Connecticut Whale (NWHL)

Connecticut Whale
2015–16 Connecticut Whale season
City Stamford, Connecticut
League National Women's Hockey League
Founded 2015
Home arena Chelsea Piers
Colors

Blue, Green, White

              
Owner(s) NWHL
General manager Vacant
Head coach Heather Linstad
Captain Jessica Koizumi
Media The Collinsville Press
NWHL Cross Ice Pass (on YouTube)

The Connecticut Whale is a professional women's ice hockey team based in Stamford, Connecticut. It is one of the four charter franchises of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). It is named in honor of the defunct NHL Hartford Whalers.

History

The Whale play home games in Stamford, CT at Chelsea Piers. Chris Ardito was hired as the first general manager in franchise history,[1] while Jake Mastel and Ashley Parker coach the team. The team is named the "Connecticut Whale" with the approval of Howard Baldwin and his father, who, for a short time, used the name for an American Hockey League men's hockey team.

It was reported that the NHL took issue with the NWHL Connecticut Whale trademark application. The Baldwins' interest in the trademark is thus questionable. The trademark attorney for the NWHL, Ben Natter of the firm Natter & Natter, clarified in an interview that the NHL has not objected to use of the name. Natter woud not comment on the deal between the NWHL and Baldwin.

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. [2]

The team made its debut in 2015. The first game in league history between the New York Riveters and Connecticut Whale on October 11, 2015 sold out.[3] Of note, the Whale prevailed by a 4-1 tally as Jessica Koizumi scored the first goal in franchise history and in 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. Former Quinnipiac goaltender Chelsea Laden captured the second win, while Nicole Stock played her first game in over five years to capture the third win on the road against the New York Riveters.

Jessica Koizumi was named first team captain in Franchise history.[4]

Team

Current Roster

Updated January 27, 2016[5][6]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
8 Canada Babstock, KellyKelly Babstock F L 23 2015 Mississauga, Ontario
10 United States Berman, LindsayLindsay Berman D L 27 2015 Odenton, Maryland
26 United States Brickner, JordanJordan Brickner D L 25 2015 Lake Forest, Illinois
27 United States Darkangelo, ShiannShiann Darkangelo F L 22 2015 Brighton, Michigan
19 United States Dougherty, BrittanyBrittany Dougherty F L 24 2015 Chesterfield, Michigan
6 Canada Doyle, ShannonShannon Doyle D R 23 2015 Baldwin, Ontario
9 United States Engstrom, MollyMolly Engstrom D R 32 2015 Siren, Wisconsin
28 United States Faber, SamSam Faber F R 28 2015 Mount Sinai, New York
13 Canada Fratkin, KaleighKaleigh Fratkin (A) D R 23 2015 Burnaby, British Columbia
56 United States Koizumi, JessicaJessica Koizumi (C) F L 30 2015 Honolulu, Hawaii
32 Canada Leonoff, JaimieJaimie Leonoff G L 23 2015 Montreal, Quebec
16 United States Long, MicaelaMicaela Long F L 2015 South Boston, Massachusetts
1 United States Lundberg, ShanaeShanae Lundberg G L 22 2016 Peterborough, New Hampshire
17 Russia Smolentseva, YekaterinaYekaterina Smolentseva F L 34 2015 Yekaterinburg, Russia
61 United States Stack, KelliKelli Stack F R 28 2015 Brooklyn Heights, Ohio
24 United States Stock, NicoleNicole Stock G R 2015 Buffalo Grove, Illinois
22 United States Ward, DanielleDanielle Ward F R 26 2015 Lansing, Michigan
88 United States Wohlfeiler, AlyssaAlyssa Wohlfeiler F R 26 2015 Saugus, California

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.[7] Raised in the state capital of Albany, New York, Picard was also the first defenseman selected in NWHL Draft history.

NWHL Draft

Main article: 2015 NWHL Draft

The following were the Whales selections in the 2015 NWHL Draft on June 20, 2015.

# Player Position Nationality College
2 Hannah Brandt Forward  United States Univ of Minnesota
6 Michelle Picard Defense  United States Harvard Univ
10 Milica McMillen Defense  United States Univ of Minnesota
14 Maryanne Menefee Forward  United States Univ of Minnesota
18 Cassandra Poudrier Defense  Canada Cornell

[8]

Franchise milestones

Milestone Player Date
First goal Jessica Koizumi October 11, 2015
First multi-point game Kelli Stack October 11, 2015
First win Jaimie Leonoff October 11, 2015

References

  1. ↑ http://nwhl.co/pro-hockey-returns-to-connecticut/
  2. ↑ "Whale signs Kaleigh Fratkin, First Canadian in the NWHL". NWHL.co. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  3. ↑ http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/nwhl-sells-out-inaugural-game-manon-rheaume-to-drop-ceremonial-puck-in-buffalo/
  4. ↑ http://nwhl.co/whale-names-koizumi-captain-and-fratkin-assistant-captain/
  5. ↑ "Whale Roster | NWHL". NWHL.
  6. ↑ "Eliteprospects.com - Connecticut Whale". Elite Prospects.
  7. ↑ http://nwhl.co/draft-live/
  8. ↑ http://nwhl.co/draft-live/
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