BROOKLYN, NY, July 5, 2017 – The Buffalo Beauts have re-signed forward Kourtney Kunichika and defender Lisa Chesson – a pair of veterans from their 2016-17 Isobel Cup-winning team – to contracts for next season. The club has also signed two rookie forwards out of Mercyhurst: Taylor Accursi and Kathy Donohue.
“With the talents and compete level of Chesson and Kunichika returning, they will no doubt bring the attitude that they something to prove and that the Isobel Cup was no fluke,” said Buffalo general manager and co-coach Ric Seiling. “Their leadership and experience will benefit all of our new players.”
“Accursi and Donohue come to us from Mercyhurst – the same program that produced two great players for us in Kelley Steadman and Emily Janiga,” added Seiling. “Coach Michael Sisti does an outstanding job developing players, and we believe Taylor and Kathy will be immediate impact players for us.”
Kunichika, 25, is an original Beaut. She finished tied for second on the team in scoring in the NWHL’s first season, going 9-7-16 in 18 games. Last season, she was 2-9-11 in 17 games. In 129 games over four seasons at RIT, Kunichika averaged more than a point per game (54 goals, 82 assists, 136 points).
A former U.S. Olympian, Chesson had 4 assists in 8 games last season as the Beauts won the Cup. Chesson, 30, played 145 games over four years at Ohio State from 2004-2008, scoring 27 goals and adding 62 assists for 89 points. With USA Hockey, the defender won a silver medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver – going 3-3-6 in 5 games. She also represented the U.S. in five Four Nations Cup tournaments and three IIHF Women’s World Championships.
As a senior, Accursi had her finest season at Mercyhurst, finishing tied for second in goals and points in 2016-17, with 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 35 games. The 5-8 forward from Ancaster, Ontario developed in the Burlington Barracudas program. Donohue, a 5-5 forward from Rochester who developed at North American Hockey Academy, played 132 games over four years from 2012-2016 at Mercyhurst. Her best season was as a sophomore, when she was 7-6-13 in 37 games.
