BC Hockey Stars Bring Their Talents To The Junior National Stage

Boston College women's ice hockey freshman Alex Carpenter spent her winter break leading Team USA in the IIHF U18 World Championship in the Czech Republic. The Reading, Mass. native was named a team captain and became a major factor for the team's championship quest. Having been a recent staple of the U.S. women's national hockey program, Carpenter was prepared and excited for the opportunity to compete once again.

"I enjoyed it a lot," she said of her time there. "A lot of my friends are on that team, so it was great to reconnect with them. It was just an overall great experience. I've been there twice before, but it was great to be there as a leader this time."

Carpenter chronicled her time in the Czech Republic through a series of blog posts. The forward described the games, the preparation for each game, as well as the adjustment to living in a new country. When asked about adjusting to the cultural differences in the area, Carpenter laughed.

"The language was really hard, but I'd say that the hardest thing was adjusting to the food," she said. "It was very difficult to eat over there. You're served certain things, and you're not really sure what it was. You just have to force it down to keep going."

While the team was made up of the world's best, Carpenter stood out. She finished the tournament with four goals and five assists in five games. Statistics aside, Carpenter's ability to lead her teammates was probably her most important contribution.

"It's pretty awesome," she said of her leadership role. "I remember the leaders from my first year on the team. I based what I did off them. It was just really great to be able to help with the younger people, just like I was helped when I was at that level."

This kind of maturity and sportsmanship has become an important element of Carpenter's repertoire. Her ability to look beyond her own play and focus on the betterment of the team is something that certainly grew with her role as captain.

When asked of her favorite moment of the tournament, she didn't hesitate with her response.

"It probably wasn't even mine," she said. "It was when my teammate, who is actually coming to play here next year, had a hat trick in three straight games. I think it was pretty nice watching her do that because she's one of my best friends, and it was just great to see her do really well."

While most players would reflect on an accolade of their own, Carpenter has the maturity to focus on the importance of a team effort. She understands that representing her country and working alongside her teammates are more important than her own individual performance.

These skills can certainly benefit the women's ice hockey team at BC, as the team looks to return to the Frozen Four and hopefully bring a national championship to the Heights.

"I think I became more of a leader when I was over there," Carpenter said. "Even though I'm not the oldest on this team, I still think I can bring some leadership qualities to help, even though we have three great captains."