NWHL Announces Goaltenders and Defenders for Games Against Team USA

The National Women’s Hockey League announced the two goaltenders and eight defenders, selected to represent Team NWHL in two exhibition games, against the United States Women’s National Team, being played in Tampa, Florida on January 13 and 15.

5 Riveters on Blueline & 1 in Net for Team NWHL

Six players from the Metropolitan Riveters received the honors to skate for the league, as they help Team USA in their two final matchups before heading over to South Korea in their quest for Olympic gold. Katie Fitzgerald will be between the posts for the NWHL squad, as her Riveters teammates, Courtney Burke, Kiira Dosdall, Kelsey Kolzer, Michelle Picard and Jenny Ryan will help the league patrol the blueline for the two matchups in Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The six Riveters stars will be joined on the Team NWHL roster by Boston Pride netminder Brittany Ott along with Pride defenders Lexi Bender and Alyssa Gagliardi and Buffalo Beauts blueliner Sarah Edney.

NWHL to Help Team USA Prep for Olympics in Florida Sun

The two teams will faceoff Saturday January 13 at 6:15 pm and Monday January 15 at 2:15 pm at the United States National Team’s training facility, Florida Hospital Center Ice, in the Tampa suburb of Wesley Chapel. This will serve as Team USA’s final two tune-ups before the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

“We are incredibly excited about this experience for our players, and we are very proud to play this important role in USA Hockey’s preparation for the Olympics,” said Deputy Commissioner, Hayley Moore, who will serve as the general manager for Team NWHL. “These players have all earned their opportunity in the spotlight. They will be representing the entire NWHL. The depth in our league is so strong, that many players were considered for spots on this roster, but we feel confident the group we have assembled will offer excellent competition to Team USA.”

As with the forwards, who were announced on Wednesday, Moore selected the defenders and goaltenders with the help of the league’s four coaches. Riveters head coach Chad Wiseman will guide Team NWHL, with the assistance behind the bench from Pride coaches Thomas Poeck and Lindsay Berman.

NWHL Resumes Play January 6 & 7 2018

The NWHL, currently on its holiday break, resumes play on January 6, 2018 at 1:30 pm, when the Beauts welcome the Pride to the HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York. The Riveters will host the Connecticut Whale on Sunday January 7 at 3:00 pm, at the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey.