Rebecca Morse (Michael Hertzel/@NWHL)

The New York Riveters announced on Tuesday that Westfield, New Jersey defender, Rebecca Morse will be returning for her second season at Barnabas Health Hockey House in Newark.

Last season, Morse was mainly a practice squad player but got into the lineup for seven games for the Riveters. In four seasons at Providence College, the five-foot-eight defender put up 16 goals and 45 assists in 135 games.

During her time with the Friars, she was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team her freshman year and received an honorable mention to the All-Hockey East in her junior season. Prior to her collegiate career, she attended the National Sports Academy, in Lake Placid, New York. Morse captained the New York State Championship team her senior season.

Morse’s early hockey career she played for the New Jersey Colonials Under-12 and U-14 teams. The Colonials went to nationals twice and finished third both times during her career with the organization. She added, “I will always have fond memories of that organization and the teammates whom I shared that experience with.”

The 25-year-old marketing graduate with a Masters of Business Administration also works for UBS Financial Services, in the marketing department in addition to her playing career with the Riveters.

In sharing some thoughts on her experiences with the Riveters and the National Women’s Hockey League, she went on to say, “Playing professional hockey last season was undoubtedly the coolest experience that I have had in my life thus far. In my home state, at the facility of my favorite NHL team, the New Jersey Devils. Most of all, I cherished being able to look up in the stands and see a younger version of myself cheering us on. There were often young girls from the New Jersey Colonials at our home games, so everything came full circle. It is humbling to give back to the sport and the community that gave so much to me.”

Morse continued, “Because I was a practice player last season, I feel as though I still have a lot to prove. No one would prefer to watch games from the stands, but I really enjoyed pushing my teammates in practice and sharing in our success. Fortunately, I was able to help the team when we had injuries and play in a number of games. My goal is to earn a more consistent role in the lineup this season.”

“From a team perspective, the expectation is to be playing in the championship game in March and bring home the Isobel Cup. We felt we were close last year, beating Boston at the end of the regular season, but we came up short in the playoffs. The goal will be to peak at the right time and play our best hockey when it matters most. We have a nice core group of players returning with some great additions, so I am very eager to get back on the ice and start working towards that goal together.”  

The Riveters open the third season on October 28 at 2:00 PM as the Boston Pride visit the Barnabas Health Hockey House, attached to the Prudential Center, in Newark.