Metropolitan Riveters Sign Princeton University Forward, Fiona McKenna

The Metropolitan Riveters announced on Friday that they have signed Princeton University forward, Fiona McKenna for the 2018-2019 National Women’s Hockey League season.

McKenna joins fellow Princeton Tiger, Kelsey Koelzer, who recently also just re-signed with a Riveters team that will try and keep the Isobel Cup in Newark this season. The strong two-way forward put up 11 goals and 17 assists in 115 games during her four-year career at Princeton.

The Burr Ridge, Illinois native said, “I was determined to join the NWHL after seeing and hearing first-hand from one of my best friends and teammates at Princeton, Kelsey Koelzer, on the culture and pioneering success of the NWHL, and specifically the Riveters. For the past year I missed the game of hockey and being on a team, and I am thankful to have the opportunity to play for the Riveters and support the growth of women’s professional hockey.”

McKenna also represented the Tigers on the soccer field. Prior to skating for Princeton, she represented Team USA at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 World Championships, helping her country capture the silver.

The five-foot-eight, defensive forward, developed her game in the Chicago Mission Hockey Club with current Riveters’ goaltender and 2018 Isobel Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player, Katie Fitzgerald.

She added, “My playing style revolves around strong skating and I like to focus on working as hard as I can each and every shift on the forecheck and the backcheck. I hope to contribute to the reigning Isobel Cup Champions in whatever role and whatever way the team needs.”

In Other News:

The NWHL announced that they will not hold their annual draft over the summer this season. The past three seasons, the league’s draft was held during the offseason, as they made their selections of players that had just completed their junior seasons.

The league still plans to hold an entry draft at some point this season. At the conclusion of the 2017-2018 NWHL season, the league started considering different times to hold the draft in efforts to find an appropriate time that would work for the teams, the players and even help to shine a brighter spotlight on the game.

With all of the interesting things going on with the future of women’s hockey, the NWHL is looking to engage in more discussions regarding the draft. The league intends to reach a decision that should help to grow the game in the near future.