Lisa Giovanelli Named GM of Connecticut Whale

The Connecticut Whale of the National Women’s Hockey League announced on Friday that Lisa Giovanelli has been named General Manager.

Giovanelli served as an assistant coach with the Whale in 2015-2016, helping guide the club to a 13-5-0 record during the regular season. In a press release from the league, NWHL Commissioner, Dani Rylan said, “Lisa Giovanelli is an integral part of the Connecticut Whale organization, and we are excited to have her return for the 2016-2017 season as general manager and assistant coach.”
Giovanelli, a native of West Haven, Connecticut, served as an assistant coach with Quinnipiac University prior to the Whale. She has won five gold medals, three silver and two bronze with the United States Women’s Inline Hockey Team.

During her collegiate career with Northeastern University, Giovanelli was named Most Valuable Player of the Beanpot Tournament and served as an assistant captain during her senior year.
On being named general manager, Giovanelli said, “I am very honored and excited to continue as assistant coach and to add the title of GM for this upcoming season.” She added, “I am proud to have been a part of the inaugural season of the NWHL and I truly believe that the best is yet to come for our sport, this league and for the Connecticut Whale organization.”

With the free agency period set to begin May 1 running through July 31 and the junior draft on June 18, Giovanelli said, “To build our team this year, I am looking for players who have great character and will help us create great chemistry on and off the ice. The talent level is going to be even higher than it was this past season, so to be successful we need to be committed to working hard every shift and playing disciplined in every zone.”

The NWHL is the first professional league in North America to pay its players, which began play on October 11 with its four founding teams being the Whale, New York Riveters, Boston Pride and Buffalo Beauts. The Pride became the first team to raise the Isobel Cup as league champions on March 12.