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Maybe Kelly Law should miss practice more often.
Despite being late for the Hockey East All-Star Team’s practice on Saturday night, the junior defenseman made amends as she scored in the team’s 5-2 loss against the U.S. Women’s National Team on Sunday at the Whittemore Center at the University of New Hampshire.
“I think Kelly is one of our strongest defenseman and there is no one else I’d rather play behind,” said junior netminder Rachel Gettings. “We all came in together in the same class and she has made an impact since then.”
“When I found she was going I was excited, but not surprised because she is not only a great player on our team but in the Hockey East conference as well.”
Law, who was the only player from the University of Maine chosen for the team, scored her goal late in the first period. After the Hockey East had taken a 1-0 lead, it was Law who increased the lead to 2-0 after the first power-play opportunity of the game. The goal came when Boston College’s Deb Spillane played a pass back to the point from the left circle. Once Law had possession, she fired a slap shot through a screen into the goal.
However, it would be the last time that the team could celebrate as the U.S. National Team stormed with five unanswered goals for a 5-2 score.
“I was a little nervous but I played against some of these players when I was younger,” said Law, who was one of 40 players selected for the final cut for the Team Canada U-22 squad. “I just had to go in with confidence and tell myself that I was picked for a reason, and once the game started, my nerves calmed down.”
Before she teamed up with some of the same players who could make or break her season, the Ontario native had something else to take care – Quinnipiac. Similar to many of the players on the all-star team, Law had a series before the Sunday matinee. Friday’s game against the Bobcats saw the Black Bears come up with a last-second goal for a 2-2 tie.
Saturday was a different story as the Black Bears won 4-3. The high point of the game came from an assist from Law on a goal in the midst of a 3-0 run. Once the Black Bears won the game, Law had a three-hour car ride to New Hampshire and missed the practice. Afterwards, she was able to get some rest, and after having her parents make the trek from across the border, she played in the game. In addition to her own goal, Law also allowed no goals on her shift.
“We kind of made the selection as a group who would be best to compete against the national team, and we felt that she would fit for that particular game,” said head coach Guy Perron. “We are going to have her for another year and a half and that will give her another opportunity for her to perform like she has for the last three months.”
According to Perron, when it came time to select players that he felt would represent the program well, he submitted a short list of names, which included Law. One of the reasons he chose her was because she can be an offensive-minded defenseman, all while being a physical presence.
Even though she surpassed her career-high in points in the first month of the season, it’s her physicality that most people notice, especially other teams, as she has accounted for 45 penalty minutes, which is 25 more than Cheryl White, who is second on the team in the category.
“It’s nice to get points, but when you look at the stat sheet, it shows that all of us, as a team, are improving as scorers,” Law said. “I feel like it was a big honor and it’s a good feeling to know that the hard work we do here at Maine would be acknowledged.”
Bangor Daily News