NWHL Roster Recap: June 26

There have been 10 more signings since our last NWHL roster recap, bringing the total up to 72. All six teams have made moves since June 13, but the Boston Pride and Toronto Six continue to lead the way with 16 and 15 signings, respectively.

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

Boston Pride

Defenders: 4 | Forwards: 11 | Goalies: 1 | Total: 16

Defender: Kaleigh Fratkin, Lauren Kelly, Jenna Rheault, Mallory Souliotis
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
Head Coach: Paul Mara
General Manager: Karilyn Pilch

It’s official. The Boston Pride once again have a staggering amount of forward depth — and that’s without re-signing Emily Fluke or Carlee Toews.

Since last we checked in, the Pride have re-signed Mary Parker and inked two more of their 2020 draft picks: Meghara McManus and Taylor Wenczkowski. Including Carlee Turner and returning defender Jenna Rheault, Boston now has four alumnae from the University of New Hampshire.

Parker had a monster 2019-20 season. She scored 15 goals in 17 games and finished the year with 24 points in 17 games after scoring four goals and picking up two assists in her first 26 career NWHL games. Parker will make an impact regardless of who she’s playing with, but it looks like there will be no shortage of talented wingers for her to gel with on Boston next season.

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Buffalo Beauts

Defenders: 6 | Forwards: 3 | Goalies: 1 | Total: 10

Defender: Lisa Chesson, Marie-Jo Pelletier, Dominique Kremer*, Lenka Čurmová, Whitney Dove*, Alyson Matteau*
Forward: Taylor Accursi, Cassidy MacPherson, Autumn MacDougall**
Goaltender: Carly Jackson**
Head Coach: Pete Perram
Associate Head Coach: Rhea Coad
General Manager: Nathaniel Oliver

Buffalo has promoted former assistant coach Rhea Coad to the position of associate head coach for the 2020-21 season. Furthermore, the Beauts signed draft pick Autumn MacDougall, who averaged 0.95 Pts/GP during her USports career, and standout Maine defender Alyson Matteau.

Oliver’s roster is coming together slowly, but surely. The blue line already looks much improved from last season, but the offense is still something of a mystery.

Connecticut Whale

Defenders: 5 | Forwards: 7 | Goalies: 2 | Total: 14

Defender: Shannon Doyle, Elena Orlando, Tori Howran**, Taylor Marchin, Maggie LaGue*
Forward: Emma Vlasic, Kaycie Anderson, Hanna Beattie, Katelynn Russ, Amanda Conway**, Melissa Samoskevich*, Nicole Guagliardo**
Goaltender: Brooke Wolejko, Abbie Ives*
Head Coach: Colton Orr
Assistant Coach: Laura Brennan
General Manager: Bray Ketchum

Connecticut has signed another high-scoring NCAA DIII alumna in Nicole Guagliardo. Before scoring 33 points in 28 games at Adrian College in 2019-20, Guagliardo played at both Mercyhurst and Lindenwood. Her addition is just one more sign forecasting a much-improved Whale offense.

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Metropolitan Riveters

Defenders: 5 | Forwards: 6 | Goalies: 2 | Total: 13

Defender: Rebecca Morse, Leila Kilduff, Saroya Tinker**, Sammy Kolowrat*, Samantha Fieseler*
Forward: Kendall Cornine, Madison Packer, Mallory Rushton, Cailey Hutchison, Kate Leary, Emily Janiga
Goaltender: Tera Hofmann**, Sonjia Shelly
Head Coach: Ivo Mocek
Assistant Coach: Ashley Johnston
General Manager: Kate Whitman-Annis

The Rivs have signed Isobel Cup champion Emily Janiga to bolster their offense and Mercyhurst alumna Sam Fieseler to round out their blue line.

The Rivs needed another scoring threat to take some pressure off of the duo of Packer and Leary and Janiga could fit that bill. She’s proven herself as a top-six forward in both the CWHL and NWHL. Fieseler spent the 2019-20 season in the SDHL with Göteborg. She had four points in 30 games playing for a team that finished rock bottom in the standings.

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

The Whitecaps have re-signed Amanda Leveille, the NWHL’s all-time leader in wins and saves. Jack Brodt continues to take his time piecing together his roster, but all of the signings he has made thus far have been home runs.

Toronto Six

Defenders: 3 | Forwards: 10 | Goalies: 2 | Total: 15

Defender: Emma Greco, Kristen Barbara*, Lindsay Eastwood*
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*
Goaltender: Elaine Chuli*, Samantha Ridgewell*
Head Coach:
General Manager: Mandy Cronin

The Six still don’t have a head coach or much of a defense, but they added yet another promising young forward.

In 2018-19, Breanne Wilson-Bennett was nearly a point-per-game player in the SDHL with MODO after averaging 0.69 Pts/GP during her collegiate career at Colgate. Like so many of the players who have signed with Toronto, she earned a medal as a member of one of Team Canada’s U18 squads (2014).