Women’s College Hockey: Week 8 NWHL Prospect Report

With 35% of the prospects on byes, week eight saw less senior firepower across the nation.

Week 8’s Top Prospect, picking up four assists and helping Clarkson pick up two big ECAC wins over the weekend, is Buffalo Beauts prospect Cayley Mercer.

Get the lowdown on Mercer’s play and the rest of the 2016 NWHL Draft prospects in this week’s review:

1. Kelsey Koelzer, D, Princeton — New York Riveters

· This Week: 2GP – 0G – 1A – 1PTS – 13SOG – 2PIM

After a strong start against Providence and Brown, the Princeton women’s hockey team has struggled this season. The Tigers won a close game against Harvard last weekend and then lost to Dartmouth. Koelzer had her best week in terms of getting shots on goal, but she continues to struggle to find the back of the net.

· Season To Date: 8GP – 1G – 5A – 6PTS – 38SOG – 12PIM

2. Lee Stecklein, D, Minnesota — Buffalo Beauts

· This Week: No games

Stecklein will take the experience of pairing up with NWHL Buffalo Beaut Emily Pfalzer at the Four Nations Cup and give Minnesota a defensive boost against an improving North Dakota team. With 1.67 blocks per game, Minnesota welcomes their linchpin back.

· Season To Date: 9GP – 0G – 6A – 6PTS – 18SOG – 6PIM

3. Dani Cameranesi, F, Minnesota — Connecticut Whale

· This Week: No games

The nation’s top goal scorer with 12 snipes, Cameranesi sits only nine points shy of 200 career points. The bye came at an inopportune time, with her notching 13 points in her last four games played. Minnesota will need her to pick up right where she left off, as they face a Fighting Hawks team that just limited No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth to a four goal series.

· Season To Date: 12GP – 12G – 10A – 22PTS – 61SOG – 8PIM

4. Ann-Renée Desbiens, G, Wisconsin — Boston Pride

· This Week: No games

Before this week’s bye, Desbiens recorded back-to-back shutouts that saw her break the NCAA record. The upcoming weekend is the first series out of two this season where the Badgers will take on the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. A marquee matchup with a marquee goaltender is a recipe for a thrilling series.

· Season To Date: 12GP: 11W-0L-1T; 9GA – 184SV – 193SHOTS – .953SVS% – 6SHO

5. Sydney Daniels, F, Harvard — New York Riveters

· This Week: 2GP – 1G – 0A – 1PTS – 7SOG – 0PIM

While Harvard has struggled to pick up wins, Daniels continues to be an important factor on the Crimson’s offense. Despite the team’s four-game losing streak, Daniels has maintained a +3 rating. She scored Harvard’s only goal in their loss to Princeton.

· Season To Date: 5GP – 4G – 0A – 4PTS – 22SOG – 8PIM

6. Cayley Mercer, F, Clarkson— Buffalo Beauts

· This Week: 2GP – 0G – 4A – 4PTS – 11SOG – 0PIM

Despite going goal-less last weekend, Mercer was a big contributor to Clarkson’s offense with four assists. She currently leads her team in points (15), assists (10), and shots on goal (73). The Golden Knights are on an eight-game winning streak and have been moving up in the rankings, and Mercer has been an integral part of that success.

· Season To Date: 12GP – 5G – 10A – 15PTS – 73SOG - 8PIM

7. Andie Anastos, F, Boston College — Connecticut Whale

· This Week: 2GP – 2G – 1A – 3PTS – 7SOG - 2PIM

After a slow week against Boston University, Anastos returned to form against University of New Hampshire. She picked up two goals and an assist in BC’s 7-1 win over the Wildcats. Anastos leads the Eagles in power plays goals with five and is tied for third on the team with 12 points.

· Season To Date: 14GP – 7G – 5A – 12PTS – 34SOG - 8PIM

8. Sarah Nurse, F, Wisconsin— Boston Pride

· This Week: No games

After a pointless series in the first weekend in October, Nurse was a model of consistency for the rest of the month and scored ten points in six games. She currently sits 14th in the nation in points, and is expected to remain a top scorer.

· Season To Date: 12GP – 11G – 5A – 16PTS – 57SOG – 8PIM

9. Jenny Ryan, D, Wisconsin— New York Riveters

· This Week: No games

Ryan has been hit-or-miss when it comes to registering points, but this weekend the Badgers will need her best two-way game. On top of getting offensive contribution, the team will need her to utilize her skating and puck control to limit time in the defensive zone against a deadly Bulldogs attack.

· Season To Date: 12GP – 3G – 3A – 6PTS – 37SOG – 6PIM

10. Hayley Scamurra, F, Northeastern — Buffalo Beauts

· This Week: 2GP – 0G – 0A – 0PTS – 9SOG – 4PIM

Scamurra had a slow offensive week, but continues to be a strong defensive forward. She recorded a block in each game last weekend and has 16 blocks on the season. Scamurra is tied for second on the Huskies with 11 points. Her three goals put her in third place on the team, which shows how much of Northeastern’s offense is consistently coming from just a few players.

