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.
Connecticut Whale | |
---|---|
City | Danbury, Connecticut |
League | National Women's Hockey League |
Founded | 2015 |
Home arena | Danbury Ice Arena |
Colors | White, blue, green |
Owner(s) | NWHL |
General manager | Bray Ketchum[1] |
Head coach | Colton Orr |
Captain | Shannon Doyle |
Media | The Collinsville Press NWHL on Twitch |
Website | Official 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
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 61 | 51 | Lost Isobel Cup Semifinal series to Buffalo Beauts |
2016–17 | 18 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 60 | 77 | Lost Isobel Cup Semifinal to Boston Pride |
2017–18 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 26 | 55 | Lost Isobel Cup Semifinal to Metropolitan Riveters |
2018–19 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 64 | Lost play-in game to Metropolitan Riveters |
2019–20 | 24 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 39 | 100 | Won play-in game over Buffalo Beauts, lost Isobel Cup Semifinal to Boston Pride |
Players & Personnel
Current roster
Team Captains
- Shannon Doyle, 2019–present
- Emily Fluke, 2018-2019
- Sam Faber, 2017-2018
- Kelli Stack, 2017
- Molly Engstrom, 2016
- Jessica Koizumi, 2015–16
Alternate Captains
- Jordan Brickner, 2019-present
- Elena Orlando, 2019-present
- Juana Baribeau, 2017-2019
- Shannon Doyle, 2017-2019
- Kelly Babstock, 2017
- Kelli Stack, 2016
- Kaleigh Fratkin, 2015-16
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.
# | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
2 | Hannah Brandt | Forward | University of Minnesota | |
6 | Michelle Picard | Defense | Harvard University | |
10 | Milica McMillen | Defense | University of Minnesota | |
14 | Maryanne Menefee | Forward | University of Minnesota | |
18 | Cassandra Poudrier | Defense | Cornell University |
The following were the Whale's selections in the 2016 NWHL Draft on June 18, 2016.
# | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
3 | Dani Cameranesi | Forward | University of Minnesota | |
7 | Andie Anastos | Forward | Boston College | |
11 | Melissa Channell | Defense | University of Wisconsin | |
15 | Paige Savage | Forward | Northeastern University | |
19 | Sydney Rossman | Goalie | Quinnipiac University | |
The following were the Whale's selections in the 2016 NWHL Draft on August 17, 2017.
# | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
5 | Sam Donovan | Forward | Brown University | |
9 | Eden Murray | Forward | Yale University | |
13 | Denisa Křížová | Forward | Northeastern University | |
17 | Nina Rodgers | Forward | Boston University | |
The following were the Whale's selections in the 2018 NWHL Draft on December 19th and 20th, 2018.
# | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
2 | Melissa Samoskevich | Forward | Quinnipiac University | |
7 | Makenna Newkirk | Forward | Boston College | |
12 | Katelyn Rae | Forward | Merrimack College | |
17 | Dominique Kremer | Defense | Merrimack College | |
22 | Maggie LaGue | Defense | Robert Morris University | |
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.
# | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
2 | Kayla Friesen | Forward | Clarkson University | |
7 | Victoria Howran | Defense | University of New Hampshire | |
13 | Savannah Rennie | Forward | Syracuse University | |
19 | Amanda Conway | Forward | Norwich University | |
25 | Nicole Guagliardo | Forward | Adrian College | |
27 | Maddie Bishop | Forward | Sacred Heart University | |
Franchise milestones and statistics leaders
- See also: List of Connecticut Whale records
As of the 2016-17 season:
Milestone | Player | Notes |
First goal | Jessica Koizumi | October 11, 2015 |
First multi-point game | Kelli Stack | October 11, 2015 |
First win | Jaimie Leonoff | October 11, 2015 |
Most points | Kelly Babstock | 45 points (23G, 22A) |
References
- "Connecticut Native Bray Ketchum Takes over the Whale as General Manager". OurSports Central. April 20, 2019.
- "The Whale Brings Pro Hockey Back to the Nutmeg State". NWHL.co.
- "Whale signs Kaleigh Fratkin, First Canadian in the NWHL". NWHL.co. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
- Ciambra, Rob. "Whale Names Koizumi Captain and Fratkin Assistant Captain". NWHL.co.
- 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.
- "Whale Moves to Northford Ice Pavilion for Second Season". OurSports Central. May 5, 2016.
- "Whale Swim Home to Stamford". OurSports Central. May 5, 2016. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- "Cydney Roesler Named Assistant Coach". NWHL.zone. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- "Danbury Arena the New Home of the Connecticut Whale". OurSports Central. July 8, 2019.
- "NHL Veteran Colton Orr, NWHL Veteran Laura Brennan to Coach Connecticut Whale". OurSports Central. September 17, 2019.
- "Whale Roster". NWHL. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
- "Eliteprospects.com - Connecticut Whale". Elite Prospects.
- "2015 NWHL Draft Recap". Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
- "First-round picks show how NWHL GMs view their teams". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- "BOSTON COLLEGE'S KATIE BURT TOPS 2017 NWHL DRAFT". nwhl.zone. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
External links
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