2018–19 NWHL season

2018–19 NWHL season
League National Women's Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Regular season
Isobel Cup

The 2018–19 NWHL season is the fourth season of the National Women's Hockey League. All four teams from the previous three seasons will return: the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, and the Metropolitan Riveters while the Minnesota Whitecaps will enter the league as an expansion team bringing the league to five teams.

League news and notes

  • This is the first full season of the Buffalo Beauts being owned and controlled by Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the owners of the Buffalo Sabres NHL team, instead of the league. The Beauts are scheduled to take part in a doubleheader event immediately before a Sabres game on December 29, 2018, at KeyBank Center.[1]
  • On May 15, 2018, the league announced its first expansion franchise; the Minnesota Whitecaps had been purchased by the league and would join the NWHL for the 2018–19 season.[2] The Whitecaps had played in the Western Women's Hockey League (WWHL) from 2004 to 2011 and then operated independently from any league after the WWHL ceased operations, including playing a few exhibition games against other NWHL teams during the inaugural 2015–16 season.
  • On August 13, 2018, the Minnesota Wild revealed its partnership with the Whitecaps. As part of a cross-promotional marketing agreement, the Whitecaps' home opener on October 6 at the TRIA Rink, the Wild's practice facility, became part of a doubleheader to take place before the Wild's home opener at the Xcel Energy Center.[3]
  • August 21, 2018: The Whitecaps' new logo and colors of blue, while, silver and black were unveiled.[4]
  • August 24, 2018: The first-ever Champions Cup, which shall feature the NWHL’s Isobel Cup champion Metropolitan Riveters versus the SDHL champion Luleå Hockey club has been rescheduled to take place in the United States during the month of September. Originally scheduled to place at Norrbotten Arena in Sweden, scheduling challenges forced a relocation. The match shall be a winner-take-all game for the Cup. [5]

One league movement

Starting in March 2018 and throughout the off-season, current and former players took to social media to promote the concept of one unified professional women's hockey league. Players had utilized the hashtag #OneLeague to indicated their support.[6]

Head coaching and front office personnel changes

Head coaches

Team 2017–18 head coach 2018–19 replacement Notes
Boston Pride Thomas Pöck Paul Mara Mara was named head coach of the Boston Pride on May 30, 2018.[7]
Metropolitan Riveters Chad Wiseman Randy Velischek Wiseman left to be closer to home and took the head coaching position with the junior A Burlington Cougars,[8] but was then hired to the coaching staff of the OHL's Guelph Storm.[9] Velischek was hired on September 20.

Regular season

All-Star Game

The 2019 NWHL All-Star Weekend festivities will take place on February 9–10, 2019. As of August 8, 2018, the host city has yet to be named.

Regular season

Standings

As of October 8, 2018.[10]

GP W L OTL PTS GF GA
Minnesota Whitecaps2200471
Buffalo Beauts1100240
Boston Pride0000000
Connecticut Whale1010004
Metropolitan Riveters2020017

Schedule

  • All regular season games will be contested on Saturday and Sunday. There will be one neutral-site game in Pittsburgh on December 2 with the Connecticut Whale as the home team against the Metropolitan Riveters at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
  • On December 29, 2018, the Whitecaps will face the Beauts at the KeyBank Center as part of a doubleheader involving both the NWHL and the NHL. After the NWHL game, the Buffalo Sabres will host the Boston Bruins.

Awards and honors

Regular season

VEDA NWHL Player of the Week
Player Team Date
Hannah Brandt[14]Minnesota WhitecapsOctober 8, 2018

Transactions

Retirement

PlayerDateLast team
Marissa Gedman[15]August 23, 2018Boston Pride

Signings

Player Date Team
Dani CameranesiJune 12, 2018Buffalo Beauts
Nicole Hensley[16]June 13, 2018Buffalo Beauts
Amanda Leveille[17]June 18, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Hannah Brandt[18]June 20, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Lee SteckleinJune 20, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Katie Burt[19]June 25, 2018Boston Pride
Shannon Szabados[20]June 27, 2018Buffalo Beauts
Toni Ann Miano[21]July 2, 2018Boston Pride
Audra Richards[22]July 9, 2018Metropolitan Riveters
Randi Griffin[23]July 10, 2018Connecticut Whale
Sara HughsonJuly 10, 2018Connecticut Whale
Michelle Löwenhielm[24]July 10, 2018Connecticut Whale
Sam Walther[24]July 10, 2018Connecticut Whale
Katerina Mrázová[25]July 11, 2018Connecticut Whale
Miye D'Oench[26]July 24, 2018Metropolitan Riveters
Chelsea Ziadie[26]July 24, 2018Metropolitan Riveters
Kendall Coyne Schofield[27]July 26, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Lauren Kelly[28]July 31, 2018Boston Pride
Kristin Lewicki[29]July 31, 2018Metropolitan Riveters
Allie Thunstrom[30]August 1, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Denisa Křížová[31]August 2, 2018Boston Pride
Kaleigh Fratkin[32]August 8, 2018Boston Pride
Meghan Pezon[33]August 8, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Fiona McKenna[34]August 10, 2018Metropolitan Riveters
Amanda Boulier[35]August 14, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Lexi Slattery[36]August 14, 2018Metropolitan Riveters
Blake Bolden[37]August 15, 2018Buffalo Beauts
Jonna Curtis[38]August 15, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Mallory Souliotis[39]August 15, 2018Boston Pride
Sarah Schwenzfeier[40]August 16, 2018Connecticut Whale
Nina Rodgers[41]August 16, 2018Connecticut Whale
Brooke White-Lancette[42]August 17, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
McKenna Brand[43]August 17, 2018Boston Pride
Sydney Rossman[44]August 20, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Lauren Barnes[45]August 22, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Julie Friend[45]August 22, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Sadie Lundquist[45]August 22, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Amy Menke[45]August 22, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Emma Stauber[45]August 22, 2018Minnesota Whitecaps
Taylor Wasylk[46]August 23, 2018Boston Pride
Gigi Marvin[47]August 24, 2018Boston Pride

