2018–19 Minnesota Whitecaps season

The 2018–19 Minnesota Whitecaps season was the first in franchise history as a member of the National Women's Hockey League, in which the team won the Isobel Cup during their inaugural year.

2018–19 Minnesota Whitecaps
League1 NWHL
2018–19 record12–4–0
Home record6–2–0
Road record6–2–0
Goals for53
Goals against34
Team information
General managerJack Brodt
CoachJack Brodt
Ronda Curtin Engelhardt
ArenaTRIA Rink

Background

On May 15, 2018, the NWHL announced that it had an agreement in principle to acquire ownership of the Whitecaps.[1] The team is expected to join the NWHL as an expansion team for the 2018–19 season. The NWHL arranged with the Minnesota Wild to use TRIA Rink, the Wild's practice facility, as the site for Whitecaps home games.[2] It was reported that the Whitecaps had hired 2018 Olympic gold medal-winning coach Robb Stauber and his wife Shivaun Stauber as coaches, sharing the head coaching responsibilities,[3] but the parties never signed a contract. Whitecaps' founder and general manager Jack Brodt then returned to the coaching position he held prior to joining the NWHL and hired former University of Minnesota player Ronda Curtin Engelhardt as co-coach.[4]

The NWHL unveiled a new logo for the Whitecaps on August 21, 2018. Created by M Style Marketing,[5] the colors incorporate blue, while, silver and black.

Regular season

News and notes
  • On December 29, 2018, the Whitecaps will face the Buffalo Beauts at the KeyBank Center. The event is part of a doubleheader involving both the NWHL and the NHL. After the Whitecaps vs. Beauts game, the Buffalo Sabres will host the Boston Bruins.

Schedule
Regular season schedule

Transactions

Signings
Player Date Previous Team
Amanda Leveille[22]June 18Buffalo Beauts
Hannah Brandt[23]June 20US Olympic Team
Lee SteckleinJune 20US Olympic Team
Kendall Coyne[24]July 26US Olympic Team
Allie Thunstrom[25]August 1Re-signed with Whitecaps
Meghan Pezon[26]August 8Re-signed with Whitecaps
Amanda Boulier [27]August 14, 2018Connecticut Whale
Jonna Curtis[28]August 15New Hampshire Wildcats women's ice hockey
Brooke White-Lancette[29]August 17Re-signed with Whitecaps
Sydney Rossman[30]August 20Connecticut Whale
Lauren Barnes[31]August 22, 2018MSU-Mankato women’s ice hockey
Julie FriendAugust 22, 2018DEC Salzburg Eagles (EWHL)
Sadie LundquistAugust 22, 2018Re-signed with Whitecaps
Amy MenkeAugust 22, 2018Djurgårdens IF (SDHL)
Emma StauberAugust 22, 2018HV-71 (SDHL)

Awards and honors

Regular season

VEDA NWHL Player of the Week

  • Hannah Brandt (Awarded October 8, 2018)[32]
  • Jonna Curtis (Awarded October 22, 2018)[33]
  • Amanda Leveille (Awarded October 29, 2018)[34]
  • Amy Menke (Awarded January 14, 2019)[35]

VEDA NWHL Stars of the Week

  • Minnesota Whitecaps fans (Awarded January 22, 2019)[36]

