Courtney Burke and Rebecca Russo (Photo via Twitter – @MeiGray)

The New York Riveters announced on Wednesday that they have re-signed, All Star defenseman, Courtney Burke for the 2017-2018 National Women’s Hockey League season.

This past season, Burke led the Riveters blueliners in scoring, as she put up three goals and eight assists in 13 games. The five-foot-nine Albany, New York native represented Team Kessel at the 2017 NWHL All-Star Game at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

In four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, Burke scored 18 goals and 90 assists in 153 games. She was a Second-Team All-American during her senior season. She also helped the United States Women’s National, Under-18 team capture the gold in 2011 and the silver in 2012.

The Life Sciences and Communications graduate said, “I can’t thank Wisconsin enough for some of the best years of my life. It was a top-notched school and hockey program. I grew a lot there as a person and a player. I would tell anyone to go there, as I wish I could do it all over.”

Prior to patrolling the blueline for the Badgers, Burke attended Shattuck-St. Mary Prep School in Faribault, Minnesota. While at Shattuck, she put up 66 goals and 164 assists, in 147 games, while helping the school win two national championships.

In discussing her time at the prep school, she said, “Shattuck-St. Mary was the place that I grew up. Everyone there was trying to excel at their respective sport, which made me a better competitor and player. I made friends for life there. It is a special place.”

When not on the ice with the Riveters, Burke works for the Manhattan based recruiting firm, The Atlantic Group. She said, “I am really fortunate to have such a great employer like the Atlantic Group that is supportive of my hockey career as well as my business career. I work with amazing people.”

Burke added, “I am really excited to be back with the Rivs. A huge part of our core is coming back this year, so being accustomed to each other’s style of play should make things easier at the start of the season. We had a great year last season and I am looking to another fun year with this group.”

The Riveters are scheduled to begin season three in October, at the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House, in Newark, New Jersey. Along with the Boston Pride and Connecticut Whale, the Riveters three teams will face off, in two games each, against the Russian Women’s National Team in the NWHL/Team Russia Summit Series.