NWHL Expanding to Toronto

[JMCx4]

With S/T to @End on a Hinote's thread in the Business of Hockey forum ...

THE NWHL EXPANDS TO TORONTO

April 22, 2020

by NWHL Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 22, 2020
​

First Canadian Team Will Begin Play in League’s Sixth Season; Executive Team Led by Boynton, Tumminia and Murphy

Roster Building Begins with Five Players Connected to Toronto: Kristen Barbara, Elaine Chuli, Shiann Darkangelo, Emma Greco and Taylor Woods

After consecutive seasons of substantial growth while proving the value of women’s professional hockey and the skilled, inspiring athletes who play the game, the National Women’s Hockey League is coming to Canada. When the league opens its sixth season, an expansion team will debut in Toronto. ...

The ownership team is led by Johanna Neilson Boynton, who played four years at Harvard, serving as captain for two seasons, and is the CEO and co-Founder of Boynton Brennan Builders. Sports team owner and executive Tyler Tumminia, who in recent years was named one of the Top 25 Female Executives by Bleacher Report and received the Game Changer award from Sports Business Journal, will serve as the club’s Chairman. Digit Murphy, who has more than three decades of experience leading teams at Brown University and in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, has been named President. Murphy will oversee the hiring of a general manager and head coach for Toronto’s team. ...

Read more at: THE NWHL EXPANDS TO TORONTO

Click to read more...

 

[uncleben]

As their action as a club, Toronto traded away the first overall pick in this year's draft..!

Boston and Toronto Complete Draft Day Deal

 

[JMCx4]

Sounds like the Toronto core of initial players are all they think they'll need to get rolling. Or maybe they're figuring there will be no 2020-21 season.

 

[JMCx4]

The Toronto team website provides these inaugural roster player profiles ...

... Embracing the opportunity to be pioneers on the NWHL’s first team in Canada, five players have already signed contracts to join Toronto for the upcoming season:
Kristen Barbara: The 27-year-old defender from Mount Hope, Ontario won the Clarkson Cup with the Markham Thunder in 2018. Barbara played three seasons in the CWHL after an impressive collegiate career at York University in Toronto.
Elaine Chuli: The 25-year-old goaltender from Waterford, Ontario played in the CWHL for the Toronto Furies and Vanke Rays. The No. 1 goaltender at the University of Connecticut for all of her four years at college, Chuli was a member of gold medal-winning Team Canada at the U-18 World Championships in 2012.
Shiann Darkangelo: As a member of the U.S. National Team, Darkangelo won a gold medal in 2016 at the IIHF World Championship and competed in two Four Nations Cups. Before playing in the CWHL for Toronto and Kunlun, the 26-year-old forward from Michigan was a popular player in the NWHL with Buffalo and Connecticut. Darkangelo played collegiately at Syracuse and Quinnipiac and won gold with the U.S. National Team at the U-18 World Championships in 2011.
Emma Greco: The 25-year-old defender from Burlington, Ontario played for the Toronto Furies in the CWHL’s final season. After her college career at Quinnipiac, Greco played in the 2017-18 NWHL season with the Connecticut Whale. She is regarded as a very reliable stay-athome defender capable of playing in all key situations.
Taylor Woods: After an outstanding four years at Cornell – serving as an alternate captain in her senior season – Woods was a mainstay in the lineup of the Markham/Brampton Thunder of the CWHL starting in 2016. The 25-year-old versatile forward from Morden, Manitoba won the Clarkson Cup with Markham in 2018. Woods was also a member of gold medal-winning Team Canada at the U-18 World Championships in 2012. ...

And the following Toronto draft picks help build that roster (building from the front back, apparently) ...

Round 1, 6th Pick: Forward Jaycee Gebhard, Robert Morris U
Round 2, 2nd Pick: Forward Amy Curlew, Cornell U
Round 3, 3rd Pick: Forward Erin Locke, York University
Round 4, 4th Pick: Forward Natalie Marcuzzi, Robert Morris U

 

[uncleben]

The Toronto team website provides these inaugural roster player profiles ...


