NWHL Roster Recap: July 24

The signings continue to pour in for the NWHL as we approach the end of July. League news was highlighted by Wednesday’s Open Ice Twitch stream, which hailed the inking of several new contracts around the league.

All new signings are in bold. Any player new to the NWHL is marked with one asterisk. 2020 Draft picks who sign are marked with two asterisks.

Boston Pride

Defenders: 6 | Forwards: 11 | Goalies: 2 | Total: 19

Defender: Kaleigh Fratkin, Lauren Kelly, Jenna Rheault, Mallory Souliotis, Paige Capistran**, Taylor Turnquist**
Forward: Christina Putigna, Lexie Laing, McKenna Brand, Sammy Davis**, Jillian Dempsey, Tereza Vanišová**, Tori Sullivan, Carlee Turner*, Mary Parker, Meghara McManus**, Taylor Wenczkowski**
Goaltender: Lovisa Selander, Victoria Hanson
Head Coach: Paul Mara
General Manager: Karilyn Pilch

The Pride added a pair of defenders over the last two weeks, both of them 2020 Draft picks. Paige Capistran, former captain of Northeastern University’s Huskies, and Taylor Turnquist out of Clarkson joined an already loaded defensive corps. With depth on the blueline secured, the Pride look locked and loaded for 2020-21.

Buffalo Beauts

Defenders: 7 | Forwards: 8 | Goalies: 3 | Total: 18

Defender: Lisa Chesson, Marie-Jo Pelletier, Dominique Kremer*, Lenka Čurmová, Whitney Dove*, Alyson Matteau*, Meg Delay
Forward: Taylor Accursi, Cassidy MacPherson, Autumn MacDougall**, Neve Van Pelt*, Iveta Klimášová, Kristin Lewicki, Emma Ruggiero, Kayla Meneghin
Goaltender: Carly Jackson**, Caty Flagg*, Kelsey Neumann
Head Coach: Pete Perram
Associate Head Coach: Rhea Coad
General Manager: Nathaniel Oliver

Buffalo added some terrific speed to their forward lines, bringing back Emma Ruggiero and Kristin Lewicki while prying Kayla Meneghin from the Connecticut Whale. Meneghin, when healthy, grew to be a terrific shot generator in Danbury last season.

Kelsey Neumann will also return for a fourth season in Beauts Blue.

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Connecticut Whale

Defenders: 6 | Forwards: 12 | Goalies: 2 | Total: 20

Defender: Shannon Doyle, Elena Orlando, Tori Howran**, Taylor Marchin, Maggie LaGue*, Laurel Hill
Forward: Emma Vlasic, Kaycie Anderson, Hanna Beattie, Katelynn Russ, Amanda Conway**, Melissa Samoskevich*, Nicole Guagliardo**, Kayla Friesen**, Alyssa Wohlfeiler, Sarah Schwenzfeier, Grace Klienbach, Janine Weber
Goaltender: Brooke Wolejko, Abbie Ives*
Head Coach: Colton Orr
Assistant Coach: Laura Brennan
General Manager: Bray Ketchum

Head coach Colton Orr will have some fun options to choose from up front this season. The Whale re-signed three key veteran forwards in Schwenzfeier, Klienbach and Weber. They also re-signed Laurel Hill to the back end. The roster is all but set for the Whale barring an unforeseen blockbuster, and it looks stronger than it’s ever been before.

Metropolitan Riveters

Defenders: 7 | Forwards: 10 | Goalies: 2 | Total: 19

Defender: Rebecca Morse, Leila Kilduff, Saroya Tinker**, Sammy Kolowrat*, Samantha Fieseler*, Kiira Dosdall-Arena, Bridgette Prentiss**
Forward: Kendall Cornine, Madison Packer, Mallory Rushton, Cailey Hutchison, Kate Leary, Emily Janiga, Tatiana Shatalova, Brooke Avery, Jayne Lewis*, Theresa Knutson*
Goaltender: Tera Hofmann**, Sonjia Shelly
Head Coach: Ivo Mocek
Assistant Coach: Ashley Johnston
General Manager: Kate Whitman-Annis

The Riveters locked up two potential X-factors for next year’s squad. Offensive-defender Bridgette Prentiss has upgraded her status from draftee to signee, and Theresa Knutson has defected from Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga to the NWHL. Knutson was a steady contributor for the UConn Huskies, graduating in 2018.

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Minnesota Whitecaps

Defenders: 1 | Forwards: 2 | Goalies: 1 | Total: 4

Defender: Amanda Boulier
Forward: Allie Thunstrom, Jonna Curtis
Goaltender: Amanda Leveille
Head Coach:
General Manager: Jack Brodt

No movement for the Whitecaps. They remain well behind in the roster construction department, with previous reports from Dan Rice indicating that they plan to hold a free agent camp. In any event, that they have made so few concrete commitments after fighting their way to the Isobel Cup Final last season is puzzling.

Toronto Six

Defenders: 4 | Forwards: 12 | Goalies: 2 | Total: 18

Defender: Emma Greco, Kristen Barbara*, Lindsay Eastwood*, Sarah Steele*
Forward: Taylor Woods*, Shiann Darkangelo, Kelly Babstock, Sarah-Ève Coutu-Godbout*, Brooke Boquist*, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Amy Curlew**, Jenna McParland*, Natalie Marcuzzi**, Breanne Wilson-Bennett*, Emma Woods*, Mackenzie MacNeil*
Goaltender: Elaine Chuli*, Samantha Ridgewell*
Head Coach:
General Manager: Mandy Cronin

Toronto continues to grow as they prep for their first NWHL season. Sarah Steele joins the defense having skated last season for KMH Budapest in the European Women’s Hockey League. Mackenzie MacNeil will make her return to the Toronto pro sports scene at forward, signing with the Six with her 2018-19 campaign with the CWHL’s Toronto Furies in the rearview mirror.