References
  1. "Finally, NWHL lands Minnesota Whitecaps as its first expansion team". ESPN. May 16, 2018.
  2. "Whitecaps to play their home games at Wild's practice rink". Star Tribune. June 26, 2018.
  3. "Gold-medal winning Robb Stauber will coach Whitecaps". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. May 22, 2018.
  4. "Whitecaps pick former Gophers star Ronda (Curtin) Engelhardt as co-coach with Jack Brodt". Star Tribune. July 12, 2018.
  5. Press Release (21 August 2018). "The New Crest of the Minnesota Whitecaps is Here!". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  6. Amanda Ghysel (6 October 2018). "Whitecaps Win NWHL Debut, 4-0 over Riveters, at Sold-Out TRIA Rink". NWHL.zone.
  7. Amanda Ghysel (7 October 2018). "Brandt, Whitecaps Complete Weekend Sweep of Defending Champion Riveters". NWHL.zone.
  8. Dan Rice (20 October 2018). "Riveters Raise Banner, While Whitecaps Stake Claim as New Contender". NWHL.zone.
  9. Dan Rice (21 October 2018). "Curtis-McGovern-Thunstrom Line Lifts Unbeaten Whitecaps to 6-2 Victory". NWHL.zone.
  10. Amanda Ghysel (27 October 2018). "Curtis Strikes Again As Whitecaps Edge Beauts To Remain Only Undefeated Team". NWHL.zone.
  11. Amanda Physel (28 October 2018). "Whitecaps Squeeze By Beauts Once Again To Remain Unbeaten". NWHL.zone.
  12. Amanda Ghysel (1 December 2018). "Pride Snap Whitecaps' Win Streak In Decisive Fashion". NWHL.zone.
  13. Amanda Ghysel (2 December 2018). "Pride Make Statement, Sweep Weekend Series of Whitecaps". NWHL.zone.
  14. Amanda Ghysel (29 December 2018). "Stecklein's Late Goal Propels Whitecaps to Win over Beauts At KeyBank Center". NWHL.zone.
  15. Nathaniel A. Oliver (30 December 2018). "Elia's Four Points Power Beauts To Decisive Victory Over Whitecaps". NWHL.zone.
  16. Amanda Ghysel (12 January 2019). "Pride Edge Whitecaps, 5-4, Before Sold-Out Crowd in Boston". NWHL.zone.
  17. Amanda Ghysel (13 January 2019). "Whitecaps Get Back In Win Column With 4-1 Victory Over Whale". NWHL.zone.
  18. Amanda Ghysel (19 January 2019). "Thunstrom, Brandt and Whitecaps Defeat Whale, 2-0". NWHL.zone.
  19. Amanda Ghysel (20 January 2019). "Whitecaps Complete Weekend Sweep of Connecticut". NWHL.zone.
  20. Jane Norton (2 March 2019). "Late Goal by Curtis Gives Whitecaps Crucial 2-1 Victory in Boston". NWHL.zone.
  21. Amanda Ghysel (3 March 2019). "Whitecaps Claim Regular-Season Title With 4-1 Win Over Whale".
  22. "Leveille Returns to Minnesota, Joins the Whitecaps". NWHL.zone By Catherine Shelton and Jane Norton. June 18, 2018.
  23. "Team USA Gold Medalists Hannah Brandt and Lee Stecklein Join NWHL's Minnesota Whitecaps". NWHL.zone. June 20, 2018.
  24. Mike Murphy. "Kendall Coyne Schofield signs with the Minnesota Whitecaps". SB Nation: The Ice Garden. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  25. "Whitecaps Add USNT Forward Allie Thunstrom". NWHL. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  26. "Minnesota Whitecaps Sign Meaghan Pezon". NWHL. August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  27. Press Release (14 August 2018). "All-Star Defender Amanda Boulier Takes Her Talents to Minnesota". NWHL.zone. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  28. Press Release (15 August 2018). "Whitecaps Sign UNH Leading Scorer Jonna Curtis". NWHL.zone. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  29. Press Release (17 August 2018). "Original Whitecap Brooke White-Lancette Joins Team for First NWHL Season". NWHL.zone. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  30. Press Release (20 August 2018). "Sydney Rossman Comes Home to Minnesota". NWHL.zone. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  31. Press Release (22 August 2018). "Whitecaps Sign Amy Menke, Sadie Lundquist, Lauren Barnes, Emma Stauber & Julie Friend". NWHL.zone. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  32. Jane Norton and Amanda Ghysel (8 October 2018). "Whitecaps' Star Hannah Brandt Named VEDA NWHL Player of the Week". NWHL.zone. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  33. Jane Norton and Amanda Ghysel (October 22, 2018). "NWHL Top Scorer Jonna Curtis is the VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone.
  34. Jane Norton and Alexis Pearson (October 29, 2018). "Clutch in Wins over Buffalo, Leveille Named VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone.
  35. Amanda Ghysel (January 14, 2019). "Menke's Five-Point Weekend Earns Her VEDA Player of the Week". NWHL.zone.
  36. Jane Norton (January 22, 2019). "NWHL Names Minnesota Whitecaps Fans the VEDA Stars of the Week". NWHL.zone.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.