Female Breakout Player of the Year: Miye D'Oench

Heading into its 2013-2014 season, the Harvard women’s ice hockey team was already facing an uphill battle.

The Crimson had graduated its leading scorer, Jillian Dempsey ’13, and had lost three other key players along with long-tenured coach, Katey Stone, to the Olympic roster.

But despite what appeared to be a thin lineup, the Crimson still had a strong season, posting a 23-7-4 record and clinching the Ivy League title.

The loss of personnel left ample room for new leaders to emerge on the ice. Sophomore Miye D’Oench did just that, spearheading Harvard’s offensive production with a team-leading 21 goals and 18 assists on the year.

“Our sophomore class stepped up hugely, especially Miye,” said Harvard interim coach Maura Crowell. “[The sophomores] just stepped into the role, having more experience and more confidence because they were playing a lot more.”

According to Crowell, the added ice time gave the forward a newfound poise, which she carried throughout the season.

“Obviously, she has some sweet hands, and we were able to see that more,” Crowell said. “That comes with confidence, adjusting to the speed of the game, and knowing when you have the time to do it. She’s not afraid to put the puck on the net, and she did a tremendous job on her off-ice strength and conditioning coming into the season, so she was stronger and in better shape.”

The sophomore’s offensive presence was consistent throughout the season, as the forward posted a goal or an assist in 24 of the Crimson’s 34 contests.

“I got to play with some really great players, and we started clicking,” D’Oench said. “We gained some chemistry, that X-factor when you’re on the ice and you know where each other are. That was awesome and really fun to play with people you are very comfortable with.”

D’Oench posted a pair of goals on four separate occasions and netted the game winner in as many contests. She had a knack for coming up big when the Crimson needed her most, including scoring the Crimson’s game-winner in double overtime of an ECAC quarterfinals contest.

The Crimson faced a one-game deficit in a best-of-three series, but D’Oench’s overtime score in the 84th minute of play forced a third game against the Bulldogs, which the Crimson capitalized on en route to an appearance in the ECAC semifinals.

D’Oench, who was second in the Ivy League in points per game and scored the fourth-most goals in ECAC league play, was named a first team All-Ivy League and third-team All-ECAC selection.

The rising junior will continue to be a strong force for the Crimson offense, which next year returns three players from the Olympic roster and adds a bevy of talented fresh faces from a strong recruiting class.

“We’re going to be really deep and have a lot of competition for ice time,” D’Oench said. “You always want to have a fuller roster and a lot of talent. There’s a lot to be excited for.”

—Staff writer Brenna R. Nelsen can be reached at brenna.nelsen@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @CrimsonBRN.