BROOKLYN, November 14, 2018 – The NWHL announced that all of the league’s netminders have been invited to Florida in December to participate in a mid-season NWHL Goaltender Development Camp.
Among those already confirmed to participate are Shannon Szabados, the Canadian Olympic star with the Buffalo Beauts; standout Connecticut rookie and Finnish National Team goalie Meeri Räisänen, Amanda Leveille, the 2017-18 NWHL Goaltender of the Year, and now undefeated with the Minnesota Whitecaps; and Boston’s Brittany Ott, who in 2016 led the Pride to the first Isobel Cup and was the league’s first Goalie of the Year.
The NWHL-hosted camp will take place from Dec. 14-16 at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida and include three days of instruction from guest coaches, along with opportunities for the league’s goalies to have fun and discuss their craft. In addition, the NWHL is bringing along a selection of forwards and defenders from the league to take their best shots on ice at the goaltenders.
“We are thrilled to bring this development opportunity to our goalies and shooters attending the camp,” said Hayley Moore, Deputy Commissioner and Director of Player Development of the NWHL. “As the League continues to grow, we strive to provide additional resources to the players, to enhance their experiences, and help bring the on-ice product to new heights. We look forward to this unique gathering of veteran and rookie leaders to come together and propel each other forward as we progress through season four and beyond.”
Goaltenders scheduled to attend:
***pending other hockey commitments***
Boston: Katie Burt, Madison Litchfield, Brittany Ott
Buffalo: Nicole Hensley, Shannon Szabados
Connecticut: Meeri Räisänen, Mariya Sorokina, Sam Walther Riveters: Sarah Bryant, Kimberly Sass
Minnesota: Julie Friend, Amanda Leveille, Sydney Rossman
Shooters scheduled to participate:
***pending other hockey commitments***
Boston: McKenna Brand, Jillian Dempsey
Buffalo: Blake Bolden, Hayley Scamurra Connecticut: Michelle Löwenhielm, Katerina Mrázová Riveters: Madison Packer, Michelle Picard Minnesota: Amanda Boulier, Allie Thunstrom
Guest coaches will include Amy Zappen and Lucy Schoedel. Zappen is the goaltending coach at Boston University and an instructor at USA Hockey National Development Camps. Since 2013, she has been Girls Goaltending Coordinator for Massachusetts Player Development. Schoedel is a former goaltending coach for the U.S. Under-18 National Team. The two-time Patty Kazmaier Award nominee from Syracuse University earned gold medals with Team USA at the 2015 and 2016 U18 IIHF World Championships.
Media are invited to attend and should contact NWHL Communications regarding credentials. In addition, the NWHL will provide digital and social media coverage rinkside from Amanda Ghysel and Erica Ayala.
About the National Women’s Hockey League
Established in 2015, the NWHL became the first professional women’s hockey league in North America to pay its players and share in revenue from select apparel sales. The mission of the league is to promote and develop women’s hockey, increase participation and interest in the sport at all levels, and shine a light on the role models that fill the rosters of all of its clubs. The league is made up of the Boston Pride (2016 Isobel Cup champions), Buffalo Beauts (2017 champions), Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters (2018 champions), and Minnesota Whitecaps. For more information, please visit NWHL.zone and follow the league on Twitter @NWHL, Facebook @NationalWomensHockeyLeague and on Instagram @NWHL.zone.
