University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Whitecaps Join NWHL
5/16/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The NWHL has extended its reach by expanding to Minnesota for the 2018-19 season.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) has extended its reach by expanding to Minnesota with the acquisition of the Minnesota Whitecaps, the league's fifth team, the NWHL announced during a press conference in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday.
The Minnesota Whitecaps join the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, and Metropolitan Riveters for the league's fourth season in 2018-19.
Among those in attendance for the expansion announcement were Gopher alumnae Amanda Leveille, the 2018 NWHL Goaltender of the Year and a Buffalo Beauts player; Winny Brodt Brown, the captain of the Whitecaps, a former member of the U.S. National Team, and the first-ever recipient of the Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award; and Chelsey Brodt Rosenthal, a long-time Whitecaps player; along with Gophers head coach Brad Frost and WCHA vice president and women's league commissioner Katie Million.
"We are ecstatic to welcome Minnesota to the NWHL," said NWHL League Founder and Commissioner Dani Rylan. "Minnesota is an essential part of women's hockey in North America. When you consider all of the talented players in this area and the passion this community has for the game, the Whitecaps are going to be incredible on and off the ice. The women's hockey players of Minnesota are among the best in the world at what they do and now they'll have an opportunity to play professionally. After all, the young girls of this state should be able to dream as big as their brothers. Having Minnesota in the NWHL expands our national footprint and grows our game in so many ways. This is a monumental step for the NWHL."
Tuesday's expansion announcement included remarks from Rylan, NWHL Deputy Commissioner Hayley Moore, and Governor Mark Dayton.
"I am thrilled to welcome the National Women's Hockey League to the State of Hockey," said Governor Dayton. "I am very proud of our Minnesota Whitecaps and the exceptionally talented Minnesotans who play for them. I look forward to cheering, as they win the Isobel Cup next year! Let's play hockey!"
Like the NWHL's founding four teams when the league began in 2015, the Minnesota Whitecaps will be owned initially by the league. Last season, Pegula Sports & Entertainment, the owners of the Buffalo Sabres, Bills and other local franchises, acquired the Beauts, while the New Jersey Devils formed a strategic alignment with the Riveters.
The Whitecaps were founded in 2004. Among their alumni are legends such as Angela Ruggiero, Julie Chu, and Natalie Darwitz. The Olympic gold medal-winning Team USA in 2018 included Whitecaps Hannah Brandt, Kendall Coyne, Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, and Alex Rigsby. Lisa Chesson, currently a defender for the Buffalo Beauts and member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 2010, is a former member of the Whitecaps.
The Whitecaps' 2017-18 roster included Gopher alums Katie Frischmann, Paige Haley, Mira Jalosuo, Becky Kortum, Kate Schipper, and Shyler Sletta, along with Brown and Rosenthal.
"On behalf of my teammates and everyone in the Whitecaps organization, I want to say that this is an incredible moment for women's hockey in Minnesota and we're truly excited to become a member club in the NWHL," said Winny Brodt Brown. "We are determined to have a women's professional team that the hockey fans of Minnesota can be proud of. I'm looking forward to hitting the ice with my teammates and being able to play for the Isobel Cup!"
"It's an exciting day for women's hockey with Minnesota joining the NWHL! The state of Minnesota produces many outstanding players, so it's awesome that those players can now compete professionally," said Gopher alum and 2018 Olympic gold medalist Gigi Marvin, who is also a member of the NWHL's Boston Pride.
"The Whitecaps have done an excellent job of growing the game in the state of Minnesota, and it's exciting to see how far this program has come," said Gopher alum and 2018 Olympic gold medalist Hannah Brandt. "It's an organization full of people that are extremely passionate about women's hockey and positive role models that young players in the state can look up to. I'm really excited to see the Whitecaps join the NWHL as we all continue to advance the game together."
Check out reactions and media coverage of the announcement below and follow the hashtag #NWHLtoMinnesota for more news.
The Moment Minnesota officially became a part of the @nwhl 💙#Whitecaps #Whitecapshockey #Hockey @NWHL @Buccigross pic.twitter.com/OTmauqA2i6
— Minnesota Whitecaps (@WhitecapsHockey) May 15, 2018
Hey, it's Lev!#NWHLtoMinnesota pic.twitter.com/OR3UNW4roz
— NWHL (@NWHL) May 15, 2018
"When I graduated from the University of Minnesota, I didn't know what the future held for me in terms of hockey, but the last two seasons playing in the @NWHL have been incredible, getting paid to do what I love." - @MandyLeveille29 pic.twitter.com/GgUY5bXNKI
— Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) May 15, 2018
"We are going to see the game get even better because all these college kids have a bigger reason to play." —Winny Brodt-Brown pic.twitter.com/eMfWGkKRik
— Minnesota Whitecaps (@WhitecapsHockey) May 15, 2018
Exciting @NWHL and @WhitecapsHockey news today! Couldn't be happier for #wmnshky with this awesome announcement! Looking forward to seeing some of our #wchaalumni playing on this new #nwhl team! 🏒❤️👊🏻 #wearewcha #leadersandchampions pic.twitter.com/O96Oxezgs4
— Katie Million (@katie25million) May 15, 2018
"It's really special. For our Minnesota players, to know they now can stay home and play professional hockey, not only with @WhitecapsHockey but in the @NWHL, it's an incredible opportunity." - @FrostBrad pic.twitter.com/nL716EX7TQ
— Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) May 15, 2018
Need a @WhitecapsHockey jersey ASAP!! #nwhl
— Lindsay Whalen (@Lindsay_13) May 16, 2018
We ❤️ ya, @WhitecapsHockey! What a special day for women's hockey. #NWHLtoMinnesota pic.twitter.com/3xHrjtLB3F
— Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) May 15, 2018
The @NWHL announces expansion to Minnesota.
The Minnesota Whitecaps, formerly a club team, has been acquired by the league and will begin play in the 2018-19 season.
"The young girls of this state should be able to dream as big as their brothers." -NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan pic.twitter.com/htan8shLVp— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) May 15, 2018
🏒 @WhitecapsHockey join @NWHL beginning with 2018-19 season → https://t.co/Og9HzwnTIs #StateOfHockey pic.twitter.com/Ci2JiqPDff
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) May 15, 2018
.@WhitecapsHockey is officially the fifth and newest member of the @NWHL. Team captain Winny Brodt-Brown and league commissioner Dani Rylan sat down with @gopherstate for a talk on the team's plans, the state of the league and what comes next.https://t.co/onGxynm8hP
— The Athletic (@TheAthleticMIN) May 16, 2018
The MN Whitecaps, longtime home of the state's top women's players and off-year Olympians, will join the National Women's Hockey League for the 2018-19 season. https://t.co/eBgKUQ83B7 pic.twitter.com/HwNomml7sl
— KARE 11 (@kare11) May 15, 2018
@BlountStrib on @WhitecapsHockey joining the NWHL. https://t.co/TqheoeT0ha
— Patrick Borzi (@BorzMN) May 16, 2018
Fourteen years after Jack Brodt and a partner formed @WhitecapsHockey, Minnesota's post-grad team lands in the #NWHL. Now the hard part: Finding a home rink, players, and solvency. https://t.co/AnIr8mAZkU
— Patrick Borzi (@BorzMN) May 16, 2018
###