And the following Toronto draft picks help build that roster (building from the front back, apparently) ...

Round 1, 6th Pick: Forward Jaycee Gebhard, Robert Morris U
Round 2, 2nd Pick: Forward Amy Curlew, Cornell U
Round 3, 3rd Pick: Forward Erin Locke, York University
Round 4, 4th Pick: Forward Natalie Marcuzzi, Robert Morris U

And they signed one more

Kelly Babstock Returns Home and to the NWHL, Joins Toronto’s New Expansion Team

 

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And another one.
Slowly shaping up

Sarah-Eve Coutu Godbout Signs with NWHL Toronto

 

[JMCx4]

And another one.
Slowly shaping up ...

Doesn't seem so "Slowly" to me, and the "shaping up" has been heavy on the offensive line slots. But I do admire that the team's staff is taking advantage of the expansion award & navigating the uncertainty in future hockey play to secure a seemingly competitive roster for an eventual season. I'm guessing these contracts have no signing bonuses nor guaranteed money (considering the reported/rumored financials & salary structure of the NWHL); in those circumstances, it would make it easier for Toronto to attract young ladies with dreams of playing pro hockey & the skills to achieve those dreams without any up-front financial commitments by the new organization.

As with all other North American hockey leagues, I'm anxious to see the NWHL back in play & it's looking like the Toronto No-Names will be a formidable addition to the League. I just hope the angst between the NWHL & the PWHPA doesn't continue to distract the growth of the League or the resolve of the players & teams to ice a competitive (and therefore entertaining) product.

 

[Burgmania]

They lost Jaycee Gebhard to Sweden, by the way. They've also named a general manager: Buffalo's GM from last season, Mandy Cronin.

 

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Brooke Boquist Joins Toronto’s NWHL Team

Brooke Boquist joins them from Leksands IF

 

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Mikyla Grant-Mentis Signs, Joins the High-Skilled Forward Corps at NWHL Toronto

Mikyla Grant-Mermis signs on!

 

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CHA 2019-20 Best Defender Lindsay Eastwood Joins the Toronto Six for Inaugural Season

Keep 'em coming!
Toronto signs Lindsay Eastwood

 

[JMCx4]

Finally, another defender. Now Barbara & Greco won't have to skate for 60 minutes each.

 

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Colgate NCAA Tourney Hero Breanne Wilson-Bennett Adds to Toronto Six’s High-Skilled Forward Corps

Breanne Wilson-Bennett signs on.
Brings the Six to 10 forwards signed, now.

 

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Keep that hockey news coming!

Toronto Six Get Stronger with Signing of Emma Woods

Six signs Emma Woods

 

[JMCx4]

So now The Six is building their D-corps out of forwards? Can't wait to see the first shift change of their inaugural season.

 

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PEI-Raised Defender Sarah Steele Returns to Canada, Joins the NWHL’s Toronto Six

There's a defender!

 

[JMCx4]

PEI-Raised Defender Sarah Steele Returns to Canada, Joins the NWHL’s Toronto Six

There's a defender!

Ed. Note: We need an elbow-bump emoji added to the HFB collection, to reflect current cultural norms.

 

[JMCx4]

Aaaaaand ... another forward signed ... according to the NWHL'S "Open Ice" Twitch stream, The Six have signed former U of Vermont Catamounts & CWHL Toronto Furies skater Mackenzie MacNeil.

 

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Up to 18 now!
Mackenzie MacNeil Becomes 18th Player to Sign with the NWHL’s Toronto Six

 

[JMCx4]

So why the nearly one week lag between the League's Twitch announcement last week & yesterday's press release re. MacMac?

 

[JMCx4]

Just caught a bit of the NWHL's Twitch stream on Monday evening, featuring former Cornell Big Red & Brampton/Markham Thunder forward Taylor Woods. Fun Fact about Taylor: She is ambidextrous, and she keeps lefthanded & righthanded sticks on the bench during games. She distinguishes them by using black tape on one & white tape on the other. She is also yet another Six player who can play either up front or back on D. This Toronto team is gonna be a fun one to watch.