The Fearless, Frozen Females of Hockey

Hailing from Peabody, Massachusetts, goaltender Stephanie Ciampa earned the unique distinction of being the final player selected in the 2014 CWHL Draft. Selected by the hometown Boston Blades, the squad already features the likes of goaltenders such as Genevieve Lacasse, Molly Schaus and Brittany Ott, who started the championship game of the 2014 Clarkson Cup. Coincidentally, it marks the second consecutive season that Boston had the last pick overall. Adding to that is the fact that Boston selected a goaltender with their last pick in the 2013 CWHL Draft. Zoe Zisis, the first (and only) player in CWHL history to have both initials commence with a Z, was the pick in question. Of note, she would see some ice time, in a back-up role to Ott. Another unique factor about Ciampa is the fact that she was the only player from the Mercyhurst Lakers selected in the 2014 edition of the draft. Christine Bestland, who graduated as the second all-time leading scorer in program history ...

Next to Meghan Agosta, the greatest player in Mercyhurst Lakers history may have been Christine Bestland. Having graduated from Mercyhurst with 226 points (92 goals and 134 assists), including 32 power play goals and 20 game-winning tallies, Bestland continued the strong legacy of elite scorers that have donned the Mercyhurst jersey. Considering that she spent at least half of her Lakers career without the likes of superstars such as Meghan Agosta, Vicki Bendus, Bailey Bram, Jesse Scanzano and Hilary Pattenden, Bestland was the offensive catalyst from 2012-14, testament to her talent. In her last two seasons, she recorded an astounding 126 points as the Lakers enjoyed a pair of consecutive Frozen Four appearances. Joining the program on the heels of making her mark on Canadian hockey history, helping Canada win its first-ever gold medal at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s Worlds, Bestland was ready to make her mark on the program. As a side note, she also enjoyed the rare distinction...

In the aftermath of the fourth annual CWHL Draft, the legend of the event continues to grow. While said draft lacked the significant star power of the 2012 edition, a historic first-round shaped its legacy. While the Alberta Hockey Club became the first franchise in draft history to have the first pick overall in successive years, their selection would help create history not just one, but twice. Image by WCHA.com Hailing from Baddeck , Nova Scotia , Jessica Wong spent the last four seasons as an integral component of the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. From helping Canada’s Under-22/Development Team grab the gold medal at the Meco Cup to scoring one of the most famous goals in women’s hockey (a triple overtime winner against Cornell in the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four title game), her presence helps make Alberta a postseason contender. Alberta ’s selection of Wong makes her the first visible minority chosen with the first-pick overall in draft history. Having played on both offe...

Life after NCAA women’s hockey can lead into various directions; competing with one’s national team, pro hockey in Europe or North America, coaching or simply walking away from the game. Regina native Kylie Rossler adapted an entirely different approach. After graduating from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania during spring 2011, Rossler was facing her own athletic crossroads. There was no spot for her on the Canadian national team, nor did Regina have its own women’s hockey club team. With a love of sport, Rossler enjoyed the camaraderie and the dynamic of helping a team win. In four NCAA women’s hockey seasons, she accumualted a lifetime mark of 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points . She would also claim two College Hockey America regular season and postseason titles. The final point of her career came in a January 8, 2011 contest against Syracuse where she logged an assist. Her last goal actually came in a March 19, 2010, postseason tilt with the Cornell Big Red as ...