BUFFALO – Stay-at-home defender Samantha Fieseler is returning to the Beauts for the upcoming 2022-23 Premier Hockey Federation season. The Beauts and Fieseler came to terms on a single-year contract. Salary details will not be disclosed. The 25-year-old native of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada desired to re-sign with the Beauts because of the organization’s impact upon her professional career.
“I decided to return to Buffalo because I wanted to continue my professional hockey career in a good, hardworking environment,” said Fieseler. “This is the type of environment that the Beauts offer day in and day out.”
Fieseler played in 18 of the Beauts’ 20 regular season games during the 2021 -22 season. She had three blocked shots and was responsible for five takeaways while primarily serving as part of the team’s third defense pairing. Fieseler’s first season in Buffalo was her third professionally. She was a member of the Metropolitan Riveters in 2020-21 and Göteborg HC (SDHL) in 2019-20.
The Beauts organization is excited to see what Fieseler can bring in her fourth campaign at the professional level.
“Sammy brings a lot of experience to our blue line even though she is still young in her pro career, ” said Beauts GM Nate Oliver. “She has a very strong build and is difficult to compete against in front of the net or along the boards. She’s hard-nosed and tough. We wanted to bring Sammy back because we know that she is a reliable defender and she brings the qualities of a great teammate that our organization desires.”
Fieseler played collegiately for Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI) from 2014-15 through 2018-19. In 138 career games she scored 15 goals, 23 assists and 38 points. Having re-signed with the Beauts, Fieseler is now reunited with her Mercyhurst teammates Emma Nuutinen and Summer-Rae Dobson.
Prior to her time at Mercyhurst, Fieseler was a member of Team Canada’s U18 Women’s National Team that won the gold medal in Budapest, Hungary at the 2014 IIHF Women’s U18 World Championship. Two of her teammates on that squad were current Beauts Jess Healey and Kassidy Sauvé. Fieseler recorded a pair of assists in five games – one of which came in the championship game against the USA which Canada won 5-1.
Primed to partake in her second season for Buffalo, Fieseler believes that the team has what it takes to get the job done.
“The Beauts are going to work hard on and off the ice and continue building solid team chemistry,” said Fieseler. “We want to bring the Isobel Cup home to Buffalo.”
