In honor of the start of the season, here’s this!
Now with the promised text-only edition below!
Slide 1:
[image: The Connecticut Whale logo (a blue silhouette of a whale surrounded by a blue, white, and green letter C appears in the background]
Your 2022-23 Connecticut Whale—a primer by whalepropaganda
Slide 2: Overview.
The Connecticut Whale is a professional hockey team that plays within the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF; formerly known as the National Women’s Hockey League, or NWHL). The Whale is one of the Founding Four teams in the league and the only one of those four that has yet to win the Isobel Cup. They were really bad for several years, but now they’re really good!
NUMBER ONE IN THE LEAGUE LAST SEASON BAYBEYYYY
[image: A red arrow points toward a partial screenshot of the 2021-22 PHF standings. The Whale are at the top of the standings.]
anyway then they lost to Boston in the Isobel Cup Final and honestly I’m still Quite Annoyed About It
Whale games are broadcast on ESPN+ in the US, TSN+ in Canada, and ESPN Affiliates in other countries.
Whale home games will (mostly) take place at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury.
[image: a partial map of New England. The location of the International Skating Center of Connecticut is circled in red and has an arrow pointing to it. The city of Boston is visible near the edge of the map and is crossed out with a red X]
Slide 3: Oh Captain My Captain
[image: Shannon Turner smiling while surrounded by several teammates, all wearing the Whale’s 2021-22 pride jerseys]
Shannon Turner (prev. Shannon Doyle)
Position: Defender | Born: March 6, 1992 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Markham, Ontario, Canada
2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 2 | A 5 | Pts 7 | PIM 10
• One of the few remaining original NWHLers!
• Also an English teacher!
• Was part of the first Canadian roster to win a gold medal at U18 Women’s Worlds (2010)!
• Won a 2021–22 PHF Foundation Award!
• Came out of retirement for last season and got soooo close to winning the Cup, but alas L L L She says this will be her last season, so I’m gonna need the Whale to remember one thing:
[image: “Do it for her” meme from the Simpsons, with photos of Shannon added to it]
This is Theo! He’s excellent.
[image: A red arrow points toward a photo of a very cute German Shepherd dog]
Slide 4: Alternate Captains
Alyssa, Janine, and Emma are returning As; Kennedy is new to the leadership group [smiley face emote]
Alyssa Wohlfeiler
[image: photo of Alyssa from during a game]
Position: Forward | Born: May 6, 1989 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Saugus, California, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 8 | A 8 | Pts 16 | PIM 8
• Wohlfy!
• An original NWHLer
Janine Weber
[image: headshot of Janine in her Whale jersey]
Position: Forward | Born: June 19, 1991 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Innsbruck, Austria
2021–22 stats: GP 16 | G 5 | A 8 | Pts 13 | PIM 6
• The first player ever to sign an NWHL contract!
• Won 2015 Clarkson Cup (CWHL), 3x D1A Worlds silver & more
Emma Vlasic
[image: photo of Emma in her jersey from the 2021-22 All-Star Game]
Position: Forward | Born: September 2, 1996 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 4 | A 9 | Pts 13 | PIM 4
• Like basically every player with the last name Vlasic, she’s Pickles
Kennedy Marchment
[image: photo of Kennedy in street clothes, flashing a peace sign]
Position: Forward | Born: December 6, 1996 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Courtice, Ontario, Canada
2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 13 | A 20 | Pts 33 | PIM 8
• Holy crap she’s good
• 2021–22 PHF MVP!
• Led league in assists and points last season
Slide 5: Returning Forwards
Amanda Conway
[image: photo of Amanda Conway wearing her 2021-22 pride jersey]
Born: December 26, 1996 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Methuen, Massachusetts, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 12 | A 9 | Pts 21 | PIM 4
• Nineteenth overall pick in the 2020 draft!
• Ranked second in goals and third in points on the Whale last season
• One of the most, if not the most, underrated Whale players imho
Janka Hlinka
[image: photo of Janka from during a game]
Born: October 31, 1995 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Stratford, Connecticut, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 16 | G 1 | A 1 | Pts 2 | PIM 2
• Born in USA but represents Slovakia in international competition!
• Also known as Janka Hlinkova
• Won D1A bronze in 2022
Taylor Girard
[image: photo of Taylor in athleticwear, giving a thumbs up]
Born: July 17, 1998 | Height: 5’10” | Hometown: Macomb, Michigan, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 11 | A 13 | Pts 24 | PIM 14
• First overall pick in the 2021 Draft!
• 2021–22 PHF Newcomer of the Year
• Ranked second on the team in assists and points
• Also tied for second in PIM lol
Melissa Samoskevich
[image: headshot of Melissa in her Whale jersey, doing the Brandon Tanev stare]
Born: March 31, 1997 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Sandy Hook, Connecticut, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 7 | G 1 | A 1 | Pts 2 | PIM 0
• Second overall pick in the 2018 draft!
• Won U18 Worlds silver in 2014 and gold in 2015 (and scored the most goals of the 2015 tournament, with six)
• Won gold at Worlds in 2019
Slide 6: Returning Defenders
Tori Howran
[image: photo of Tori in her jersey from the 2021-22 All-Star Game]
Born: June 11, 1998 | Height: 5’9” | Hometown: Bancroft, Ontario, Canada
2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 0 | A 8 | Pts 8 | PIM 10
• Seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft!
• Won silver at U18 Worlds in 2016
• Co-owns a business called A&T Sewing and makes very cute stuff
Hannah Bates
[image: photo of Hannah wearing an athletic shirt with the Whale logo]
Born: May 20, 1999 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Trenton, Michigan, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 1 | A 4 | Pts 5 | PIM 6
• Twentieth overall pick in the 2021 draft!
