The New York Riveters selected Boston College forward and 2015 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Alex Carpenter with the first overall pick in Saturday’s inaugural NWHL draft, kickstarting the new league that is set to begin Oct. 17, 2015.
All players who have completed their junior seasons were eligible for selection in the draft and all those selected during the draft will complete their senior seasons at the collegiate level before entering the professional ranks.
NWHL Draft selection order was determined by a lottery, with the league’s four flagship franchises choosing five players each during a five-round, 20-player draft in the following order – New York Riveters, Connecticut Whale, Boston Pride and Buffalo Beauts.
Defending national champion Minnesota had four players chosen, matching Boston College for the most of any school in the country.
Per the NWHL, after completing her college career, a drafted player can then sign with the team that selected her. Or, she can opt into free agency and sign with any of the other three teams. A player who is eligible to be selected and is not drafted becomes a free agent after completing her senior year.
The inaugural NWHL season will take place from October to March, including preseason, an All-Star weekend and playoffs. Each team will have two organized practices per week and play one game each weekend (nine home games and nine away games).
First Round
Alex Carpenter, F, Boston College (Riveters)
Hannah Brandt, F, Minnesota (Whale)
Kendall Coyne, F, Northeastern (Pride)
Courtney Burke, D, Wisconsin (Beauts)
Second Round
Haley Skarupa, F, Boston College (Riveters)
Michelle Picard, D, Harvard College (Whale)
Emerance Maschmeyer, G, Harvard College (Pride)
Sarah Lefort, F, Boston University (Beauts)
Third Round
Erin Ambrose, D, Clarkson (Riveters)
Milica McMillen, D, Minnesota (Whale)
Lexi Bender, D, Boston College (Pride)
Amanda Leveille, G, Minnesota (Beauts)
Fourth Round
Dana Trivigno, F, Boston College (Riveters)
Maryanne Menefee, F, Minnesota (Whale)
Miye D’Oench, F, Harvard (Pride)
Emily Janiga, F, Mercyhurst (Beauts)
Fifth Round
Kimberly Newell, G, Princeton (Riveters)
Cassandra Poudrier, D, Cornell (Whale)
Shannon MacAuley, F, Clarkson (Pride)
Jenna Dingeldein, F, Mercyhurst (Beauts)
