Hartford Whale – Anya Battaglino (Twitter)

The Connecticut Whale re-signed 2016-2017 Fans’ Three Stars Award recipient Anya Battaglino for the 2017-2018 National Women’s Hockey League season on Friday. The Whale sent out a press release with the news. 

Battaglino, the Director of the NWHL Players’ Association, has played 13 games for the Whale over the first two seasons of the league. During the inaugural season of the NWHL in 2015-2016, she was a nominee for the NWHL Foundation and the Denna Laing Award. Last season she was nominated for the Denna Laing Award again and was a recipient of the Fans’ Three Star Award.

The Waltham, Massachusetts native played two years with the Boston University Terriers and two seasons with the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. During that time she was earning her degree in Marine Biology from BU. In her first season with the Blades, she helped guide them to a Clarkson Cup Championship.

In regards to the re-signing, Battaglino stated:

“Signing a season three contract with the Whale is one of the proudest moments of my NWHL career. I am a full contract player now after working hard as a practice player. I am so happy to have earned the full-time spot with the Whale.”

Anya Battaglino developed her game with Waltham Youth Hockey, before playing for the East Coast Wizards in Bedford, Massachusetts. With the Wizards, she was coached by Paul Kennedy, the father of U.S. Olympic Team member Courtney Kennedy. In regards to the duo, Battaglino added that Courtney was the reason she fell in love with women’s hockey. She felt confident enough to say she felt like a hot-shot with Mr. Kennedy as her coach.

In addition to her career in the NWHL, Battaglino works selling cyber security events for Gartner Worldwide Events. Go to Stamford, Connecticut and you’ll find it. She is very grateful for the support the senior leaders provide for her. She believes their kindness shows how willing people are in order for others to fulfill their dreams. 

In discussing the NWHL and the Whale, Anya stated:

 “Watching how the team has grown and changed and succeeded and struggled has made me elevate all levels of my game. Joining the Connecticut Whale and moving from my hometown was a humbling decision, but signing my season three contract feels like, `Hey Connecticut, I am here, and I am home.’ I am so inspired to continue to pave the way for the betterment of women in power positions. We are changing the world, and season three for the NWHL is just proof of that.”

The NWHL will drop the puck on the third season in October. The Whale, New York Riveters, Boston Pride and Buffalo Beauts will battle in their pursuit of the 2018 Isobel Cup. All four teams will play the full slate of home games in 2017-2018.