Connecticut Whale (NWHL)

The Connecticut Whale is a professional women's ice hockey team based in Danbury, Connecticut. It is one of the four charter franchises of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). Its name and colors are an homage to the former NHL and WHA franchise known as the Hartford Whalers.

This article is about the NWHL team. For the AHL team once known as the Connecticut Whale, see Hartford Wolf Pack.
Connecticut Whale
2019–20 NWHL season
CityDanbury, Connecticut
LeagueNational Women's Hockey League
Founded2015
Home arenaDanbury Ice Arena
ColorsWhite, blue, green
              
Owner(s)NWHL
General managerBray Ketchum[1]
Head coachColton Orr
CaptainShannon Doyle
MediaThe Collinsville Press
NWHL on Twitch
WebsiteOfficial Website

History

For their first season, the Whale played home games in Stamford, Connecticut at Chelsea Piers. Chris Ardito was hired as the first general manager in franchise history,[2] while Jake Mastel and Lisa Giovanelli coached the team. The team is the second professional hockey team to bear the Connecticut Whale name, following the American Hockey League team previously and currently known as the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Among their off-season acquisitions, the Whale signed Kaleigh Fratkin to a contract on July 1, 2015. She was the first Canadian player to sign a contract in the NWHL.[3]

The team made its debut in the 2015–16 season. Jessica Koizumi was named first team captain in franchise history.[4] The first game in NWHL history was a sell out on October 11, 2015 between the New York Riveters and Connecticut Whale.[5] The Whale prevailed by a 4–1 tally as Jessica Koizumi scored the first goal in both franchise and NWHL history. In the same game, Kelli Stack had one goal and two assists, becoming the first player to record a multi-point performance. Whale goaltender Jaimie Leonoff was credited the win, capturing the game's First Star. Stack was recognized as the Second Star, and Kelly Babstock, who became the first Canadian-born player to score a goal in an NWHL regular season game, was acknowledged as the Third Star.

The Whale won their first three games in franchise history with three different goalies. In the first game, the Whale prevailed with Jaimie Leonoff, while former Quinnipiac goaltender Chelsea Laden captured the second win, and Nicole Stock played her first game in over five years to capture the third win on the road against the New York Riveters.

Prior to the team's second season, the Whale moved to the Northford Ice Pavilion in Northford, Connecticut.[6] This lasted one season as the Whale moved to the Terry Conners Ice Rink at Cove Island Park in Stamford, Connecticut, for the 2017–18 season.[7]

On August 20, 2018, the Whale named active player Cydney Roesler an assistant coach for the 2018–19 season making her the first player-coach in franchise history.[8]

After two seasons at Terry Conners Ice Rink, the Whale moved again to the larger Danbury Ice Arena in Danbury, Connecticut.[9] Former NHL enforcer Colton Orr was named as head coach for the 2019–20 season.[10]

Season-by-season records
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAPlayoffs
2015–161813500266151Lost Isobel Cup Semifinal series to Buffalo Beauts
2016–171851210116077Lost Isobel Cup Semifinal to Boston Pride
2017–18163112082655Lost Isobel Cup Semifinal to Metropolitan Riveters
2018–19162122062264Lost play-in game to Metropolitan Riveters
2019–202422020639100Won play-in game over Buffalo Beauts, lost Isobel Cup Semifinal to Boston Pride

Players & Personnel

Current roster

As of 9 May 2020[11][12]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
1 Brooke Wolejko G L 24 2019 South Windsor, Connecticut
31 Sonjia Shelly G L 23 2019 Braceville, Illinois
26 Jordan Brickner D L 29 2015 Lake Forest, Illinois
11 Brinna Dochniak D R 22 2019 Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota
6 Shannon Doyle F R 28 2015 Baldwin, Ontario
8 Erin Hall D R 25 2019 Pembroke, Massachusetts
20 Laurel Hill D R 27 2019 Huntsville, Ontario
4 Taylor Marchin D R 26 2018 Algonac, Michigan
14 Elena Orlando D L 28 2016 Chico, California
9 Kaycie Anderson F L 29 2017 Maple Plain, Minnesota
10 Alexa Aramburu F R 25 2020 Glen Rock, New Jersey
16 Hanna Beattie F/D L 25 2017 Whitehouse Station, New Jersey
2 Maddie Evangelous F L 24 2019 Hudson, Massachusetts
18 Elena Gualtieri F R 2019 Rome, New York
24 Sarah Hughson F L 29 2018 East Haddam, Connecticut
94 Grace Klienbach F R 26 2019 Eustis, Florida
25 Allie LaCombe F R 27 2019 Eden Prairie, Minnesota
3 Kayla Meneghin F R 25 2018 Clifton, New Jersey
7 Jane Morrisette F R 24 2019 Pembroke, Massachusetts
5 Hayley Payne F R 23 2019 Braintree, Massachusetts
17 Katelynn Russ F R 22 2020 Crystal Lake, Illinois
21 Sarah Schwenzfeier F R 2018 Hingham, Massachusetts
15 Emma Vlasic F L 23 2019 Wilmette, Illinois
19 Janine Weber F L 29 2019 Innsbruck

