University of Delaware Athletics
Francesca Barresi Relishes Opportunity to be a Blue Hen
7/11/2025 1:24:00 PM | Ice Hockey
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware women's ice hockey team is set to begin play in its inaugural season this fall. As Delaware's coaches set about bringing in 23 newcomers for the first campaign, Francesa Barresi was the first recruit to commit to the Blue & Gold. For the forward from Ottawa, Canada, the decision to become a Blue Hen was a no-brainer.
"Honestly, there are so many reasons why," Barresi said. "I think obviously, one of the biggest reasons is that I like being a part of something new. It's not something that you come by very often. I don't really know what I want to study yet, so knowing that I have a safety net to fall back on with something like 100 majors to choose from. So, I think I found the best of both worlds. The coaching staff is excellent too, I couldn't be happier to play for Coach Coomey, Sammo and Taylor. I'm so excited."
Other than her recruiting trip, Barresi had never been to the First State. She had other Division I offers to play collegiate hockey, however, she always wanted to be on the East Coast. When she visited Newark, she not only fell in love with the campus, but the location within the region and proximity to so many destinations.
"I love the East Coast," Barresi said. "And I just love how Delaware is in such a central location with New York City not being too far and the beaches being super close. It's everything I could have wanted."
Barresi officially committed and signed with the Blue Hens last November. Being the first one to sign onto a new program did not discourage her, in fact the opposite.
"I still am super grateful and super honored," Barresi said. "It's also very humbling, you know, being able to have such an awesome opportunity. And I carry it with a lot of pride. I really believe that the challenges are what builds, builds a team and what brings a group together. And that's how you get better. I'm excited for all the challenges that we're going to face. I know it's going to bring us together in the long run and it's only going to make our program stronger."
Like any new program, the Blue Hens have the unique situation of starting a roster from scratch. In fact, all but one member of the team – Sydney Butler – are newcomers to the University. With 17 incoming freshmen and a handful of transfers, Barresi and the rest of her teammates have had to rely upon Zoom meetings and group chats to get to know each other since the roster was finalized this spring.
"I've had the chance to talk to pretty much all of my teammates, and we all seem like such a positive group, so excited and grateful to be here," Barresi said. "Everyone is looking forward to it obviously, and we're so positive, but you can also tell everybody here wants to win.
"I think we're all new and we're all part of bringing you know the first D1 program to the 302 so I think that in itself is super exciting."
Barresi, like all of her teammates, will look to make an immediate impact on her new team. She wore number 66 on her jersey last year while playing for the Ottawa Lady Senators U22 team in honor of Mario Lemieux, regarded as one of the greatest players in NHL history. Like Lemieux, Barresi, a forward who mostly lines on the wing, plays with speed and physicality on both ends of the rink.
"I'd like to say I'm a 200-foot player. I play both sides of the ice really hard. I'm always the first person backchecking, I love blocking shots. I'm fast and I'm very physical. That's one thing that I like to bring to the table is physicality. I'm great at using my speed, I make a lot of space for myself and for my teammates on the ice. I use my body positioning gets me in the right areas of the ice.
"I like the hard work. I like the grind. I'm really looking forward to that."
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware women's ice hockey, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
"Honestly, there are so many reasons why," Barresi said. "I think obviously, one of the biggest reasons is that I like being a part of something new. It's not something that you come by very often. I don't really know what I want to study yet, so knowing that I have a safety net to fall back on with something like 100 majors to choose from. So, I think I found the best of both worlds. The coaching staff is excellent too, I couldn't be happier to play for Coach Coomey, Sammo and Taylor. I'm so excited."
Other than her recruiting trip, Barresi had never been to the First State. She had other Division I offers to play collegiate hockey, however, she always wanted to be on the East Coast. When she visited Newark, she not only fell in love with the campus, but the location within the region and proximity to so many destinations.
"I love the East Coast," Barresi said. "And I just love how Delaware is in such a central location with New York City not being too far and the beaches being super close. It's everything I could have wanted."
Barresi officially committed and signed with the Blue Hens last November. Being the first one to sign onto a new program did not discourage her, in fact the opposite.
"I still am super grateful and super honored," Barresi said. "It's also very humbling, you know, being able to have such an awesome opportunity. And I carry it with a lot of pride. I really believe that the challenges are what builds, builds a team and what brings a group together. And that's how you get better. I'm excited for all the challenges that we're going to face. I know it's going to bring us together in the long run and it's only going to make our program stronger."
Like any new program, the Blue Hens have the unique situation of starting a roster from scratch. In fact, all but one member of the team – Sydney Butler – are newcomers to the University. With 17 incoming freshmen and a handful of transfers, Barresi and the rest of her teammates have had to rely upon Zoom meetings and group chats to get to know each other since the roster was finalized this spring.
"I've had the chance to talk to pretty much all of my teammates, and we all seem like such a positive group, so excited and grateful to be here," Barresi said. "Everyone is looking forward to it obviously, and we're so positive, but you can also tell everybody here wants to win.
"I think we're all new and we're all part of bringing you know the first D1 program to the 302 so I think that in itself is super exciting."
Barresi, like all of her teammates, will look to make an immediate impact on her new team. She wore number 66 on her jersey last year while playing for the Ottawa Lady Senators U22 team in honor of Mario Lemieux, regarded as one of the greatest players in NHL history. Like Lemieux, Barresi, a forward who mostly lines on the wing, plays with speed and physicality on both ends of the rink.
"I'd like to say I'm a 200-foot player. I play both sides of the ice really hard. I'm always the first person backchecking, I love blocking shots. I'm fast and I'm very physical. That's one thing that I like to bring to the table is physicality. I'm great at using my speed, I make a lot of space for myself and for my teammates on the ice. I use my body positioning gets me in the right areas of the ice.
"I like the hard work. I like the grind. I'm really looking forward to that."
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware women's ice hockey, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
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