References

  1. ↑ "BUFFALO BEAUTS TO PLAY DOUBLEHEADER WITH SABRES IN KEY BANK ARENA". WYRK. July 23, 2018.
  2. ↑ "NWHL Expands to Minnesota". NWHL.Zone. May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Wild, Whitecaps announce alliance". Star Tribune. August 13, 2018.
  4. ↑ "The New Crest of the Minnesota Whitecaps is Here!". NWHL.zone. August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  5. ↑ Press Release (24 August 2018). "Metropolitan Riveters - Luleå Hockey Champions Cup Match Moved to the U.S." NWHL.zone. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  6. ↑ Stephen Whyno and John Wawrow, The Associated Press (March 15, 2018). "One women's pro hockey league is the goal, but there's no clear path to get there". National Post. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  7. ↑ "USNT's Paul Mara Named Head Coach of the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. May 30, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  8. ↑ "COUGARS NAME NEW COACH FOR 2018/19". Burlington Cougars. March 19, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Storm name Chad Wiseman Assistant Coach". Ontario Hockey League. August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  10. ↑ "NWHL standings". NWHL. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  11. ↑ Amanda Ghysel (October 6, 2018). "Whitecaps Win NWHL Debut, 4-0 over Riveters, at Sold-Out TRIA Rink". NWHL.zone. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  12. ↑ Amanda Ghysel (October 7, 2018). "Brandt, Whitecaps Complete Weekend Sweep of Defending Champion Riveters". NWHL.zone. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  13. ↑ Dan Rice (October 7, 2018). "Olympians Hensley and Räisänen Battle as Beauts Defeat Whale, 4-0". NWHL.zone. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  14. ↑ Jane Norton and Amanda Ghysel (October 8, 2018). "Whitecaps' Star Hannah Brandt Named VEDA NWHL Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Marissa Gedman Joins Pride Coaching Staff". NWHL.zone. August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  16. ↑ Marisa Ingemi (June 13, 2018). "NWHL's Buffalo Beauts land two from gold-medal winning Team USA". ESPN. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  17. ↑ Catherine Shelton and Jane Norton (June 18, 2018). "Leveille Returns to Minnesota, Joins the Whitecaps". NWHL.zone.
  18. ↑ "Team USA Gold Medalists Hannah Brandt and Lee Stecklein Join NWHL's Minnesota Whitecaps". NWHL.zone. June 20, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Katie Burt, All-Time NCAA Wins Record Holder and 2017 NWHL First Overall Pick, Signs with Boston". NWHL.zone. June 25, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Edmonton goaltender Shannon Szabados signs with NWHL's Buffalo Beauts". Global News. June 27, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Toni Ann Miano, Elite Offensive Defender And Boston College Star, Joins the Pride". NWHL. July 2, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Audra Richards, Twice the Leading Scorer at Maine, Signs with the Riveters". NWHL. July 9, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Whale Sign Unified Korea Olympian Randi Griffin". NWHL.zone. July 11, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  24. 1 2 "Whale Sign 2014 Swedish Olympian Löwenhielm". NWHL.zone. July 11, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Whale Sign Czech Republic National Team and U. of Minnesota Duluth Forward Katerina Mrázová". NWHL.zone. July 11, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  26. 1 2 "Miye D'Oench Returns to Isobel Cup Champions - Riveters also add Harvard defender Chelsea Ziadie". NWHL.zone. July 24, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  27. ↑ Mike Murphy. "Kendall Coyne Schofield signs with the Minnesota Whitecaps". SB Nation: The Ice Garden. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  28. ↑ Cole Botta (July 31, 2018). "Lauren Kelly Joins the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Kristin Lewicki Moves from Beauts to Riveters". NWHL.zone. July 31, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Whitecaps Add USNT Forward Allie Thunstrom". NWHL.zone. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Czech National Team, Northeastern Star Joins Pride for NWHL Season 4". NWHL.zone. August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Kaleigh Fratkin Returns for Fourth NWHL Season, Second with the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Minnesota Whitecaps Sign Meaghan Pezon". NWHL.zone. August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Riveters Sign Princeton's Fiona McKenna". NWHL.zone. August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  35. ↑ "All-Star Defender Amanda Boulier Takes Her Talents to Minnesota". NWHL.zone. August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Riveters Sign St. Cloud Defender Lexi Slattery". NWHL.zone. August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Beauts Agree to Terms With Defenseman Bolden". NWHL.zone. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Whitecaps Sign UNH Leading Scorer Jonna Curtis". NWHL.zone. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Mallory Souliotis Returns for First Full Season with the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Norwich C Sarah Schwenzfeier Signs with Whale". NWHL.zone. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Connecticut Whale/NWHL Draft Selection Nina Rodgers to Begin Pro Career in 2018-19". NWHL.zone. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Original Whitecap Brooke White-Lancette Joins Team for First NWHL Season". NWHL.zone. August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Drafted One Year Ago Today, Northeastern's McKenna Brand Signs with the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Sydney Rossman Comes Home to Minnesota". NWHL.zone. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 "Whitecaps Sign Amy Menke, Sadie Lundquist, Lauren Barnes, Emma Stauber & Julie Friend". NWHL.zone. August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Taylor Wasylk Joins the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Team USA Olympic Gold Medalist Gigi Marvin Is Back with the Boston Pride!". NWHL.zone. August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
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