Fast (Burlington, ONT) opened the scoring at 6:07, scoring on a shot from the point. Nisbet tallied her first goal at 9:54, followed by Fast’s second score at 11:46. Skirrow and junior Brittany Styner (Calgary, ALB) connected 22 seconds apart for a 5-0 lead at 12:55. Nisbet netted her second at 14:49. Sophomore defenseman Taylor Gedig (Kelowna, BC) closed out the period scoring at 19:00.

The Knights added six more goals in the middle frame for a 13-0 lead through 40 minutes. Nisbet tallied 25 seconds in, and again at 3:00 to give her four goals on the evening. Sophomores Jennifer Shields (Ingersoll, ONT) scored twice in the stanza. Styner netted her second of the game, and sophomore Christine Lambert (Thetford Mines, QUE), who picked up three assists, also scored in the second period.

Freshman Olivia Howe (Moose Jaw, SASK) scored the lone goal of the third period.

Shield, Gedig, and Howe all posted three points in the exhibition win.

Clarkson outshot Ottawa 53-6. Junior Erica Howe (Ottawa, ONT) and sophomore Jenna Boss (Little Canada, MN) combined for the shutout with five and one saves, respectively.

The Knights went 1-of-1 on the power play and killed off both Ottawa man-advantage opportunities.

Clarkson was playing without tow of its best players, junior Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, ONT) and freshman defenseman Erin Ambrose (Keswick, ONT), who are participating with Canada's U22 National team this week.

Clarkson officially opens the season next weekend with a home-and-home series against archrival St. Lawrence in non-conference action on October 5-6. The Knights play the Saints at Appleton Arena in Canton on Friday, at 7:00 p.m. and then face off against their Route 11 rival at Cheel on Saturday afternoon, beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Prior to Saturday’s game. Former players for Clarkson and St. Lawrence will play an Alumni Game, beginning at 12 noon.

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