Watts leads the country with a nice 69 points through the first week of February.
Daryl Watts has taken the college hockey world by storm this season.
When the talented Boston College freshman from Toronto skates tonight at Kelley Rink in Conte Forum during the Women's Beanpot, it will mark her 30th game. And she already has posted numbers most players don't reach in a four-year career.
Watts was named the national rookie of the month yesterday for the third time this season by the American Hockey Coaches Association. She also collected the player of the month honors in October.
Then, there was Lonergan causing havoc in the NU end, chipping it out and creating a 2-on-1 with ... Watts. Perfect pass, great deke down low and a 2-0 lead after Watts' second of the day pic.twitter.com/UjseDT9701
— BC Women's Hockey (@BC_WHockey) February 7, 2018
It's been quite a start for her. Tonight she'll join BC in the annual showcase against Northeastern at 8 p.m. Harvard faces Boston University in the first game at 5 p.m.
Watts leads the country in goals (34), points (69), power-play points (22), power-play goals (nine), shorthanded goals (three, tied) and shots on goal (171). She ranks second in assists (35), has posted two hat tricks and registered multiple points in 22 games. Her 69 points are within range of the NCAA Division I single-season freshman mark of 82 set by Minnesota's Hannah Brandt in 2012-2013.
Watts' take on the stats?
"I wish sometimes that they wouldn't even keep score, just so we could just play the games," she said.
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Watts didn't come to BC with a depth of knowledge about the Beanpot, but she is a fast learner.
"Well, I know it's like a huge tradition here," she said. "The upper classmen and just everyone on the team, especially everyone on the team from the Boston area, have let us know how important it is to win."
Watts is currently playing on a line with sophomore Caitrin Lonergan of Roslindale, who ranks second in the nation in scoring with 27 goals and 36 assists, and fellow Torontonian Willow Corson, the daughter of ex-NHLer Shayne Corson.
"We have developed some great chemistry," Watts said. "Caitrin is so good. There's no competitive rivalry between us. We're just so happy for each other. It doesn't matter who scores or anything. We all want the team to have success. Willow is a great passer and she's quick. It's been going great."
First, there was this inch-perfect two-zone pass from Miano through the NU team to Daryl Watts behind them on the blue line. Then she does her thing, which is another #SCTop10-worthy stunner. pic.twitter.com/zkX0KW3fuT
— BC Women's Hockey (@BC_WHockey) February 7, 2018
BC coach Katie Crowley has been thrilled with the development of her freshman standout.
"She has been able to find ways to score goals and continue her offensive production and I think has learned how the college game is and that teams are going to key on her. She has been able to find ways around that and still produce and we're certainly glad that she has."
According to Crowley, the added attention by foes has made Watts an even better player.
"When she has the puck (teams) are making sure that they get two (players) on her so that they're thinking they can stop her," Crowley said. "It's for her to kind of work with her teammates to get away from that and she has been able to do that. I think that she is most dangerous no matter where she is on the ice. She is a great hockey player. With that, she wants to be better, not necessarily to make the perfect play, but she plays within our system. We're still tweaking a few things but she wants to be very good for her team."
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Crowley feels the Beanpot will be competitive.
"Yeah, we're excited for it. You get the playoffs a little bit early," she said. "You're automatically playing in a semifinal game."
This article is written by John Connolly from Boston Herald and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.
