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NWHL New Year's Resolutions

TIG imagines what your favorite players and teams want in 2017.

Now that holiday gifts have been received — and re-gifted or returned — we wanted to do a special TIG spin on the NHL gifts piece released by Pat Iversen of SB Nation. The Ice Garden presents women’s hockey new year’s resolutions:

The Buffalo Beauts goalie trio resolve to continue crushing the Twitter game.

When three become one! From food shopping to frolics in the park and visits with Santa, this goalie trio has taken bonding to the next level. Brianne McLaughlin, Amanda Leveille, and Kelsey Neumann, or #McLevman, have written the book for NWHL squad goals. The Beauts currently sit in fourth place with seven points, one point behind both Connecticut and New York. Will the continued goalie bonding fuel another run to the Isobel Cup Finals? Stay tuned!

NWHL fans, coaches, and media resolve to get Kelly Babstock to the All Star Game.

Babstock is an aggressive skater, a playmaker, and an integral piece of the Connecticut Whale offense. Upon re-signing her, general manager Lisa Giovanelli stated Babstock would “continue to be someone we look to to bring a spark to our offense.” It’s safe to say Giovanelli was correct, as Babstock is the league leader in points (12), tied for first in goals (6), and scored a hat trick in her last game before the winter break.

Katie Fitzgerald resolves to continue effectively stopping pucks via the head butt.

Sometimes you just have to use your head! At least, that’s what Fitzgerald likes to think. Sure, you get a few dents in the old helmet, but badass points go through the roof! However, she won’t claim it as a signature Fitzy move. Fitzgerald cops her noggin knocking saves from another New York goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. Fitzgerald notched the first shutout win of Riveters history in 2016, and fans are eager to see more #BrickWallFitzy wins in 2017.

The Boston Pride resolve to ... not change?

They say nobody is perfect, but my goodness, the Pride are dominating 2016. Boston has not lost a game since January 3rd. That streak will eclipse a calendar year by the  time the team takes the ice again in New York next week. Will the Pride suffer the same fate as Connecticut did last year, dominating the regular season, just to fall in the first round of the playoffs? It’s hard to bet on that outcome, given the Pride currently sit in a totally different atmosphere in the standings, leading all teams with 16 points and zero losses.

Hilary Knight and Amanda Kessel resolve to put fans out of their misery and suit up for a second game before the end of the regular season.

Injuries have kept Knight and Kessel off the ice (for the NWHL, at least) and the league stars have only played in two games combined! Knight has one goal on the season and Kessel has two assists. There has been great NWHL hockey with the two sidelined, but fans still want to see Kessel and Knight! Even better if we get to see them both in Newark on January 7th when Boston visits the Riveters. The last time the Pride were in town, fans were treated to a shootout.

Both made the Team USA roster for the Winter Championship Series against Canada.  In two games, Knight recorded four points (2 goals, 2 assists).

The women’s hockey community resolves to move the game “from a cause, to a product.”

Cori Close, the women’s basketball coach at UCLA, uses this saying to describe how she hopes her game will grow. For Coach Close, that includes the media. The same can be said for women’s hockey.

In preparation for the 2018 Olympics, this upcoming year is the perfect opportunity to expose viewers to the women who will compete on behalf of their country in South Korea. We want more regular season NCAA games televised, we want the NCAA Championship game aired live, and we want the next reigning champion to be given proper title gear. We want to watch the 2017 Four Nation Cup on the NHL Network, we want ALL Team USA games aired live and we want both the NWHL and the CWHL to have consistent broadcast sponsorship. We want players in both North American leagues to be paid to play the beautiful sport of hockey, because they are worth it!

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