2015–16 NWHL season

2015–16 NWHL season
League National Women's Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 11, 2015 – February 28, 2016
Regular season
Season champions Boston Pride
Top scorer Hilary Knight
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP Brianna Decker
Isobel Cup
Champions Boston Pride
  Runners-up Buffalo Beauts

The 2015–16 NWHL season is the first season of operation of the National Women's Hockey League. Four teams competed for the inaugural Isobel Cup: the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, New York Riveters and Connecticut Whale.

League business

  • July 2015: The NWHL Foundation hosted a Canadian Training Camp Series in four different Canadian cities (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor).[1]
  • Late July 2015: A training camp for European players took place at Ristuccia Memorial Arena outside Boston on July 23, hosted by Boston Pride head coach Bobby Jay. Players from Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Germany and Japan attended.[2]

NWHL Draft

The 2015 NWHL Draft took place on June 22, 2015. A draft lottery was held and the New York Riveters earned the first pick overall, selecting Alexandra Carpenter of the Boston College Eagles women's ice hockey program.

Regular season

Standings

Pos Team GP W L OTL W% GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Boston Pride 18 14 3 1 0.806 75 39 +36 29
2 Connecticut Whale 18 13 5 0 0.722 61 51 +10 26
3 Buffalo Beauts 18 5 9 4 0.389 56 66 −10 14
4 New York Riveters 18 4 12 2 0.278 40 76 −36 10
Source: NWHL
y – Clinched division.

Scoring leaders

  • The following players led the league in regular season points at the conclusion of season.
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Hilary KnightBoston Pride171518338
Brianna DeckerBoston Pride1714152920
Kelli StackConnecticut Whale178142224
Kelly BabstockConnecticut Whale189132224
Kelley SteadmanBuffalo Beauts131372016

All-star game

The 1st NWHL All-Star Game was held January 24, 2016 at HarborCenter in Buffalo, the home of the Beauts.[3]

Playoffs

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Boston Pride 2
4 New York Riveters 0
1 Boston Pride 2
3 Buffalo Beauts 0
2 Connecticut Whale 1
3 Buffalo Beauts 2

Milestones

MilestonePlayerTeamDate
First goalJessica KoizumiConnecticut WhaleOct 11, 2015
First Canadian to score a goalKelly BabstockConnecticut WhaleOct 11, 2015
First European to log an assistLyudmila BelyakovaNew York RivetersOct 11, 2015
First European to score a goalYekaterina SmolentsevaConnecticut WhaleDec 13, 2015
First shootout goalKelly BabstockConnecticut WhaleNov 22, 2015
First multi-goal gameHilary Knight (2 goals)Boston PrideOct 11, 2015
First hat trickBrianna DeckerBoston PrideOct 25, 2015
First multi-point gameKelli Stack (3 points)Connecticut WhaleOct 11, 2015
First multi-point game by a defensemanKacey Bellamy (2 points)Boston PrideOct 11, 2015
First goaltending winJaimie Leonoff  CanadaConnecticut WhaleOct 11, 2015
First American-born goaltender to win a regular season gameBrittany OttBoston PrideOct 11, 2015
First international goaltender to win a regular season gameNana FujimotoNew York RivetersNov 15, 2015
First African-American player to compete in the NWHLBlake BoldenBoston PrideOct 11, 2015
First shootout gameBrittany OttBoston PrideDec 20, 2015

Awards and honors

References

  1. ↑ http://nwhl.co/nwhl-foundation-to-host-canadian-training-camp-series/
  2. ↑ http://nwhl.co/nwhl-announces-international-team-camp/
  3. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2015/11/20/buffalo-lands-hockey-all-star-weekend-for-womens.html
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