Story of the Week

The Buffalo Beauts dropped a bit of a bombshell on Monday evening, announcing that they would be facing off against Team Russia for a four game series this week in Southern Ontario. The games are free and everyone in the St Catharines and Niagara Falls area are strongly encouraged to go, the hockey should be top notch. Russia has more or less dominated the NWHL in their previous two series against the league, but this is a much improved Buffalo roster, to say nothing of Szabados and Hensley in net.

Of course the announcement raises a lot of questions. Considering the visas involved (for both teams, since almost nobody involved in this tournament is Canadian) and that the Russian Women’s Hockey League is on break at the moment, it would seem this tournament was planned a while in advance. Why only announce it on Monday?  Is the NWHL going to stream any of the games? Why in Ontario?

Who’s playing? Okay, that one we can answer. Patrick Conway has the latest roster in his weekly Russian women’s hockey update. Whale goalie and former Thunder draft pick Mariya Sorokina will be playing with the Russian team for the first time in a while. Galina Skiba, who was one of the players banned from the Olympics for doping, is back with the team. Plus you’ll see stars like Anna Shokhina and Olga Sosina.

So, great hockey in rinks that don’t normally see top-level women’s talent. If you go, make sure to put it up on Periscope for the rest of us!

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Here’s the letter in full. We don’t have any further details at this point but this is my personal opinion: Graeme Roustan has been one of those people whose involvement with the CWHL has raised some eyebrows. Some of his business deals have been questionable. Recently (over the past year or so) The Hockey News, a publication in which he has a financial stake, has printed articles where the slant of information about the CWHL is not untrue but it’s not quite true either.  I would not be surprised if there was more to this story.

International Hockey

IIHF - Vanisova brings excitement
Czech ace stoked for 10 Olympic women’s teams

IIHF - Germany confirms Franziska Busch
Franziska Busch is the new head coach of the German U18 women’s national team

IIHF - Kunast to coach German women
Germany’s current U20 national team coach will lead women’s team in 2019

NWHL

The Riveters second line breaks through - The Ice Garden
The trio of Gruschow, Richards, and D’Oench could be just what the Riveters need to start turning things around

NWHL Weekend Wrap: Week Six
The Metropolitan Riveters defeated the Connecticut Whale in a shootout thanks to Amanda Kessel in NWHL action on November 25.

Photo Gallery: Pride top Beauts - The Ice Garden
Boston takes round 1 of the two-game weekend series. Photos by Al Saniuk.

Metropolitan Riveters look to regroup after Thanksgiving - The Ice Garden
Randy Velischek weighs in on state of the Riveters, projected lines, and starting goalie for Sunday

Connecticut Whale: Q & A with Rookie Forward Kayla Meneghin
Towards the end of my college career I applied through the NWHL’s free agent registration page; I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to play, so I just thought I would do it because my mom wants me to play.

CWHL

Inferno Report: Two big wins over Montreal – Flamesnation
With the battle for sole possession of first place in reach, this weekend had a big four points on the line. Let’s check out how the Inferno did.

Les Canadiennes finish turbulent week with pair of losses in Calgary - Eyes On The Prize
After a week that saw their coach step down, Montreal lost two close games vs. the Inferno.

CWHL women’s hockey recap: Markham Thunder beat Toronto Furies 5-2 - Pension Plan Puppets
Victoria Bach scores the game winner as the Markham defence stifles Toronto.

Photo Gallery: Montreal beat Worcester - The Ice Garden
The Worcester Blades hosted Les Canadiennes Nov. 17 and 18. Photos by Michelle Jay.

Q&A with Hilary Knight - The Ice Garden
Les Canadiennes forward talks Four Nations, joining the team, and her favorite Chobani flavor.

Dany Brunet resigns as head coach of Les Canadiennes - The Ice Garden
The winningest coach in CWHL history has stepped down

The More You Inferknow: Erica Kromm – Flamesnation
A strong leadership group is essential for continued success, like the success that the Inferno have enjoyed over the past few seasons. One of the cornerstones of that group is forward Erica Kromm.

NCAA

Polls: USCHO - USA Today - The Ice Garden

WOMEN’S HOCKEY: Over holiday break, Bulldogs obliterate elite opponent
The Yale’s women’s ice hockey team pulled off its biggest victory in program history in a dominant four-goal triumph against No. 3 Clarkson over the holiday break. However, the break also saw the Bulldogs narrowly lose to a pair of nationally ranked foes — No. 8 St. Lawrence and No. 9 Providence — before falling to Connecticut.

Gabel notches career-high four goals in Knights women's hockey 4-1 win over UMD | NorthCountryNow
Senior Loren Gabel scored a career-high four goals for her fifth career hat trick as the Clarkson University Women's Hockey team picked up a 4-1 non-league win over the University of Minnesota-Duluth Friday evening at Cheel Arena.

With Junior Thompson Providing Scoring Punch, PU Women’s Hockey Moves Into ECACH Lead | Town Topics
With the Princeton University women’s hockey team holding its first-ever #BlackOutBaker game as it hosted Colgate last Friday, Claire Thompson helped the Tigers get out to an early lead.

College women's hockey: Crowell not afraid to put Bulldogs to the test | Duluth News Tribune
Fourth-year Minnesota Duluth women's hockey coach Maura Crowell, who cut her teeth as a coach out east at Massachusetts-Boston and Harvard, has used her past relationships to not only build a diverse nonconference slate, but a challenging one.

European club hockey

HV71 won in SDHL for big crowd | Aftonbladet
The HV71 had hit the big drum before Saturday’s home game against SDE in SDHL. The women’s team is ten years old, and during the anniversary it was planned for a record match in Kinnarps arena.

Modo’s 17-year-old goalie | Aftonbladet
The 17-year-old goalkeeper Tindra Holm magnified Modo for AIK.

Women’s Hockey Update: November 26th, 2018 | CONWAY’S RUSSIAN HOCKEY BLOG
We’ve got some game recaps from the amateur and professional side of things, as well as the Russian national team roster for some upcoming games against North American opposition.

Behind the Mask: Nicole Jackson - The Ice Garden
Roots, growth, and a personal tribute keep Jackson grounded away from home

AWIHL (Australia)

2018-19 AWIHL season: Round 4 | Ice Hockey News Australia
Round 4 of the 2018-19 Australian Women's Ice Hockey League season has finished with wins for the Adelaide Rush and Sydney Sirens.

Women's HockeyCanadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL)