More news coming out of Connecticut today, as the Whale have made their first free agent signing of the off-season.
Kennedy Marchment is a forward from Courtice, Ontario. She was a first round selection, number 2 overall, in the 2017 NWHL draft by the Buffalo Beauts. She played 4 years of college hockey at St. Lawrence University, where she played 142 games for the program. She tallied 59 goals and added 95 assists for a grand total of 154 points. She ranks fourth all time in the program’s history in terms of assists; she currently ranks sixth all time when it comes to points.
Instead of playing in the NWHL, she would take her talents to Sweden, where she would play in the SDHL. She would spend her first season in the SDHL at Linköping. There, she would play 36 games, scoring 25 goals and adding 27 assists for 52 points on the year. In the playoffs, she would then add 4 goals and 5 assists for 9 points in the 12 games she played.
She would then head to HV71, where she would play for 2 years. In the 70 games she played for the club, she would go on to score 60 goals and would add 76 assists for a grand total of 136 points. Both years she played for HV71, they made the playoffs. In the 9 total games she played, she would add 9 goals and 5 assists for 14 points.
You can check out the full press release here:
WHALE SIGN FIRST FREE AGENT KENNEDY MARCHMENT
Danbury, CT – The Connecticut Whale have bolstered their offense with an impressive addition signing forward Kennedy Marchment who becomes the club’s first free-agent acquisition for the 2021-22 season.
The second overall pick in the 2017 NWHL Draft will make her league debut following three seasons competing in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League.
“I’m so excited and grateful to have the opportunity to continue my professional hockey career for the Connecticut Whale in the NWHL,” said Marchment. “I have heard nothing but good things about the Whale organization as a whole, making my decision to come to Connecticut very easy.”
The 24-year-old was originally drafted by the Beauts in 2017 but never laced up for Buffalo, choosing instead to play in the SDHL for three seasons. Her return to North America is a huge boost for a Connecticut Whale team looking to increase its offensive firepower.
“Kennedy is a special player that has a natural ability to find the back of the net,” said Connecticut head coach Colton Orr. “Every season she continues to take her game to new levels, and we are excited to add a player of her talents to the Connecticut Whale.”
Marchment began her professional career in 2018-19 with Linköping HC where she put up 52 points (25G, 27A) in just 36 regular-season games and nine points in 12 playoff contests. She then signed with HV71 for two seasons where she only improved her point production
During the 2019-20 season, the Courtice, Ontario native posted 64 points (32G, 32A) in the regular season and four points (2G, 2A) in four playoff games. In her most recent season, Marchment averaged over two points a game, racking up an astonishing 72 points (28G, 44A) in just 34 regular-season games played, and kept that pace in the playoffs where she scored 10 points (7G, 3A) in five games.
The 5-8 forward spent four years at St. Lawrence University where she averaged over a point per game scoring 153 total points (58G, 95A) in 141 games played. She finished her collegiate career ranked fifth in program history in scoring, fourth in assists, and fourth in game-winning goals. She was also one of the top 10 players nominated for the Patty Kazmaier award, given annually to the best NCAA women’s hockey player, during her junior season.
Hockey is in her bloodline as the niece of former NHLer Bryan Marchment and cousin to current Florida Panthers forward Mason Marchment. Her older brother Jake was a sixth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings and played parts of four professional seasons in the AHL/ECHL, while older sister Carly played for the Nipissing University Lakers.
Marchment becomes the third player to sign a Season 7 contract with the Whale following top-scoring forward Alyssa Wohlfeiler and returning goaltender Abbie Ives.
Whale Signing Tracker:
Alyssa Wohlfeiler (F)
Abbie Ives (G)
Kennedy Marchment (F)
RMU Petition:
It was announced last week, that the funding for the Division 1 Men’s and Women’s hockey programs of Robert Morris University was cut. Here is the statement from RMU:
If you have the time, please consider signing the petition to help save RMU’s hockey programs, link provided:
Bring Back the RMU Hockey Programs Change.org Petition
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-rmu-hockey
TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings and news are announced.
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