· Season To Date: 14GP – 3G – 8A – 11PTS – 55SOG - 22PIM

11. Mellissa Channell, D, Wisconsin — Connecticut Whale

· This Week: No games

Prior to the bye, Channell had one of her best games of the year, picking up two assists against Bemidji State. Second on the team in penalty minutes with ten, Wisconsin will need her to stay out of the box. She and Jenny Ryan have combined for 19 blocks on the season.

· Season To Date: 12GP – 1G – 6A – 7PTS – 15SOG – 10PIM

12. Ashleigh Brykaliuk, F, Minnesota-Duluth — Boston Pride

· This Week: 2GP - 0G - 3A - 3PTS - 4SOG - 2PIM

Brykaliuk played the role of distributor this weekend, assisting on three of UMD’s four goals scored. Tied for 20th in points, she has four goals at even-strength and two on the power play.

· Season To Date: 12GP - 6G - 9A - 15PTS - 38SOG - 2PIM

13. Sydney McKibbon, F, Wisconsin — New York Riveters

· This Week: No games

McKibbon has been a steady playmaker for the Badgers all season with a team-high ten assists. An underrated asset, she also has played a vital role in bringing along freshman Presley Norby, who sits second under her with nine assists on the year.

· Season To Date: 12GP – 3G – 10A – 13PTS – 36SOG – 2PIM

14. Emma Woods, F, Quinnipiac — Buffalo Beauts

· This Week: 2GP - 0G - 2A - 2PTS - 7SOG - 0PIM

Woods returned to form this week, recording two assists and seven shots on goal. She assisted on a goal in each of Quinnipiac’s games this weekend, including the game winner against Harvard. Woods also had one of her best weeks of defensive play so far this season and recorded three blocks.

· Season To Date: 14GP - 3G - 7A - 10PTS - 38SOG - 4PIM

15. Paige Savage, F, Northeastern — Connecticut Whale

· This Week: 2GP - 0G - 0A - 0PTS - 4SOG - 0PIM

Savage had an uneventful weekend against Merrimack, recording no points, blocks, or penalties. Savage has not recorded a point in her last three games, and this was the first weekend that she did not record a single block - she averages 1.4 blocks per game.

· Season To Date: 14GP - 3G - 8A - 11PTS - 34SOG - 6PIM

16. Halli Krzyzaniak, D, North Dakota — Boston Pride

· This Week: 2GP - 1G - 1A - 2PTS - 4SOG - 4PIM

Krzyzaniak had a heck of a weekend helping North Dakota keep Minnesota-Duluth contained, and even stole a shootout tie in game two. She is second on the team in scoring with seven points, and +8.

· Season To Date: 12GP - 2G - 5A - 7PTS - 25SOG - 4PIM

17. Amy Menke, F, North Dakota — New York Riveters

· This Week: 2GP - 1G - 1A - 2PTS - 13SOG - 2PIM

It’s a testament to Menke’s skill that she is averaging a point-per-game on a team only averaging 2.4 goals per game. She has more than double the shots of any other Fighting Hawks skater with 51.

·  Season To Date: 12GP - 4G - 8A - 12PTS - 51SOG - 19PIM

18. Maddie Elia, F, Boston University — Buffalo Beauts

· This Week: 2GP - 0G - 0A - 0PTS - 12SOG - 4PIM

Elia did not record a point this week for the first time all season. She continues to play tough and contribute defensively, but her offensive stats have slowed down following a mid-November hot streak. Elia and the Terriers take on Merrimack and should come away with two wins, but the Warriors have been better than expected this season.

· Season To Date: 11GP - 5G - 5A - 10PTS - 49SOG - 24PIM

19. Sydney Rossman, G, Quinnipiac — Connecticut Whale

· This Week: 2GP - 2W-0L-0T; 2GA - 26SV - 28SHOTS - .928SVS% - 0SHO

Rossman picked up two wins this weekend and allowed only two goals, returning to form after losses to Clarkson and SLU. Rossman currently leads the NCAA in minutes and is second only to Ann-Renée Desbiens in shutouts.

· Season To Date: 14GP - 9W-4L-1T; 18GA - 235SV - 353SHOTS - .929SVS% - 5SHO

20. Lara Stalder, F, Minnesota-Duluth — Boston Pride

· This Week: 2GP - 1G - 2A - 3PTS - 9SOG - 0PIM

Things would have ended much worse for the No. 3 Bulldogs against North Dakota had it not been for Stalder, who scored and assisted on the game-tying goals in both tilts. In order to take a bite out of Wisconsin, Minnesota-Duluth will need their star shooter to pepper Desbiens all weekend.

· Season To Date: 12GP - 8G - 9A - 17PTS - 65SOG - 4PIM