There's certain been a flurry of activity in the National Women's Hockey League since my last notebook. The Boston Pride announced their entire roster of signed players (with many returnees, to no surprise) while the league at large announced its regular season schedule and other player signings were also added.
Regular Season Kicks off November 6
The NWHL will kick off its seventh season on Saturday, November 6 with all six teams in action. The Connecticut Whale will visit the Metropolitan Riveters; the Minnesota Whitecaps face the Boston Pride in an Isobel Cup rematch, and the Buffalo Beauts host the Toronto Six.
Nearly all NWHL games this upcoming season will be on Saturdays & Sundays, with times spread out from mid-afternoon to evening. Each team will play one set of games at home and away against each of the other five teams.
A few season highlights include:
- The Six will make their home debut on Saturday, November 20, hosting the Whale at 1:45 PM at York Canlan Ice Arena.
- The Beauts will host the Six in an outdoor game at Buffalo Riverworks on President's Day, February 21.
- After playing their first two home games at Mennen Arena in Morristown, the Riveters will return to the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House in Newark. It's been a few years since the Riveters played there regularly, and it'll be good for them to return. All other teams will play at the same rinks they did last season.
- There are no games scheduled for the last weekend in January, so it's possible that the league could hold its All-Star Game then. (Pencil it in.)
You can access the full regular-season schedule here.
Player Signings
As of writing, the NWHL and its teams have announced 86 players signed for the 2021-22 season. Nearly a quarter of the players signed will be making their debuts.
Here are the team rosters as announced thus far. Players in bold were announced since my last notebook in late July.
Boston Pride: Jillian Dempsey, McKenna Brand, Christina Putigna, Abby Cook, Katie Burt, Kayla Friesen, Victoria Hanson, Meghara McManus, Taylor Wenczkowski, Tori Sullivan, Lovisa Selander, Kaleigh Fratkin, Mallory Souliotis, Katelynn Russ, Sammy Davis, Jenna Rheault, Paige Capistran, Lauren Kelly
Buffalo Beauts: Marie-Jo Pelletier, Cassidy Vinkle, Cassidy McPherson, Erin Gehen, Autumn MacDougall, Emma Keenan, Amy Budde, Lisa Chesson, Dominique Kremer, Taylor Accursi, Emilie Harley, Anjelica Diffendal, Brittany Colton, Samantha Fieseler, Kennedy Ganser, Taylor Wasylk, Missy Segall, Allison Attea, Grace Klienbach, Jenna Sukko, Lovisa Berndtsson, Carly Jackson, Caty Flagg
Connecticut Whale: Alyssa Wohlfeiler, Kennedy Marchment, Hanna Beattie, Allie Munroe, Emma Vlasic, Tori Howran, Taylor Girard, Emma Polaski, Cailey Hutchison, Janine Weber, Catherine Crowley, Kaycie Anderson, Abbie Ives, Mariah Fujimagari, Hannah Bates, Rebecca Morse
Metropolitan Riveters: Madison Packer, Emily Janiga, Leila Kilduff, Theresa Knutson, Mallory Rushton, Allie Olnowich, Kendall Cornine, Haley Frade, Brooke Avery, Rebecca Russo, Nora Maclaine, Haley Frade, Kristen Barbara, Brooke Wolejko, Sonjia Shelly, Rachael Ade, Lenka Čurmová
Toronto Six: Shiann Darkangelo, Emma Greco, Taylor Woods, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Saroya Tinker, Maegan Beres, Leah Marino, Emma Woods, Lindsay Eastwood, Amy Curlew, Samantha Ridgewell, Elaine Chuli, Tera Hofmann
Minnesota Whitecaps: None.
Players Not Returning
Here are a handful of the NWHL players from this past season that we know won't be back in the coming months:
- Whitney Dove (BUF) - KMH Budapest
- Iveta Klimasova (BUF) - MAC Budapest
- Kristen Lewicki (BUF) - retired
- Kelsey Neumann (BUF) - retired
- Kiira Dosdall-Arena (MET)
- Kate Leary (MET) - wants to focus on coaching career
- Sammy Kolowrat (MET) - Brynäs
- Tatiana Shatalova (MET) - Belye Medveditsy
- Sarah Eve Coutu-Godbout (TOR) - AIK
- Mary Parker (BOS)
- Tereza Vanišová (BOS) - Leksand
- Nicole Guagliardo (CT) - MAC Budapest
- Elena Orlando (CT) - retired
- Shannon Doyle (CT) - retired
Additional Notes
- Ty Tumminia has officially been named commissioner of the NWHL, having the interim tag removed from her title.
- Although it hasn't been announced yet, it appears that Audra Richards will be back with the Minnesota Whitecaps. NHL Network also recently spoke with Tina Kampa and seemed to indicate that she would be playing this season with the Whitecaps, too. I'd anticipate hearing official word about at least a handful of Minnesota signings soon.
We will continue to provide ongoing coverage of the NWHL offseason until season kickoff on November 6.
