Connecticut Whale sign FA camp standout Cassie Dunne

Today the Connecticut Whale agreed to terms with the team’s 13th player for the 2017-18 season. Cassie Dunne, who played her college hockey with Penn State University’s ACHA team, is the Whale’s newest player.

In her senior season she scored six goals and two assists for PSU’s ACHA team. Five of those goals came on the power play, and as a result Dunne now holds the club’s record for power play goals in a season and in a career.

She was also co-captain of the U.S. Women’s National University team that won bronze at the 2017 Winter World University Games. It was just the second time that an American team won a medal in the competition in the modern era.

The Philadelphia-born defender turned some heads at the NWHL’s Free Agency Camp in May.

The @CTWhale_NWHL have signed Cassie Dunne out of Penn State. Dunne is a small defender (5'3"), led PSU's ACHA team in G/GP last season.

— Mike Murphy (@DigDeepBSB) August 24, 2017

“I’m honored to sign with the Whale and join a league whose commitment to growing the game is one that I wholeheartedly share,” Dunne shared in the league’s press release. “There is so much potential for the Whale this season. I’m excited to join Coach Ryan Equale in his first season and see how we grow as a team.”

Dunne was selected by the Boston Blades on Sunday’s 2017 CWHL Draft in the 23rd round. But because of today’s news, it looks like we’ll be seeing her in the NWHL next season.

As of the writing of this article the Whale still have just five forwards under contract. Dunne is the team’s seventh defender. She has joined a blue line that features Anya Battaglino, Jordan Brickner, Elena Orlando, Rachael Ade, Cydney Roesler and Shannon Doyle.