Ott signs with NWHL’s Buffalo Beauts
POTSDAM, N.Y.–Recently graduated SUNY Potsdam women’s hockey standout Jordan Ott ’17 (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) has signed a contract to play for the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League. Ott is the program’s first to reach the ranks of professional hockey.
The NWHL is one of two current professional women’s leagues along with the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and will begin it’s third season this October. The league consists of four teams, the Beauts, Boston Pride, Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters. Buffalo captured the second ever Isobel Cup in March. NWHL rosters have been largely made up of former NCAA Division I athletes. Last season, only seven players in the league were non-Division I and only four were from Division III programs. So Ott will be in rare company when she takes to the ice.
Ott received an invitation for an NWHL league-wide tryout near the beginning of May, but was unable to attend because it was so close to final exams. About a month ago she got another invite, this time from the Beauts directly. She said she was on the fence initially, but decided to give it a shot.
Last weekend, after a meeting with the team’s staff, Ott spent two days scrimmaging and drilling with other invitees and returning Buffalo players. She preformed well and was offered a contract yesterday.
“This is an opportunity I’ve dreamed about my entire life,” said Ott. “The opportunity to play professional hockey is obviously the highlight of my athletic career.”
In her four seasons with Potsdam, Ott recorded an NCAA-era program record of 107 points. The forward owns the Bears’ records for goals (61), power-power play goals (18), game-winning goals (12), points-per-game (1.06), points in a season (36) and is fourth in assists (46). Ott was the 2014 USCHO.com National Division III and ECAC West Rookie of the Year. She was second team all-conference in 2014 and 2017 and was honorable mention in 2015 and 2016. She also collected third team All-USCHO and D3Hockey.com East All-Region accolades in 2016.
“It is a great day for Jordan and her family,” said Bears’ 10th-year head coach Jay Green. “To sign a professional contract is the ultimate reward for the commitment made by her family that involved financial expense, hours on the road and devotion to one’s child’s interests. Jordan, as we know, is very devoted, a highly skilled player and a passionate athlete that has always aspired to be the best that she could be. She always looked to contribute in any way possible to her team’s success. Jordan’s signing is a testament to the quality of athlete playing the game at the NCAA Division III level. I am sure there will be others joining her. For all of us on campus here in Potsdam and Bears Hockey, we are very proud and excited for Jordan and all that lies ahead for her at the next level.”
Ott will skate with the team during the summer and will be back at Potsdam in August to begin her master’s degree. With some creative scheduling, she also fully intends to serve as the Bears’ assistant softball coach next season.
