This fall the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) is kicking off its inaugural season as the first ever U.S. based professional hockey league for women. Founded by Dani Rylan, a former NCAA ice hockey player, and Angela Ruggiero, a former member of the U.S national women’s hockey team, the league is comprised of four teams; the Buffalo Beauts, the New York Riveters, the Boston Pride, and the Connecticut Whale.
Dani Rylan
The Beauts are set to play in the HarborCenter, right across the street from the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, while the Riveters will be playing their home games at the Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn. Harvard University has permitted the Boston Pride to use their hockey arena for games, and the Connecticut Whale will be playing in Stamford, CT at Chelsea Piers.
The inaugural NWHL draft was held in Boston on June 20th, and in July two different league training camps were held, one for Canadian players and the other for European players. The regular season is set to begin on October 11th and end on February 28th with an all-star game being played on January 24th. At the end of the season the four teams will compete for the Isobel cup, named after the daughter of the donator of the NHL’s Stanley Cup, Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy.
For more information on the teams, players, and games you can go to the league’s website (NWHL.co). While you’re there, make sure you grab your NWHL gear and donate to the NWHL Foundation to help support this great organization and promote women’s hockey!
Don’t forget to follow the NWHL on twitter and like their Facebook page to keep up with the league and watch history begin!