Northford, CT — The National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) today announced that the Connecticut Whale will call the Northford Ice Pavilion (NIP) home for the 2016-17 season.
“We are extremely excited that our facility will be home to our first professional hockey team,” said NIP General Manager Bill Maniscalco. “What makes it even more special is that it is a women’s professional team! I feel this will help grow the girls’ hockey game in this area, both at a younger and older level.”
NIP is an ice skating complex with several NHL-sized sheets, including the Red Rink, the former home of the Quinnipiac Bobcats, which seats 1,200 spectators. Last season, the Whale played at Chelsea Piers Connecticut in Stamford.
“The Whale is extremely excited to call the Northford Ice Pavilion our new home,” said Connecticut General Manager Lisa Giovanelli. “The owners and staff of the facility are great women’s hockey supporters and we’re fortunate to build a relationship with them for our second season in the NWHL.”
About the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL)
The NWHL is the first professional women’s hockey league in North America to pay its players. The inaugural season began October 11, 2015 with the Founding Four: Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters. The Boston Pride became the first team in NWHL history to raise the Isobel Cup on March 12, 2016.
