News coming out ahead of the NWHL draft, as the Connecticut Whale will now be selecting first overall in the draft. They sent a package of a 1st round pick, number 2 overall, and a 3rd round pick to the Buffalo Beauts in exchange for the number 1. It will be the first time in team history, that the Whale will be selecting first overall.
Draft Order:
Round 1: Connecticut, Buffalo (from Connecticut), Toronto (from Boston), Toronto, Toronto (from Metropolitan), Minnesota
Round 2: Buffalo, Connecticut, Toronto (from Boston), Toronto, Metropolitan, Minnesota
Round 3: Buffalo, Buffalo (from Connecticut), Buffalo (from Boston), Toronto, Metropolitan, Minnesota
Round 4: Buffalo, Connecticut, Boston, Toronto, Metropolitan, Minnesota
Round 5: Buffalo, Connecticut, Boston, Toronto, Metropolitan, Minnesota
Press Release:
You can check out the full press release here:
TEAMS PREPARE FOR 2021 NWHL DRAFT
by: Paul Krotz
Brooklyn, NY- The next wave of National Women’s Hockey League talent will be introduced in just two weeks when the 2021 NWHL Draft takes place on Tuesday, June 29 live via Twitch online at twitch.tv/NWHL beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.
A total of 30 players graduating from NCAA and U SPORTS programs across North America will be selected over the five-round process that will begin with the Connecticut Whale who have acquired the first overall pick in a trade with the Buffalo Beauts.
This will be the first time in franchise history the Whale will select first overall having previously chosen second on three occasions including last season when taking forward Kayla Friesen from Clarkson University, and in 2018 with forward Melissa Samoskevich from Quinnipiac University. The Whale will make a total of four selections throughout the 2021 process.
“We wanted to trade up in the draft to ensure that we are able to secure the rights of a player that we have identified as one of the top players eligible in this year’s draft,” said Whale Assistant GM Laura Brennan. “She is someone that we feel will make an impact on our team and fit with our style of play and team culture.”
In exchange for the number one pick, the Beauts receive the Whale’s first-round pick which is the second overall selection in the 2021 NWHL Draft, as well as Connecticut’s third-round pick in 2021. Furthermore, the Beauts have added to their stable of 2021 selections by acquiring a third-round pick from the Boston Pride in exchange for Buffalo’s second-round pick in the 2022 NWHL Draft. The Beauts will make a total of seven selections this season including three straight to open the third round. Historically they have chosen second overall twice in 2016 and 2017 and have picked third the previous two drafts highlighted by goaltender Carly Jackson from the University of Maine in 2020.
“The Beauts went into the offseason knowing that we wanted to acquire a couple extra picks in this year’s draft,” said Beauts GM Nate Oliver. “I feel fortunate that we were able to do so. By working through trades with Boston and Connecticut, we were able to secure the first three picks of the third round, and we still get the second overall selection as well. While this year’s draft has been challenging given the additional year of NCAA and U SPORTS eligibility, there are solid players whom we have identified and whom we believe can immediately bolster our roster for the 2021-22 NWHL season.”
The Toronto Six lead the way with eight total selections in 2021 including a trio of first-round picks at third, fourth, and fifth overall, plus a pair of second-round picks by virtue of Season 6 transactions. Two of the club’s four picks in their inaugural draft competed during the expansion season where they claimed first place in Lake Placid including second-rounder Amy Curlew from Cornell University and fourth-rounder Natalie Marcuzzi from Robert Morris University.
“It is exciting to be part of the NWHL Draft ahead of Season 7 as we continue the important work we do to promote the growth of professional women’s hockey,” said Six President Digit Murphy. “We are excited for this year’s class and having such a strong presence early in the draft.”
The Minnesota Whitecaps are the only team to hold all of their original selections and are scheduled to make picks at the end of each of the five rounds. Last season the Isobel Cup finalists received immediate impacts from their fourth and fifth-round picks Haley Mack of Bemidji State University and Maddie Rowe from the University of Wisconsin.
“We have kept our picks because we have no reason to trade up or down in the draft,” said Whitecaps GM Jack Brodt. “For the most part, 95% of our players and picks are from Minnesota or WCHA as our success comes from local talent.”
The Metropolitan Riveters will make their first of four draft selections in the second round since their first-round pick was used in a trade to acquire forward Kelly Babstock from the Six in October. The club’s fourth overall pick in 2020 was Saroya Tinker from Yale University who was voted the league’s Denna Laing Award recipient for exemplifying qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport.
“Season 7 is set to be the best year yet for the NWHL and the Metropolitan Riveters,” said Riveters GM Anya Packer. “In this unprecedented year, the draft is as important as it has ever been. I am looking to find some diamonds in the rough to infuse the Riveters with solid depth that will not only produce, but build a solid foundation for the Riveters long-term goals. I have my sights set on the Isobel Cup, and cementing the Riveters as a dominant franchise.”
The defending champion Boston Pride will make just two selections in rounds four and five following their aforementioned trade with Buffalo as well as a Season 6 deal with Toronto for the first overall pick in the 2020 NWHL Draft. It was used on Sammy Davis from Boston University who was the first of six selections to contribute to the team’s second Isobel Cup title along with Tereza Vanisova from the University of Maine, Taylor Wenczkowski and Meghara McManus from the University of New Hampshire, Taylor Turnquist from Clarkson University, and Paige Capistran from Northeastern University.
“After a great finish to last season we are feeling good about how our roster is coming together,” said Pride President Colleen Coyne. “We have great leadership and a strong core to build on. You can expect to see 75%-80% of last year’s team return for the 2021-22 season. We’ve been able to bring on a couple new players that we’ll be excited to announce in the days ahead. Due to some trades, we only have two picks in this year’s draft, but we’ve got our sights set on some players we think have a chance to help us round out a team that will make a strong run at hanging on to the Isobel Cup for another year.”
Players who are considered eligible for the 2021 NWHL Draft may not sign as free agents ahead of the selection process, however, unselected players immediately qualify for free agency beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET on June 30. Teams will have a two-week window to exclusively sign their draft picks to contracts for the 2021-22 season. Any selected players who go unsigned in this timeframe will become eligible for free agency at 9:00 a.m. ET on July 14.
2021 NWHL Draft Order of Selection:
Round 1: Connecticut (from BUF), Buffalo (from CTW), Toronto (from BOS), Toronto, Toronto (from MET), Minnesota
Round 2: Buffalo, Connecticut, Toronto (from BOS), Toronto, Metropolitan, Minnesota
Round 3: Buffalo, Buffalo (from CTW), Buffalo (from BOS), Toronto, Metropolitan, Minnesota
Round 4: Buffalo, Connecticut, Boston, Toronto, Metropolitan, Minnesota
Round 5: Buffalo, Connecticut, Boston, Toronto, Metropolitan, Minnesota
RMU Petition:
It was announced, 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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