BUFFALO – 24-year-old defender Lauren MacInnis has signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Beauts for the 2023-24 Premier Hockey Federation season. The righty shooter with a cannon of a shot will be making her professional debut in North America after spending last season with Frölunda HC. Terms of the deal will not be disclosed.
“I signed with the Beauts because it has always been a dream of mine to play professional hockey,” said MacInnis. “The city of Buffalo has a great hockey history and a great fan base. I could not be more excited to continue my career in Buffalo.”
MacInnis helped Frölunda advance from Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan – the second-highest women’s league in the country – to the topmost level in the SDHL (beginning with the 2023-24 season). She tallied three goals and three assists in 11 regular season games. MacInnis would add an additional five points (2-3-5) in seven qualification games for advancement.
“Lauren is a very solid shutdown D and has been for her entire hockey career,” said Beauts GM Nate Oliver. “We allowed the most goals in the PHF last season, and I believe that Lauren will help be a remedy to that. She is big and tough and is positionally very sound. Obviously, she comes from a
topnotch hockey pedigree and will use that hard shot of hers from the point, but I think where she will have her biggest impact for the Beauts will be with how rugged Lauren is and how intense she is to be the best.”
Lauren’s father is Hockey Hall of Famer and Stanley Cup champion Al MacInnis. She has chosen to wear number-2 this season for the Beauts as her father wore in his professional career.
At the collegiate level, MacInnis played 111 NCAA games for Northeastern University. During her four seasons with the Huskies she accumulated five goals, 19 assists and 24 points while finishing her career as a plus-64 for plus/minus. MacInnis was a member of the Hockey East All-Academic Team for both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
“I am definitely a defensive-defender who makes a good first pass,” said MacInnis. “I am a solid penalty-killer, and I have a good shot from the blue line.”
In addition to the MacInnis’ signing, the Beauts have also announced signings of goaltender Lovisa Berndtsson, defenders Dominique Kremer, Allison Attea, Amalie Andersen, Aoi Shiga, and forwards Summer-Rae Dobson, Emma Nuutinen, Maggie Knott, Tatum Amy, Akane Shiga, Ally Johnson and Madi Nichols.
