X75 Productions

Category: Women’s Hockey

NWHL News and Notes – September 17th, 2019

Today in the NWHL it was announced that a team of investors led by Cannon Capital managing partner Miles Arnone has purchased the Boston Pride.

The Pride were informed on Monday night prior to the practice. Arnone met with the team’s players and staff, and as part of their new ownership of the team, their immediate plans for the Pride include investments in player and team development, increases in marketing and promotion, along with more youth hockey initiatives to be created. Also Arnone plans to hire a team president for the Pride to run all of the day to day operations of the team.

Per the NWHL’s Press Release this morning Arnone brings to the Pride and NWHL “more than 20 years of investment experience and a background in engineering, turn-around management and start-ups. He is the author of two books, founder of three start-ups and principal inventor on 125 patents. A Long Island native, Arnone earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has called Boston home for more than thirty years.”

“My investors and I believe in the NWHL, and we are honored to take on the responsibility of leading the Boston Pride during this important era of growth for women’s sports. We will build the Pride into a world-class team and an innovative and thoughtful business venture that demonstrates the power of professional women’s hockey and the value of the game’s remarkable athletes.”

– Miles Arnone

The sale of the Boston Pride to Miles Arnone’s investment group was facilitated by the Sports Advisory Group, which is an idustry leader in the sale and acquisition of major and minor league sports teams. This sale can also be viewed as a catalyst for the NWHL to consider the sale of the other current teams that the league runs, and also brings in the prospect of bringing in expansion teams with investors who are genuinely dedicated to the women’s game.

We here at TXHT see this as a huge plus for the NWHL and for Women’s Hockey as a whole. With how the offseason unfolded and with the dedication of the NWHL to continue to grow, today’s announcement proves that their vision and dedication to the women’s game is undeterred and that the 2019-20 season will be another year of growth.

Also today the Connecticut Whale have announced that former NHLer Colton Orr and NWHL Veteran Laura Brennan will be the coaches for the team this season.

Orr will be the Whale’s head coach with Brennan serving as his assistant coach. Brennan will also act as Interim Head Coach while Orr competes on CBC’s “Battle of the Blades” tv show.

“I’m honored to have the privilege of leading the Connecticut Whale. This game means a lot to me, and these fantastic athletes on the Whale and across the NWHL are role models to the next generation – including my daughter, who is in the Learn to Play program. I’m determined to take all of the hockey knowledge and life lessons learned from great NHL people like (former Rangers coach) Tom Renney and apply them to the Whale. I’m grateful to Laura Brennan for running the show while I’m away, and I can’t wait to get back to Connecticut to work with her and the players and give the Whale fans a team they can believe in.”

– Colton Orr

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September 17, 2019
NWHL News and Notes – September 13th, 2019

On Friday, September 13th the NWHL had one signing announced.

The Metropolitan Riveters announced that they have signed defender Nichelle Simon for the 2019-20 campaign.

Simon, a contestant on “American Ninja Warrior”, is a Breast Cancer survivor who completed her treatments in June 2018, and has been commited to growing the game in the South. Since defeating cancer Simon has been training and preparing for a return to hockey, and will be joing the Riveters for her first season in the NWHL.

All players will partake in the 50 percent cut of revenue from league sponsorship and media deals. Plus they will also receive 15 percent of revenue from apparel sold with their name on it.

TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings are announced.

*Graphics courtesy of the NWHL.

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September 15, 2019
NWHL News and Notes – September 9th, 2019

Today in the NWHL the Buffalo Beauts announced that they have re-signed forward Taylor Accursi for the 2019-20 season.

Accursi, who will be entering her third season with the Beauts, is a fan favorite in Buffalo and has recorded 10 goals and seven assists in 28 career NWHL games. In her rookie season with the Beauts in 2017-18 she led the league in powerplay goals.

All players will partake in the 50 percent cut of revenue from league sponsorship and media deals. Plus they will also receive 15 percent of revenue from apparel sold with their name on it.

TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings are announced.

*Graphics courtesy of the NWHL.

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September 9, 2019
NWHL News and Notes – September 4th, 2019

Today in the NWHL there were six more signings announced bringing the total number of players signed for the 2019-20 season to 80.

Starting with the Metropolitan Riveters, yhey would announce that they have signed goaltender Dana DeMartino to a one year deal.

DeMartino, 24, will be playing in her first season in the NWHL and with the Riveters. DeMartino is also the second goalie to sign with the Riveters for the upcoming campaign.

