2018–19 NWHL season (original) (raw)

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Sports season

2018–19 NWHL season
League	National Women's Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Regular season
Season champions	Minnesota Whitecaps
Season MVP	Maddie Elia (Buffalo)
Top scorer	Hayley Scamurra (Buffalo)
Isobel Cup
Champions	Minnesota Whitecaps
Runners-up	Buffalo Beauts
Finals MVP	Lee Stecklein (Minnesota)
NWHL seasons
← 2017–182019–20 →

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

League news and notes

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• 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 took 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 had joined 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]
• September 29, 2018: The Champions Cup was played between the NWHL's 2018 Isobel Cup champion Metropolitan Riveters and the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) 2018 champion Luleå HF at Hobey Baker Memorial Rink in Princeton, New Jersey. Luleå defeated the Riveters 4–2.[5] The game had been originally scheduled to take place at Norrbotten Arena in Sweden, but scheduling challenges forced a relocation.[6] Luleå
• January 10, 2019: The Boston Pride and the NHL's Boston Bruins announced a partnership to further promote women's hockey in Massachusetts. The partnership makes the Pride the fourth NWHL to become officially associated with an NHL team.[7]
• At the conclusion of the season, the league had set new attendance records with 16 sold out games, led by the Whitecaps selling out all ten home games including the playoffs.[8]

One league movement

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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 between the NWHL and the Canadian Women's Hockey League. Players utilized the hashtag #OneLeague to indicate their support.[9] The push continued during the NWHL All-Star Game.[10]

Head coaching and front office personnel changes

[edit]

The 2019 NWHL All-Star Game and its Weekend festivities took place on February 9–10, 2019, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.[15]

The skills challenge took place on February 9 at the Ford Ice Center, the Nashville Predators' practice facility, in front of a sell-out crowd. Kendall Coyne Schofield of the Minnesota Whitecaps won the fastest skater, two weeks following her appearance as the first woman to compete in the NHL's Skills Competition as part of the 2019 National Hockey League All-Star Game also in the fastest skater competition. Meanwhile, three Buffalo Beauts teammates won the other skills challenge events: Blake Bolden had the hardest shot, Nicole Hensley won the fastest goalie competition, and Dani Cameranesi captured the accuracy shooting title.[16]

The All-Star Game took place on February 10 immediately following a game between the NHL's St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. The game was a four-on-four format between teams led by Shannon Szabados and Lee Stecklein, with Team Szabados winning 3–2 following a shootout. The game set an attendance record with 6,120 at the arena.[16]

Final standings.[17]

| | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -- | -- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | -- | -- | | Minnesota Whitecaps | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 53 | 34 | | Buffalo Beauts | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 57 | 25 | | Boston Pride | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 60 | 36 | | Metropolitan Riveters | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 32 | 65 | | Connecticut Whale | 16 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 64 |

• All regular season games were scheduled to be contested on Saturdays and Sundays. There is 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 faced 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 hosted the Boston Bruins.

| Play-in gameMarch 7 | Semifinal gameMarch 9 & 15[a] | Isobel Cup ChampionshipMarch 17 | | | | | | | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Minnesota | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Metropolitan | 1 | | | | | | | 4 | Metropolitan | 5 | | | | | | | 5 | Connecticut | 2 | | | | | | | 1 | Minnesota | 2 OT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Buffalo | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | Buffalo | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Boston | 0 | | | | | |

1. ^ Semifinal game between the Whitecaps and Riveters was originally scheduled for March 10 but was postponed due to weather-related travel issues.

• Maddie Elia, Buffalo Beauts, 2019 Most Valuable Player[23]
• Hayley Scamurra, Buffalo Beauts, 2019 Players' Top Player of the Year[23]
• Shannon Szabados, Buffalo Beauts, 2019 Goaltender of the Year[23]
• Blake Bolden, Buffalo Beauts, 2019 Defender of the Year[23]
• Hayley Scamurra, Buffalo Beauts, 2019 Scoring Champion
• Jillian Dempsey, Boston Pride, 2019 Denna Laing Award[24]
• Jonna Curtis, Minnesota Whitecaps, 2019 Newcomer of the Year[25]

Regular season weekly awards

[edit]

