International Flair (Week 12 Preview)
The women head to Belfast for the Friendship Series, while the men open 2026 with an exhibition vs. Simon Fraser
The women (4-11-2, HEA (6th): 4-6-2) face Quinnipiac and then Harvard/Minnesota-Duluth in Belfast, while the men (9-8-1, HEA (3rd): 6-5-0) have an exhibition.
Women’s
The women travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland for the Friendship Series their opening game sees them facing Quinnipiac (January 2nd, 2 pm ET) followed by Harvard or Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday (January 3rd: 3rd Place game 10am ET / Championship game 2pm ET).
Friendship Series
The Terriers make their first trip outside the North America for a game as they head to Belfast for the 2026 Friendship Series alongside Quinnipiac (14-5-1, ECAC (4th): 5-4-1), Harvard (7-6-1, ECAC (7th): 4-5-1), and Minnesota-Duluth (12-6-2, WCHA (4th): 8-6-0).
The tournament opens, with Harvard facing off against Minnesota-Duluth. Harvard comes in off a split to end the first half, beating RPI (4-2) before losing to Union (1-3). The Crimson have won just 2 of their last five. Harvard is led by sophomore forward Ella Lucia, who leads the team in assists (7) and points (9). Freshman Morgan McGathey and Emily Hamann share the team lead with 5 goals each. UMD have won 6 of their last 8 including a sweep of Bemidji State going into the break (4-1, 4-0). The Bulldogs are led by senior Thea Johansson with 12 goals and 18 points. Sophomore Caitlin Kraemer also has 18 points, and grad student Mary Kate O’Brien leads the team in assists (11). The game will be the first between the team since November 18/19, 2022 when the two split a weekend in Duluth. Duluth leads the series 17-5-1.
In the second semifinal, the Terriers take on Quinnipiac. It will be the first game between the teams in nearly a decade, when the teams last faced off on January 20th, 2016 (1-6 L). After just 2 wins in their first 12 games, BU has just 1 loss in their last 5. In those 5 games, Lilli Welcke had 3 goals, leading all Terriers. Welcke (3g-1a) along with Sydney Healey (2g-2a) and Kaileigh Quigg (1g-3a) all have 4 points in the span. Quinnipiac opened the season with 12 wins in their first 13 games. However, in their last 7 they have just 1 win (1-5-1). Junior Kahlen Lamarche leads the Bobcats with 22 goals and 31 points. She is first nationally in goals and 6th nationally in points. Laurence Frenette leads the team with 14 assists. Former Terrier Alex Law now plays for the Bobcats and has 5 points (4g-1a) but as not played since October 17th. In goal, Felicia Frank has 6 shutouts this season, tied for the top nationally and holds a 1.41 GAA (3rd nationally) and .944 SV% (3rd nationally).
Records
4-1-1 vs. Quinnipiac
2-0-2 vs. Minnesota Duluth
9-10-2 vs. Harvard (1-1-0 under Tara Watchorn)
1-5-2 in January neutral site games (1-2-1)
Stats
In Tara Watchorn’s single game vs. QU as a player, she scored the final goal in the Terriers 5-1 win on November 15th, 2008
This will be BU’s 2nd and 3rd internationally game after they opened the Tara Watchorn era with a 5-2 exhibition win on September 30th, 2023 at McGill in Montreal.
In back to back years, a BU hockey team will play in a tournament in Belfast that also features Harvard
Men’s
The Terriers return to action against Simon Fraser in an exhibition (January 3rd, 5pm) at Agganis Arena.
Simon Fraser
(7-13-4, Non-Conference: 4-7-2)
The Terriers enter 2026 after a thrilling win to close out Boston (Matthews) Arena on December 13th (4-3). Brandon Svoboda had two goals in the game, including the game winner. After a rough start to the season, BU have won 4 of their last 5. BU will most likely be without the Coles—Eiserman and Hutson, Kamil Bednarik, and Sascha Boumedienne all 4 playing for their countries at the World Juniors.
Simon Fraser has played 8 games vs. NCAA teams this season, losing 7 and recording a shootout win vs. Alaska on November 8th. The Red Leafs are led by forward Walker Erickson, who leads the team with 7 goals and 9 points. Defenseman Tanner Dawkins leads the team in assists with 5.
The last time the teams faced off was January 5th, 2024. Gavin McCarthy scored the only Terriers goal in the 1-1 shootout win for BU.
Records
0-0-1 vs. Simon Fraser
3-2-2 in Exhibitions under Jay Pandolfo
Stats
SFU is BU’s 2nd most played exhibition team under Pandolfo after the USNTDP U18s
It is the 1st season since 2017-18 that BU will not play the U18s in an exhibition