Whale re-sign original NWHLer Jordan Brickner

Another Whale has joined the pod.

The Connecticut Whale have re-signed veteran defender Jordan Brickner, who has been with the team since the NWHL’s inaugural season in 2015-16. This marks the 100th NWHL signing this offseason and the first in the month of August. Brickner is the 21st player to sign with the Whale for the 2020-21 campaign.

NEWS: We've re-signed defender Jordan Brickner for Season 6

Welcome back, @JustJordan26 🐳

🗞️: https://t.co/EtX2fe5r1p
📸: Bryan Johnson pic.twitter.com/NnQRpgDUC3

— Connecticut Whale (@CTWhale_NWHL) August 11, 2020

Brickner missed the majority of the 2019-20 season due to injury after a promising start. She scored one goal and picked up six secondary assists in 10 games before being sidelined in December. She was unable to return to the Whale’s lineup in time for the Isobel Cup Playoffs, but was still the team’s second-highest scoring defender at the end of the regular season.

The Whale’s already much-improved roster looks even better with Brickner’s return. A natural leader, Brickner has been a top pair defender for the Whale since 2015-16. That first season in the league was her most productive. She notched 12 assists in 18 games in 2015-16, earning her a ticket to the first-ever NWHL All-Star Weekend. Brickner is second all-time in Whale franchise history in games played (70) and points among defenders (26).

Connecticut’s blue line now looks both deep and complete. At the moment it consists of Brickner, Doyle, Elena Orlando, Tori Howran, Taylor Marchin, Maggie LaGue, Laurel Hill, and potentially Hanna Beattie who can play anywhere in the lineup. Chances are, we’ll see Brickner and Howran playing the left side on the Whale’s top two pairs with Doyle and LaGue or Marchin rounding out the top-four. That group looks significantly better than the Whale blue line that was stretched thin by injuries in 2019-20.

On paper, the Whale have a promising blend of leaders, established NWHLers, and rookies who are brimming with potential for upcoming season. Brickner will definitely be a big voice in the locker room for the Whale. She’s been integral to the team’s identity and leadership group for half a decade.