2015–16 Connecticut Whale (NWHL) season

The 2015–16 Connecticut Whale season was the first in franchise history and the Premier Hockey Federation's inaugural season.

2015–16 Connecticut Whale (PHF)
League2nd NWHL
2015–16 record13–5–0
Home record6–3–0
Road record7–2–0
Goals for61
Goals against51
Team information
General managerGeorge Speirs
(Interim)
CoachJake Mastel
(Until Jan. 29, 2016)
Heather Linstad
(from Jan. 29, 2016)
Assistant coachLisa Giovanelli
(Jan. 29, 2016–Current)
CaptainJessica Koizumi
Alternate captainsKaleigh Fratkin
ArenaChelsea Piers CT
Team leaders
GoalsShiann Darkangelo (10)
AssistsKelli Stack (14)
PointsKelli Stack (22)
Kelly Babstock
Penalty minutesKaleigh Fratkin (40)
WinsJaimie Leonoff (7)
Goals against averageShenae Lundberg (1.97)

Offseason

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  • On July 1, the Whale signed former BU Terriers blueliner and 2015 Clarkson Cup champion Kaleigh Fratkin to a contract, making her the first Canadian to sign an NWHL contract.

Regular season

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Standings

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Pos Team GP W L OTL W% GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Boston Pride 18 14 3 1 0.806 75 39 +36 29
2 Connecticut Whale 18 13 5 0 0.722 61 51 +10 26
3 Buffalo Beauts 18 5 9 4 0.389 56 66 −10 14
4 New York Riveters 18 4 12 2 0.278 40 76 −36 10
Source: PHF
y – Clinched division

Game log

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2015–16 Schedule[1]
Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Record Points Gamesheet
1 October 11 New York Riveters 4–1 Leonoff Chelsea Piers CT 1–0–0 2 [Game 1]
2 October 18 @ Buffalo Beauts 5–2 Laden HarborCenter 2–0–0 4 [Game 2]
3 October 25 @ New York Riveters 3–1 Stock Aviator Sports and Events Center 3–0–0 6 [Game 3]
4 November 15 @ Buffalo Beauts 3–2 Leonoff HarborCenter 4–0–0 8 [Game 4]
5 November 22 @ Buffalo Beauts 7–6 SO Stock HarborCenter 5–0–0 10 [Game 5]
6 November 29 @ Boston Pride 4–3 Leonoff Bright Hockey Center 6–0–0 12 [Game 6]
7 December 6 Buffalo Beauts 3–2 SO Leonoff Chelsea Piers CT 7–0–0 14 [Game 7]
8 December 13 @ New York Riveters 4–3 SO Leonoff Aviator Sports and Events Center 8–0–0 16 [Game 8]
9 December 27 Boston Pride 1–2 Stock Chelsea Piers CT 8–1–0 16 [Game 9]
10 January 3 @ New York Riveters 6–1 Stock Aviator Sports and Events Center 9–1–0 18 [Game 10]
11 January 9 New York Riveters 4–3 Leonoff Ingalls Rink 10–1–0 20 [Game 11]
12 January 10 Buffalo Beauts 5–3 Stock Chelsea Piers CT 11–1–0 22 [Game 12]
13 January 17 @ Boston Pride 1–4 Leonoff Bright Hockey Center 11–2–0 22 [Game 13]
14 January 31 Boston Pride 2–5 Leonoff Chelsea Piers CT 11–3–0 22 [Game 14]
15 February 7 Buffalo Beauts 3–2 OT Lundberg Chelsea Piers CT 12–3–0 24 [Game 15]
16 February 14 @ Boston Pride 2–4 Stock Bright Hockey Center 12–4–0 24 [Game 16]
17 February 21 Boston Pride 3–5 Leonoff Chelsea Piers CT 12–5–0 24 [Game 17]
18 February 28 New York Riveters 4–2 Lundberg Chelsea Piers CT 13–5–0 26 [Game 18]

