New York Riveters Sign Alexa Gruschow

Alexa Gruschow ((c) Shelley M. Szwast 2013)

The New York Riveters on Monday announced that they have signed Alexa Gruschow to a 12,000-dollar one-year contract for the 2016-2017 National Women’s Hockey League season.

Gruschow said, “I decided to join the NWHL because I want to continue playing the sport that I love. It is amazing that there is a professional women’s hockey league in the U.S. that provides such great opportunities for female athletes.”

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduate scored 46 goals and 47 assists for 93 points in 133 National Collegiate Athletic Association games. In her senior season, the RPI captain, led her team in points.

The weekend of June 10 to June 12, she attended the first ever NWHL Free Agent camp, at the Barnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey. Gruschow added, “I am honored to be a part of this league and am excited to join the Riveters. I am looking forward to being a part of this team and joining a program that serves as inspiration to young girls in our sport. I can’t wait for the competitive season to begin!”

Prior to attending RPI, the Mechanicburg, Pennsylvania native scored 48 goals and 60 assists for 108 points in 62 games, with the Washington Pride of the Junior Women’s Hockey League. During high school she competed fro four years on the boys’ hockey team as well as four years of Track and two in Cross-Country.

Gruschow is expected to provide some depth up front for the Riveters for the upcoming season.

Restricted free agency period is scheduled to continue until July 31, as the four NWHL teams will continue to fill their rosters for the 2016-2017 season. The second NWHL Draft was held this past Saturday, June 18, as all four teams made their selection of some of the top college juniors.