National Women's Hockey League Teams
Women's ice hockey has come a long way since its inception in the late 19th century. With the establishment of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) in 2015, women's hockey has finally received a platform to showcase their skills and talents professionally. In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at the National Women's Hockey League teams, their history, and their achievements.
History of the National Women's Hockey League
The National Women's Hockey League was founded in 2015 as a response to the need for a professional women's hockey league in North America. The league was established by Dani Rylan, a former ice hockey player and coach, and started with four teams based in the United States. The founding teams were the Boston Pride, Connecticut Whale, Buffalo Beauts, and New York Riveters.
Over the years, the league has seen numerous changes in management, structure, and teams. In the 2019-2020 season, the league featured five teams based in the United States and one team based in Canada. However, the 2020-2021 season was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains to be seen how the league will progress in the future.
The Boston Pride
The Boston Pride is one of the Original Four teams in the NWHL and was founded in 2015. The team competes in the Isobel Cup, which is the championship trophy of the NWHL. In the 2019-2020 season, the Boston Pride had a perfect record of 23-0-0 and were the favorites to win the Isobel Cup before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Boston Pride has had some notable players, including Jillian Dempsey, a forward who led the league in points in the 2019-2020 season. The team is known for its fast-paced and aggressive playing style, and their home games are played at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Buffalo Beauts
The Buffalo Beauts were also one of the Original Four teams in the NWHL founded in 2015. The team has won one Isobel Cup championship, which was in the 2016-2017 season. The Buffalo Beauts have had some notable players, including Allie Thunstrom, who won the league MVP award in the 2019-2020 season.
The Buffalo Beauts are known for their tough and physical playing style, and their home games are played at the Northtown Center at Amherst in Amherst, New York.
The Connecticut Whale
The Connecticut Whale is another Original Four team in the NWHL founded in 2015. The team's name is a reference to the whale oil trade that was once prevalent in Connecticut. The Connecticut Whale has yet to win an Isobel Cup championship but has made it to the playoffs in every season.
The Connecticut Whale has had some notable players, including Shannon Doyle, a defenseman who led the league in blocked shots in the 2018-2019 season. The team is known for its disciplined and defensive playing style, and their home games are played at the Danbury Ice Arena in Danbury, Connecticut.
The Metropolitan Riveters
The Metropolitan Riveters, formerly known as the New York Riveters, is an Original Four team in the NWHL founded in 2015. The team has one Isobel Cup championship, which was in the 2017-2018 season. The Metropolitan Riveters have had some notable players, including Ashley Johnston, a goaltender who led the league in save percentage in the 2016-2017 season.
The Metropolitan Riveters are known for their speedy and aggressive playing style, and their home games are played at the ProSkate Ice Arena in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey.
The Toronto Six
The Toronto Six is the newest team in the National Women's Hockey League, having been established in 2020. The team is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is the first Canadian team in the NWHL. The Toronto Six has yet to play a game in the NWHL due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Toronto Six have already made history by signing the first-ever NWHL player from China, Shiann Darkangelo, and by having the first all-female team ownership group in North American professional sports history.
The Minnesota Whitecaps
The Minnesota Whitecaps is a team that joined the NWHL in the 2018-2019 season as an expansion team. The team had previously played in various women's ice hockey leagues and had won three national championships. The Minnesota Whitecaps won their first-ever Isobel Cup championship in the 2018-2019 season.
The Minnesota Whitecaps have had some notable players, including Lee Stecklein, a defenseman who won the league's Defender of the Year award in the 2019-2020 season. The team is known for its tough and gritty playing style, and their home games are played at the TRIA Rink in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Conclusion
The National Women's Hockey League is a professional women's ice hockey league that has provided female athletes with the opportunity to play at the highest level of competition. From its inception in 2015 to the current day, the league has seen numerous changes, successes, and challenges. Nevertheless, the league continues to strive forward, giving women's ice hockey a platform to showcase their skills and talent.
As fans of women's ice hockey, it is our responsibility to support and cheer for these amazing athletes and their teams. We hope that this article has given you a comprehensive overview of the National Women's Hockey League and its teams, their history, and their accomplishments.
