NY Riveters Players Rebecca Russo and Madison Packer Selected by Fans to Join Teammate Amanda Kessel at All Star Game

(Photo by Nina Weiss – The Ice Garden)

Rebecca Russo and Madison Packer of the New York Riveters will join their teammate Amanda Kessel in Pittsburgh for the National Women’s Hockey League All Star Game during the weekend of February 11 and 12.

The NWHL made the announcement that Packer and Russo were two of the four players chosen by the fans in the league’s fan vote. Harrison Browne of the Buffalo Beauts and Gigi Marvin of the Boston Pride were the other two players who had received the most votes.

Over 20,000 votes were cast over the past two weeks by the fans. Among the runners-up, receiving strong consideration were Ashley Johnston, Bray Ketchum and Tatiana Rafter from the Riveters, Kelly Babstock and Hailey Skarupa from the Connecticut Whale, Corinne Buie, Shiann Darkangelo and Amanda Levielle of the Beuats and Alex Carpenter, Brianna Decker and Alyssa Gagliardi of the Pride.

The selection process will continue this week as members of the NWHL media will choose two players. Following the vote by the reporters, the two captains, Kelley Steadman of the Beauts and Kessel will select eight players each for their rosters. The final four players will then be chosen by the league’s four head coaches.

Each team will consist of 14 players consisting of two goaltenders, six defensemen and eight forwards. Complete rosters are expected to be announced during the week of January 9.

The 2017 NWHL All Star Skills Festival will take place on Saturday February 11 at 4:00 PM with the game facing off on Sunday February 12 at 3:00 PM. Both events will take place at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The facility is the practice home of the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

Tickets for both the 2017 NWHL All Star Game and the 2017 NWHL All Star Skills Competition are on sale at www.nwhl.zone/tickets.