  Win (2 points)   Overtime/Shootout loss (1 point)   Loss (0 points)

Playoffs

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Game log

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2016 Isobel Cup Playoffs
Semifinals vs. Buffalo Beauts; Buffalo Beauts won series 2–1
Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Record Gamesheet
1 March 4 Buffalo Beauts 3–0 Chelsea Piers CT 1–0 (No gamesheet available)
2 March 5 Buffalo Beauts 1–4 Chelsea Piers CT 1–1 (No gamesheet available)
3 March 6 Buffalo Beauts 3–4 Stock Chelsea Piers CT 1–2 [Game 19]

  Win   Loss

Statistics

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Final

Skaters

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Goaltenders

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Regular Season[2]
Player GP TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO PIM
Jaimie Leonoff 10 567:15 7 3 0 28 2.96 438 0.936 0 0
Nicole Stock 6 343:07 4 2 0 15 2.62 211 0.923 0 0
Chelsea Laden 1 60:00 1 0 0 2 2.00 32 0.938 0 0
Shenae Lundberg 2 122:08 1 0 0 0 1.97 50 0.920 0 0
Playoffs[2]
Player GP TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO PIM
Jaimie Leonoff 2 118:56 1 1 0 3 1.51 57 0.947 1 0
Nicole Stock 1 60:00 0 1 0 4 4.00 28 0.846 0 0

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Whale. Stats reflect time with the Whale only.
Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Whale only.

Roster

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Updated February 20, 2016[3][4]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
8   Kelly Babstock F L 23 2015 Mississauga, Ontario
10   Lindsay Berman D L 27 2015 Odenton, Maryland
26   Jordan Brickner D L 25 2015 Lake Forest, Illinois
27   Shiann Darkangelo F L 22 2015 Brighton, Michigan
19   Brittany Dougherty F L 25 2015 Chesterfield, Michigan
6   Shannon Doyle D R 24 2015 Baldwin, Ontario
9   Molly Engstrom D R 33 2015 Siren, Wisconsin
28   Sam Faber F R 28 2015 Mount Sinai, New York
13   Kaleigh Fratkin (A) D R 23 2015 Burnaby, British Columbia
56   Jessica Koizumi (C) F L 30 2015 Honolulu, Hawaii
32   Jaimie Leonoff G L 23 2015 Montreal, Quebec
16   Micaela Long F L 2015 South Boston, Massachusetts
1   Shanae Lundberg G L 23 2016 Peterborough, New Hampshire
17   Yekaterina Smolentseva F L 34 2015 Yekaterinburg, Russia
61   Kelli Stack F R 28 2015 Brooklyn Heights, Ohio
24   Nicole Stock G R 2015 Buffalo Grove, Illinois
22   Danielle Ward F R 26 2015 Lansing, Michigan
88   Alyssa Wohlfeiler F R 26 2015 Saugus, California

Awards and honors

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NWHL Player of the Week
NWHL 1st All-Star Game selection

Transactions

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Trades

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January 27, 2016 (2016-01-27)[5] To New York Riveters

Chelsea Laden

To Connecticut Whale

Shenae Lundberg

Signings

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Player Date Contract terms
Shiann Darkangelo[6] June 25, 2015 $17,000
Sam Faber[6] June 25, 2015 $13,500
Chelsea Laden[6] June 25, 2015 $14,000
Kaleigh Fratkin[7] July 1, 2015 $20,000
Jessica Koizumi[8] July 9, 2015 $20,500
Danielle Ward[8] July 9, 2015 $10,000
Micaela Long[9] July 17, 2015 $10,000
Nicole Stock[9] July 17, 2015 $10,000
Jaimie Leonoff[10] July 26, 2015 $10,000
Kelly Babstock[11] August 4, 2015 $18,000
Brittney Dougherty[12] August 13, 2015 $10,000
Shannon Doyle[12] August 13, 2015 $15,000
Yekaterina Smolentseva[13] August 15, 2015 $22,000
Molly Engstrom[14] August 18, 2015 $12,000
Lindsay Berman[15] September 24, 2015 $15,000
Jordan Brickner[15] September 24, 2015 $10,000
Alyssa Wohlfeiler[15] September 24, 2015 $10,000
Kelli Stack[16] September 24, 2015 $25,000

Other

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Name Date Details
Harry Rosenholtz[17] December 24, 2015 Resigned as General Manager
George Speirs[17] December 24, 2015 Named as interim General Manager
Jake Mastel[18] January 29, 2016 Resigned as Head Coach
Heather Linstad[18] January 29, 2016 Named as Head Coach
Lisa Giovanelli[18] January 29, 2016 Named as Assistant Coach

Draft

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The following were the Whale’s selections in the 2015 NWHL Draft on June 20, 2015.[19]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 2 Hannah Brandt F   United States University of Minnesota (WCHA)
2 6 Michelle Picard D   United States Harvard University (ECAC)
3 10 Milica McMillen D   United States University of Minnesota (WCHA)
4 14 Maryanne Menefee F   United States University of Minnesota (WCHA)
5 18 Cassandra Poudrier D   Canada Cornell University (ECAC)

References

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  1. ^ "National Womens Hockey League – 2015–16 Schedule – Connecticut Whale". PHF. December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "National Women's Hockey League – 2015–16 – Connecticut Whale". NWHL.
  3. ^ "Whale Roster | NWHL". NWHL.
  4. ^ "Eliteprospects.com - Connecticut Whale". Elite Prospects.
  5. ^ "NWHL Announces First League Trade". NWHL. January 27, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  6. ^ a b c "Whale Signs Darkangelo, Faber, & Laden". NWHL. June 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "Whale Signs Fratkin, First Canadian in the NWHL". NWHL. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Whale Add Koizumi And Ward Ahead Of Inaugural Season". NWHL. July 9, 2015. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "NCAA Veterans Stock and Long Sign with Connecticut". NWHL. July 17, 2015. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  10. ^ "Yale Alumnae Tomimoto and Leonoff Join Whale". NWHL. July 26, 2015. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  11. ^ "Prolific Forward Babstock Signs With Connecticut". NWHL. August 4, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Doyle and Dougherty Sign With Connecticut". NWHL. August 13, 2015.
  13. ^ "Legendary Olympian Smolentseva Joins the Whale". NWHL. August 15, 2015. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  14. ^ "Two-Time Olympian Engstrom Agrees to Play in Connecticut". NWHL. August 18, 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  15. ^ a b c "Berman, Brickner, Kidd, Wohlfeiler Join NWHL". NWHL. September 24, 2015. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  16. ^ "Team USA's Stack Heads to Connecticut". NWHL. September 24, 2015. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Whale GM Resigns" (PDF). NWHL. December 24, 2015.
  18. ^ a b c "Whale Coach Resigns" (PDF). NWHL. January 29, 2016.
  19. ^ "Draft Live | NWHL". NWHL. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26.

Games

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  1. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Oct 11, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. October 11, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  2. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Oct 18, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. October 18, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Oct 25, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. October 25, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Nov 15, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. November 15, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Nov 22, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  6. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Nov 29, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. November 29, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Dec 6, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Dec 13, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. December 13, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Dec 27, 2015" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. December 27, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Jan 3, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. January 3, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  11. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Jan 9, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. January 9, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  12. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Jan 10, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. January 10, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Jan 17, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. January 17, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  14. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Jan 31, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. January 31, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  15. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Feb 7, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. February 7, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  16. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Feb 14, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. February 14, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  17. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Feb 21, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. February 21, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Regular Season – Feb 28, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. February 28, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  19. ^ "2015-16 NWHL Playoffs – Mar 6, 2016" (PDF). Premier Hockey Federation. March 6, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2022.