Then the Minnesota Whitecaps announced a pair of signings starting with the return of forward Kalli Funk.

Funk, 25, is returning for her second season with the Whitecaps and in the NWHL. Last season with the Whitecaps Funk had a goal and an assist in six games.

The Whitecaps also announced that they have signed Kelsey Cline to a one year deal.

Cline, primarily a defender but can also play forward, played in 161 games from 2014 to 2017 for the University of Minnesota. This will be Cline’s first season with the Whitecaps and in the NWHL.

Then the Connecticut Whale would announce three signings for their 2019-20 campaign. Their first signing was goaltender Brooke Wolejko.

Wolejko, a Connecticut native, becomes the third goaltender to sign with the Whale for the upcoming season, and will be playing in her first season for the Whale and in the NWHL.

Then the Whale announced that they have re-signed versatile player Hanna Beattie to a one year deal.

Beattie, who will be entering her third season with the Whale, is the ninth member from last season’s team to return for the 2019-20 season. Beattie has played both offense and defense for the Whale in the past.

And finally the Whale announced that they have signed defender Erin Hall to a one year deal.

Hall, who played collegiately at Holy Cross, played two seasons in the CWHL for the Boston/Worcester Blades where she played in 17 career games for them. This will be Hall’s forst season with the Whale and in the NWHL.

All players will partake in the 50 percent cut of revenue from league sponsorship and media deals. Plus they will also receive 15 percent of revenue from apparel sold with their name on it.

TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings are announced.

*Graphics courtesy of the NWHL.

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September 4, 2019
NWHL News and Notes – September 3rd, 2019

Today in the NWHL the Minnesota Whitecaps bolstered their defence with a new signing for the 2019-20 season.

The Whitecaps announced that they have signed defender Sydney Baldwin to a one year deal.

Baldwin, a 2018 Kazmaier Award Finalist, joins the Whitecaps for her first season in the NWHL. Balwin spent her collegiate career with the University of Minnesota where she helped lead the Golden Gophers to the NCAA National Championship in her freshman and sophmore years. During her senior season Baldwin recorded 12 goals with 20 assists for 32 points, and she also led the nation with 104 blocked shots.

All players will partake in the 50 percent cut of revenue from league sponsorship and media deals. Plus they will also receive 15 percent of revenue from apparel sold with their name on it.

TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings are announced.

*Graphics courtesy of the NWHL.

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September 3, 2019
NWHL News and Notes – August 29th, 2019

Today in the NWHL there were three new signings announced as we get closer to the 2019-20 season.

First we have the Connecticut Whale signing goaltender Sonjia Shelly to a one year deal.

Shelly, recently completed at St. Lawrence University, completed her senior season with a 2.16 GAA, a .912 save percentage, and with 4 shutouts. This will be Shelly’s first season in the NWHL and with the Whale.

Then the Minnesota Whitecaps re-signed forward Meaghan Pezon for the 2019-20 season.

Pezon, returning for her second season, will be looking to help the Whitecaps with their continued success for the 2019-20 season. Pezon played in 10 games last season with the Whitecaps.

Then the Metropolitan Riveters signed goaltender Sam Walther for the 2019-20 season.

Walther, an Annapolis, MD native, will be entering her second season in the NWHL, and first with the Riveters. Last season Walther played for the Whale.

All players will partake in the 50 percent cut of revenue from league sponsorship and media deals. Plus they will also receive 15 percent of revenue from apparel sold with their name on it.

TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings are announced.

*Graphics courtesy of the NWHL.

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August 29, 2019
TXHT Jersey Share – Gold Medal Caliber

Today in another edition of TXHT Jersey Share, we are going to take a look at a Replica Nike Team USA Hockey jersey that our very own Scott Fairchild got signed by the women’s 2018 Olympic Gold Medal winning team at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

Scott: First of all, the jersey is very comfortable as it has a Dri-Fit feel to it which is very typical of how Nike makes their jerseys and clothes. It also makes the jersey feel very breathable on you and doesn’t feel heavy or itchy at all. I’ve always been a fan of this jersey with the patriotic design and how the red stripes flowing out of the letter “S” like a waving flag.

Now as for it being signed, I was very lucky and fortunate to be able to get the majority of the 2018 gold medal winning women’s hockey team at the Olympics to sign it. I happened to be off work one day due to a really bad wind storm which caused power outages that closed schools, and the team was visiting MedStar Capitals Iceplex (then know as Kettler Capitals Iceplex) to sign autographs and run a kids hockey clinic. I was able to get a good amount of signatures that day and I even got to hold Hilary Knight’s Gold Medal (see picture below). The team was also in town for the 2018 Stadium Series between the Washington Capitals & Toronto Maple Leafs. The whole team was signing autographs and taking pictures with fans at the fan fest before the game began as they were being honored for their accomplishment of winning the Gold Medal at the Olympics.

