The NWHL rosters for the 2016-17 season are filled with players who have at least some element of USA Hockey experience. A majority of the players across the league have worn the U.S. sweater and competed in events either at the U18 or national level.

Of the 25 players taking part in this week’s USA Hockey Women’s National Festival who have graduated college and are eligible to play in the NWHL, 17 are highlighting rosters for the four teams (Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, New York Riveters) that comprise the league. Another six skaters will play for the independent Whitecaps in Minnesota.

Nine of the 11 NWHL players who are returning to the league this season, remained with their inaugural season club. At the conclusion of their first season contract, the NWHL affords the players the opportunity to negotiate a one-year contract for the 2016-17 season with any of the four teams and many factors go into why a player elects to go to a certain team. Meghan Duggan went from Buffalo to Boston and Shiann Darkangelo opted to join the Beauts after representing the Whale last season.

Five players (Lexi Bender, Alex Carpenter, Amanda Kessel, Haley Skarupa, Dana Trivigno) at the festival are recent college graduates who are turning pro and competing in the NWHL. 

All players competing in the league are paid.

Defenseman Anne Schleper made the jump from an independent team in Minnesota to the Beauts for the upcoming season. The Whitecaps do not pay their players a salary but it is an excellent option in that region of the country for players to maintain their level of play and a working or personal lifestyle that is better suited for their individual situation.

An additional eight members of the U.S. women’s program will be on the Whitecaps roster, including recent college graduates Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Stephanie Anderson, Hannah Brandt and Kendall Coyne.

There are four other players who represented the U.S. in the Olympics, but are no longer competing for Team USA, who are playing in the NWHL this season.

“The overall talent level continues to grow in the NWHL and the women’s national team players are an important part that growth,” said Matt Kelly, head scout for the U.S. Women’s National Team.

As women’s hockey grows and begins to reach new levels across the professional and international stage, the excitement for the future of the game is unlimited.

"More than half of the players in the NWHL have represented Team USA at various levels of competition, and are a significant part of the continued success of the league," said Dani Rylan, Commissioner of the NWHL. "Our relationship with the national team players is a mutually beneficial situation and we appreciate their commitment to growing the game together."

For more news on the NWHL, go to NWHL.Zone and to follow the USA Hockey Women’s National Festival, click here.