• Currently youngest player on the team
• Adorable tbh
Allie Munroe
[image: photo of Allie wearing her jersey from the 2021-22 All-Star Game]
Born: April 20, 1997 | Height: 5’6” | Hometown: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 3 | A 10 | Pts 13 | PIM 14
• Led Whale defenders in scoring last season
• Nominated for 2021–22 PHF Defender of the Year
Slide 7: Returning Goalie
Abbie Ives
[image: photo of Abbie in street clothes, holding her sticks]
Born: October 7, 1998 | Height: 5’11” | Hometown: Bedford Hills, New York, USA
2021–22 stats: GS 15 | W 10 | L 3 | OTL 2 | Sv% .894
• Nominated for 2021–22 PHF Goaltender of the Year!
• The tallest member of the team
• Notorious among her teammates for her phone always being dead
Slide 8: Whalecome Back
(players who used to play for the Whale and then didn’t play for the Whale and now are once again playing for the Whale)
Kateřina Mrázová
[image: photo of Katka in her Team Czechia jersey, holding her bronze medal from 2022 Worlds]
Position: Forward | Born: October 19, 1992 | Height: 5’5” | Hometown: Praha, Czechia
Most recent team(s): Team Czechia; Brynäs IF (SDHL)
• Katka!
• Played for the Whale in 2018–19
• Won 2013 Clarkson Cup (CWHL)
• Won D1A Worlds gold in 2014 and 2015
• Won bronze at Worlds in 2022 (Czechia’s first medal at that tournament!)
Meeri Räisänen
[image: photo of Meeri in her Team Finland jersey, sticking her tongue out]
Position: Goalie | Born: December 2, 1989 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Tampere, Finland
Most recent team(s): Team Finland; JYP U20 Akatemia (U20 Mestis)
• Played for the Whale in 2018–19
• Won bronze medals at Worlds in 2015 and 2021
• Won bronze at the Olympics in 2018 and 2022
Slide 9: Primer I Hardly Know ‘Er!
(the new additions)
Caitrin Lonergan
[image: photo of Caitrin in her Clarkson University jersey]
Position: Forward | Born: September 10, 1997 | Height: 5’6” | Hometown: Roslindale, Massachusetts, USA
Most recent team(s): Clarkson University
• U18 silver (2014)
• U18 gold (2015)
Lenka Serdar
[image: photo of Lenka in her Whale jersey]
Position: Forward | Born: July 21, 1997 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
Most recent team(s): Team Czechia; Linköping HC (SDHL)
• Born in US but plays for Czechia
• Competed at 2021 Worlds and the 2022 Olympics
Justine Reyes
[image: photo of Justine in street clothes]
Position: Forward | Born: February 14, 1997 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Chino Hills, California, USA
Most recent team(s): Linköping HC (SDHL)
• Was 2018–19 MVP at St. Lawrence University
Emma Keenan
[image: photo of Emma in her Buffalo Beauts jersey]
Position: Defender | Born: November 26, 1997 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Mission Viejo, California, USA
Most recent team(s): Buffalo Beauts (PHF)
• 2x NCAA champion with Clarkson University
Mallory Souliotis
[image: photo of Mal in her Boston Pride jersey and a bucket hat after winning the Isobel Cup in 2022 (sigh)]
Position: Defender | Born: April 1, 1996 | Height: 5’5” | Hometown: Acton, Massachusetts, USA
Most recent team(s): Boston Pride (PHF)
• 2x Isobel Cup champion with the Pride (2021, 2022)
• Won a 2018–19 PHF Foundation Award
Tori Sullivan
[image: photo of Tori in her Boston Pride jersey]
Position: Forward | Born: August 4, 1996 | Height: 5’5” | Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan, USA
Most recent team(s): Boston Pride (PHF)
• 2x Isobel Cup champion with the Pride (2021, 2022)
Slide 10
Misc. Fun Facts
• Jessica Strack, who was a practice player for most of last season and officially signed with the team late in the season, is back as a practice player for 2022–23. She’s also the Whale’s current equipment manager.
• Longtime NWHL/PHF player and 2018 Isobel Cup champion Kiira Dosdall-Arena (D) is a practice player this season.
• Meeri and Katka are sharing a beach rental in Milford for the season (seemingly also with the Whale’s new athletic trainer). Taylor, Amanda, Tori H., and Hannah are also sharing a rental on the beach. (I feel like these are fun facts, idk)
“Is [Whale Player] Related to [Dude]?” Containment Zone
• Mason Marchment is Kennedy’s cousin
• Alex Vlasic is Emma’s brother, and Marc-Édouard Vlasic is her cousin
• Mackie Samoskevich is Melissa’s brother
• The cool guy who showed up to the 2022 playoffs in a whale costume is Janine’s husband, Bruce
Team Staff
• Coach: Colton Orr
• Assistant coaches: Jeff Devenney, Sue Merz
• Consulting coach: Jack Han
• General manager: Alexis Moed
Where Are They Now?
(i.e., are players from the 2021–22 roster playing hockey this season, and if so, where?)
• Hanna Beattie: Whale director of youth hockey and gameday operations
• Kaycie Anderson: Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)
• Taylor Marchin: Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)
• Catherine Crawley: Metropolitan Riveters (PHF)
• Kati Tabin: Toronto Six (PHF)
• Mariah Fujimagari: AIK (SDHL)
• Rebecca Morse: no team as of Nov. 5, 2022
• Emily Fluke: no team as of Nov. 5, 2022
• Cailey Hutchison: no team as of Nov. 5, 2022
• Emma Polaski: no team as of Nov. 5, 2022
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