With the 2023-24 season still coming to an end, it's time to check the final rankings.
We usually post the top 5, but we decided to expand it towards the end of the season.
Introducing the final top eight in women's hockey for the 2023-24 season.
1-Pingree (9-9-1)
Big Blue had a 5-9-1 record on the eve of the state tournament, but the team knew exactly what it was capable of. They ignored the doubters and silenced all critics by winning four straight and winning the program's first state championship. In the process, the team finally defeated Oak Knoll for the first time in four games this season. Just two days later, the team ended Morristown-Beard's reign at the top with a thrilling overtime victory in the semifinals. Charlotte Demar then scored twice to clinch the title with a 2-1 win over Immaculate Heart.
2-Morristown-Beard (16-5)
The Crimson was a force for most teams, but fell short in some of the biggest games. The team was eliminated in the Librera Cup finals, WIHLMA finals and state semifinals. Morristown Beard boasted the second-best defense in the state, allowing just 1.71 points per game, but offensively he allowed just 4.19 points per game and 3 points per game. Finished in 1st place. Considering the overall work done throughout the season, Morristown-Beard finished in second place despite some close losses.
3-Immaculate Heart (7-7)
Immaculate Heart made a triumphant return to national hockey last winter with a 16-3 record and a Cohen Cup title. The team entered the Librera division this season, but still managed to hold their ground. After starting 4-6, the team managed to win three straight games and advance to the state finals for the first time in history. Despite the loss to Pingree, it was another great season for the Blue Eagles.
4-Princeton Day (12-6)
The difference between 1st and 4th place in the final ranking is very narrow. No matter what day it is, Princeton Day could be at the top of this list. They advanced to the state semifinals and finished fourth on the season. They led 3-1 against Immaculate Heart in the third period, but lost 4-3. Still, the Panthers had a historic season, winning their first Librera Cup title.
5-Orc Knoll (7-8)
The Royals started the season with a 2-4 record, but struggled to advance in games. They finally started to regain momentum and led 5-4 the rest of the way. Oak Knoll advanced to the Librera Cup semifinals and state quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, they lost a close 3-1 to the eventual state champion in Pingree.
6-Kent Place (11-5)
The Dragons also started the season a little sluggish, but have become one of the better teams in late January. They won nine of their final 11 games, ultimately losing to Princeton Day in the state quarterfinals. One of them was an overtime win against Summit, giving the program its first Cohen Cup championship.
7-Summit (11-5-1)
The Hilltoppers regularly clashed with Kent Place and Trinity Hall for supremacy in the Coen Division. They came up just short in the Cohen Cup finals, but lost in the state quarterfinals to Immaculate Heart on goal difference. Of the team's five losses, only one was by two points. The rest was a one-shot battle. At one point, Summit won seven straight games, helping them secure the top seed in the Cohen Cup playoffs.
8-Trinity Hall (11-8-2)
Just as the difference between No. 1 and No. 4 is microscopic, the same is true for Nos. 5 through 8. Trinity Hall had a great season but fell short in important games. The team lost to Kent Place in the Cohen Cup semifinals and to Morristown Beard in the state quarterfinals. The team's defense, led by talented freshman Sienna DeAngelis and goaltender Katie Cissar, was outstanding, holding them to two points or less in 10 of the final 14 games of the season.
Brian Bobal can be contacted at: bbobal@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @Brian Bobal.
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