BROOKLYN, NY, May 1, 2017 – Goaltender Katie Fitzgerald will return to the New York Riveters in 2017-18, having signed a contract today – the first day of restricted free agency in the National Women’s Hockey League.
“From the moment our season ended in March, I wanted to be back with the Riveters and back in the NWHL,” said Fitzgerald. “It was an easy decision for me to come back, and I’m proud to stay a Riveter.”
Fitzgerald was selected by NWHL media as Goaltender of the Year last season. In 15 games with New York, she was 7-6-1 with a 3.01 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. In the final game of the regular season, Fitzgerald and the Riveters ended the undefeated season of the Boston Pride. The 5-foot-10 Fitzgerald played four years while attending college at St. Cloud State University before joining the NWHL last season.
The 2017-18 NWHL regular season is set to begin in October. Season 3 features the return of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters. In addition to a full slate of home games in their markets, each team will be featured in games at a handful of neutral sites.
The NWHL will continue to compensate all players and share in revenue with them from their jersey and shirsey sales. Before the start of the 2017-18 season, the league will officially announce the details of all player contracts.
About Katie Fitzgerald
Style of play: “I’m more new school, a hybrid. I’ve taken my size and athleticism and worked on moving more quickly. I employ some aspects of butterfly, but hold my edges. I have to thank Rebecca Baker – my goalie coach at St. Cloud my last two years and now with the Riveters – for all the work she’s done to improve my game.”
Career: “I want to work in public relations in sports. I have a Bachelor’s in PR from St. Cloud and got a mini-MBA at Rutgers in Marketing during the Riveters season. I have an internship this summer back home with the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch, and I’m looking for a job in the New York area during the upcoming season.”
Goalies that have inspired me: “Although I’m American, I love to watch Shannon Szabados play. She’s so athletic and such a great leader – a calming influence on her teams. And I’m a big Carey Price fan. Love his style of play, and have a lot of respect for his journey to being the best in the NHL.”
Admired athlete outside of hockey: “Jennie Finch – a great player who took the sport of softball and made it more popular.”
Favorite show: “I’m still very loyal to ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ My teammates gathered religiously to watch it during the season.”
On St. Cloud State: “When I went on my college visits, everything about St. Cloud just clicked for me. My teammates there are my friends for life. The school was great to me at every leve and I’ll always be there for St. Cloud when they need me. I watch as many of their games as I can.”
On the NWHL: “The league, the franchise and my teammates have helped me become a better player and person. I cannot believe how close everyone at the Riveters became so quickly. When I graduated, I felt like I wasn’t done with hockey. The NWHL enables me to continue to pursue my passion, and I’ve learned so much. Hard to believe that I graduated last May 6, and now I look back at what an incredible year it has been.”