1. ^ "BUFFALO BEAUTS TO PLAY DOUBLEHEADER WITH SABRES IN KEY BANK ARENA". WYRK. July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
2. ^ "NWHL Expands to Minnesota". NWHL.Zone. May 15, 2018. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
3. ^ "Wild, Whitecaps announce alliance". Star Tribune. August 13, 2018. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
4. ^ "The New Crest of the Minnesota Whitecaps is Here!". NWHL.zone. August 21, 2018. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
5. ^ "In Epic Battle, Luleå Defeats Riveters to Claim Historic First Champions Cup". NWHL.zone. September 29, 2018. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
6. ^ Press Release (August 24, 2018). "Metropolitan Riveters - Luleå Hockey Champions Cup Match Moved to the U.S." NWHL.zone. Retrieved August 27, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
7. ^ "Boston Bruins & Boston Pride Announce Partnership". NWHL.zone. January 10, 2019. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
8. ^ "2018-19 Season Sets New Highs for Attendance, Viewership, Merchandising and Engagement". NWHL.zone. March 28, 2019. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
9. ^ 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.
10. ^ "NWHL All-Star captain's hope for future? Combined league". Star Tribune. February 10, 2019. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
11. ^ "USNT's Paul Mara Named Head Coach of the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. May 30, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
12. ^ "COUGARS NAME NEW COACH FOR 2018/19". Burlington Cougars. March 19, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
13. ^ "Storm name Chad Wiseman Assistant Coach". Ontario Hockey League. August 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
14. ^ Wollschlager, Erik (January 9, 2019). "Beauts GM Nik Fattey Resigns". Die by the Blade. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
15. ^ "2019 NWHL All-Star Weekend Comes to Nashville!". NWHL. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
16. ^ a b "Beauts' Szabados team wins NWHL All-Star game". Buffalo News. February 10, 2019. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
17. ^ "NWHL standings". NWHL. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
18. ^ Amanda Ghysel (October 6, 2018). "Whitecaps Win NWHL Debut, 4-0 over Riveters, at Sold-Out TRIA Rink". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
19. ^ Amanda Ghysel (October 7, 2018). "Brandt, Whitecaps Complete Weekend Sweep of Defending Champion Riveters". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
20. ^ Dan Rice (October 7, 2018). "Olympians Hensley and Räisänen Battle as Beauts Defeat Whale, 4-0". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
21. ^ "Riveters – Pride Game Postponed". NWHL.zone. January 19, 2019. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
22. ^ "Riveters-Pride Game Rescheduled for February 18". NWHL.zone. January 28, 2019. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
23. ^ a b c d "Beauts' Szabados, Bolden, Elia and Scamurra Win NWHL Awards". NWHL.zone. March 25, 2019. Archived from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
24. ^ "Jillian Dempsey Wins Denna Laing Award for Second Consecutive Season". NWHL.zone. March 20, 2019. Archived from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
25. ^ "Jonna Curtis Named Newcomer of the Year". NWHL.zone. March 21, 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
26. ^ Jane Norton and Amanda Ghysel (October 8, 2018). "Whitecaps' Star Hannah Brandt Named VEDA NWHL Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
27. ^ Jane Norton (October 8, 2018). "Pride Defender Lexi Bender is VEDA NWHL Player of the Week". NWHL.zone.[_permanent dead link_‍]
28. ^ Jane Norton and Amanda Ghysel (October 22, 2018). "NWHL Top Scorer Jonna Curtis is the VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
29. ^ Jane Norton and Alexis Pearson (October 29, 2018). "Clutch in Wins over Buffalo, Leveille Named VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
30. ^ a b Jane Norton (November 19, 2018). "Räisänen, Scamurra Named VEDA NWHL Co-Players of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
31. ^ Jane Norton (November 26, 2018). "With the Hat Trick, Audra Richards is the VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
32. ^ Jane Norton (December 3, 2018). "Five Points and Two Wins in Trip Home, Gigi Marvin is VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
33. ^ Jane Norton (December 10, 2018). "Original NWHLer Kaleigh Fratkin Named VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
34. ^ Nathaniel A. Oliver and Jane Norton (January 2, 2019). "For Buffalo's Maddie Elia, 2 + 2 = VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
35. ^ a b Amanda Ghysel (January 7, 2019). "Beauts' Szabados, Riveters' Packer Earn VEDA Co-Player of the Week Honors". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
36. ^ Amanda Ghysel (January 14, 2019). "Menke's Five-Point Weekend Earns Her VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
37. ^ Nathaniel A. Oliver and Jane Norton (January 29, 2019). "VEDA NWHL Player of the Week: Buffalo All-Star Dani Cameranesi". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