Here are the signatures featured on the jersey:

Hilary Knight, Jocelyn Lamoreaux-Davidson (game winning goal in the shootout), Monique Lamoreaux-Morando (game tying goal), Amanda Pelky, Kelly Panek, Hannah Brandt, Nicole Hensley, Maddie Rooney (winning goalie of record in the Gold Medal game), Kendall Coyne Schofield, Sidney Morin

Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

August 28, 2019
NWHL News and Notes – August 27th, 2019

Today in the NWHL it was announced that they will hold their first official outdoor game.

On Saturday, December 28th, 2019 at 630p EST at RiverWorks, located on the banks of the Buffalo River, the Buffalo Beauts will host the Metropolitan Riveters in the Buffalo Believes Classic.

Capacity for the Buffalo Believes Classic will be for approximately 1,000 fans and the event will be for all ages. The outdoor game at RiverWorks will be played in a unique and intimate setting aswe celebrate women’s hockey.

Season tickets for the Beauts will be going on sale later this week, and will include the Buffalo Believes Classic at RiverWorks in addition to the team’s 11 home games at Northtown Center at Amherst.

TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings are announced.

*Graphics courtesy of the NWHL.

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August 27, 2019
NWHL News and Notes – August 21st, 2019

Today on the NWHL we had four more signings announced for the 2019-20 season.

Starting off with the Metropolitan Riveters who would sign defensive forward Brooke Baker.

Baker, an RIT graduate, played in 123 games for RIT during her four year collegiate career. This will be Baker’s first season in the NWHL and with the Riveters.

However, the Riveters would not be done there as they would re-sign defender Lexi Slattery for the 2019-20 season.

Slattery appeared in seven games for the Riveters last season and will be entering her second season with the team.

Then the Minnesota Whitecaps announced that they have re-signed captain Winny Brodt Brown for the 2019-20 season.

Brown, who will be entering her second NWHL season with the Whitecaps, is an original member of the Whitecaps and a pioneer for women’s hockey. Brown played in 16 games for the Whitecaps last season on their road to the Isobel Cup.

Also the Buffalo Beauts would get in the mix as they signed forward Kandice Sheriff to a one year deal.

Sheriff, a Brampton, Ontario native, played in 98 games for RIT, and utilizes her speed, strength, and ability on special teams which makes her stand out. This will be Sheriff’s first season in the NWHL and with the Beauts.

All players will partake in the 50 percent cut of revenue from league sponsorship and media deals. Plus they will also receive 15 percent of revenue from apparel sold with their name on it.

TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings are announced.

*Graphics courtesy of the NWHL.

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August 21, 2019
NWHL News and Notes – August 20th, 2019

Today in the NWHL business picked up as four of the five teams added to their 2019-20 rosters.

Starting with the Minnesota Whitecaps as they re-signed defender Chelsey Brodt Rosenthal to a one year deal.

Rosenthal, returning for her second season in the NWHL, was a member of last season’s Isobel Cup championship team, and was a standout in college for the University of Minnesota from 2002 to 2006.

Then the Metropolitan Riveters signed forward Brooke Avery to a one year deal.

Avery, a New Hampshire native, played for Syracuse University and was key player for Syracuse earning their first conference title and berth into the NCAA Tournament when she would record an assist and the game winning goal against Robert Morris in the CHA Tournament Championship game.

Then the Buffalo Beauts announced that they have signed forward Maddie Norton to a one year deal.

Norton, a Buffalo native, scored a record 46 goals last season for the University of Buffalo in 18 games. Norton would also have a total of 62 points last season which was 28 more than the next highest scorer.

Then the Boston Pride would sign Swedish National Team goaltender Lovisa Selander to a one year deal.

Selander, the NCAA all time saves leader, played in all 34 games last season for RPI where she had a 2.29 GAA and an .942 save percentage. Selander also recorded a 49 save shutout and a 58 save shutout last season.

All players will partake in the 50 percent cut of revenue from league sponsorship and media deals. Plus they will also receive 15 percent of revenue from apparel sold with their name on it.

TXHT will continue to provide NWHL coverage as more signings are announced.

*Graphics courtesy of the NWHL.

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August 20, 2019