Team Captains

Alternate Captains

Head Coaches
  • Colton Orr, 2019–present
  • Ryan Equale, 2018–19
  • Heather Linstad, 2015–17
  • Jake Mastel, 2015

General Managers
  • Bray Ketchum, 2019–present
  • Lisa Giovanelli, 2016–17
  • Chris Ardito, 2015–16

Other Personnel
  • Laura Brennan - Assistant Coach
  • Mike Bonelli - Assistant Coach
  • Paul Fernandes - Equipment Manager & Athletic Trainer
  • Dan Melillo - Event Manager

Draft history

Hannah Brandt from the Univ. of Minnesota program became the first player in franchise history to be selected in the inaugural 2015 NWHL Draft.[13] Raised in the state capital of Albany, New York, Michelle Picard was also the first defenseman selected in NWHL Draft history.

NWHL Draft

The following were the Whale's selections in the 2015 NWHL Draft on June 20, 2015.

#PlayerPositionNationalityCollege
2Hannah BrandtForward United StatesUniversity of Minnesota
6Michelle PicardDefense United StatesHarvard University
10Milica McMillenDefense United StatesUniversity of Minnesota
14Maryanne MenefeeForward United StatesUniversity of Minnesota
18Cassandra PoudrierDefense CanadaCornell University

[13]

The following were the Whale's selections in the 2016 NWHL Draft on June 18, 2016.

#PlayerPositionNationalityCollege
3Dani CameranesiForward United StatesUniversity of Minnesota
7Andie AnastosForward United StatesBoston College
11Melissa ChannellDefense CanadaUniversity of Wisconsin
15Paige SavageForward United StatesNortheastern University
19Sydney RossmanGoalie United StatesQuinnipiac University

[14]

The following were the Whale's selections in the 2016 NWHL Draft on August 17, 2017.

#PlayerPositionNationalityCollege
5Sam DonovanForward United StatesBrown University
9Eden MurrayForward CanadaYale University
13Denisa KřížováForward Czech RepublicNortheastern University
17Nina RodgersForward United StatesBoston University

[15]

Main article: 2018 NWHL Draft

The following were the Whale's selections in the 2018 NWHL Draft on December 19th and 20th, 2018.

#PlayerPositionNationalityCollege
2Melissa SamoskevichForward United StatesQuinnipiac University
7Makenna NewkirkForward United StatesBoston College
12Katelyn RaeForward CanadaMerrimack College
17Dominique KremerDefense United StatesMerrimack College
22Maggie LaGueDefense United StatesRobert Morris University
Main article: 2020 NWHL Draft

The following were the Whale's selections in the 2020 NWHL Draft on April 28th and 29th, 2020. Connecticut held the Metropolitan Riveters fifth round pick (#27 overall), as the future considerations from the trade of Maria Sorokina to the Riveters in 2019.

#PlayerPositionNationalityCollege
2Kayla FriesenForward CanadaClarkson University
7Victoria HowranDefense CanadaUniversity of New Hampshire
13Savannah RennieForward CanadaSyracuse University
19Amanda ConwayForward United StatesNorwich University
25Nicole GuagliardoForward United StatesAdrian College
27Maddie BishopForward United StatesSacred Heart University

Franchise milestones and statistics leaders

As of the 2016-17 season:

MilestonePlayerNotes
First goalJessica KoizumiOctober 11, 2015
First multi-point gameKelli StackOctober 11, 2015
First winJaimie LeonoffOctober 11, 2015
Most pointsKelly Babstock45 points (23G, 22A)

References
  1. "Connecticut Native Bray Ketchum Takes over the Whale as General Manager". OurSports Central. April 20, 2019.
  2. "The Whale Brings Pro Hockey Back to the Nutmeg State". NWHL.co.
  3. "Whale signs Kaleigh Fratkin, First Canadian in the NWHL". NWHL.co. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  4. Ciambra, Rob. "Whale Names Koizumi Captain and Fratkin Assistant Captain". NWHL.co.
  5. Clinton, Jared (October 7, 2015). "NWHL sells out inaugural game, Manon Rheaume to drop ceremonial puck in Buffalo". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  6. "Whale Moves to Northford Ice Pavilion for Second Season". OurSports Central. May 5, 2016.
  7. "Whale Swim Home to Stamford". OurSports Central. May 5, 2016.
  8. "Cydney Roesler Named Assistant Coach". NWHL.zone. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  9. "Danbury Arena the New Home of the Connecticut Whale". OurSports Central. July 8, 2019.
  10. "NHL Veteran Colton Orr, NWHL Veteran Laura Brennan to Coach Connecticut Whale". OurSports Central. September 17, 2019.
  11. "Whale Roster". NWHL. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  12. "Eliteprospects.com - Connecticut Whale". Elite Prospects.
  13. "2015 NWHL Draft Recap". Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
  14. "First-round picks show how NWHL GMs view their teams". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  15. "BOSTON COLLEGE'S KATIE BURT TOPS 2017 NWHL DRAFT". nwhl.zone. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
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