38. ^ a b Jane Norton (February 4, 2019). "Bolden and Krizova Named VEDA NWHL Players of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
39. ^ Amanda Ghysel (February 25, 2019). "Buffalo Beauts' Emily Janiga Named VEDA NWHL Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
40. ^ Jane Norton (January 22, 2019). "NWHL Names Minnesota Whitecaps Fans the VEDA Stars of the Week". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
41. ^ "Marissa Gedman Joins Pride Coaching Staff". NWHL.zone. August 23, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
42. ^ Marisa Ingemi (June 13, 2018). "NWHL's Buffalo Beauts land two from gold-medal winning Team USA". ESPN. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
43. ^ Catherine Shelton and Jane Norton (June 18, 2018). "Leveille Returns to Minnesota, Joins the Whitecaps". NWHL.zone.[_permanent dead link_‍]
44. ^ "Team USA Gold Medalists Hannah Brandt and Lee Stecklein Join NWHL's Minnesota Whitecaps". NWHL.zone. June 20, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
45. ^ "Katie Burt, All-Time NCAA Wins Record Holder and 2017 NWHL First Overall Pick, Signs with Boston". NWHL.zone. June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
46. ^ "Edmonton goaltender Shannon Szabados signs with NWHL's Buffalo Beauts". Global News. June 27, 2018. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
47. ^ "Toni Ann Miano, Elite Offensive Defender And Boston College Star, Joins the Pride". NWHL. July 2, 2018. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
48. ^ "Audra Richards, Twice the Leading Scorer at Maine, Signs with the Riveters". NWHL. July 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
49. ^ "Whale Sign Unified Korea Olympian Randi Griffin". NWHL.zone. July 11, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
50. ^ a b "Whale Sign 2014 Swedish Olympian Löwenhielm". NWHL.zone. July 11, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
51. ^ "Whale Sign Czech Republic National Team and U. of Minnesota Duluth Forward Katerina Mrázová". NWHL.zone. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
52. ^ a b "Miye D'Oench Returns to Isobel Cup Champions - Riveters also add Harvard defender Chelsea Ziadie". NWHL.zone. July 24, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
53. ^ Mike Murphy (July 26, 2018). "Kendall Coyne Schofield signs with the Minnesota Whitecaps". SB Nation: The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
54. ^ Cole Botta (July 31, 2018). "Lauren Kelly Joins the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
55. ^ "Kristin Lewicki Moves from Beauts to Riveters". NWHL.zone. July 31, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
56. ^ "Whitecaps Add USNT Forward Allie Thunstrom". NWHL.zone. August 1, 2018. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
57. ^ "Czech National Team, Northeastern Star Joins Pride for NWHL Season 4". NWHL.zone. August 2, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
58. ^ "Kaleigh Fratkin Returns for Fourth NWHL Season, Second with the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. August 8, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
59. ^ "Minnesota Whitecaps Sign Meaghan Pezon". NWHL.zone. August 8, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
60. ^ "Riveters Sign Princeton's Fiona McKenna". NWHL.zone. August 10, 2018. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
61. ^ "All-Star Defender Amanda Boulier Takes Her Talents to Minnesota". NWHL.zone. August 14, 2018. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
62. ^ "Riveters Sign St. Cloud Defender Lexi Slattery". NWHL.zone. August 14, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
63. ^ "Beauts Agree to Terms With Defenseman Bolden". NWHL.zone. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
64. ^ "Whitecaps Sign UNH Leading Scorer Jonna Curtis". NWHL.zone. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
65. ^ "Mallory Souliotis Returns for First Full Season with the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
66. ^ "Norwich C Sarah Schwenzfeier Signs with Whale". NWHL.zone. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
67. ^ "Connecticut Whale/NWHL Draft Selection Nina Rodgers to Begin Pro Career in 2018-19". NWHL.zone. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
68. ^ "Original Whitecap Brooke White-Lancette Joins Team for First NWHL Season". NWHL.zone. August 17, 2018. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
69. ^ "Drafted One Year Ago Today, Northeastern's McKenna Brand Signs with the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
70. ^ "Sydney Rossman Comes Home to Minnesota". NWHL.zone. August 20, 2018. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
71. ^ a b c d e "Whitecaps Sign Amy Menke, Sadie Lundquist, Lauren Barnes, Emma Stauber & Julie Friend". NWHL.zone. August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.[_permanent dead link_‍]
72. ^ "Taylor Wasylk Joins the Boston Pride". NWHL.zone. August 23, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
73. ^ "Team USA Olympic Gold Medalist Gigi Marvin Is Back with the Boston Pride!". NWHL.zone. August 24, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.

• NWHL website