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Connecticut Whale Sign Kaleigh Fratkin

The Connecticut Whale of the NWHL announced the signing of Boston University defenseman, Kaleigh Fratkin. With this signing Fratkin becomes the first Canadian to sign with any NWHL team.

Fratkin is no stranger to success and making history.

From 2006-09  Fratkin participated in Team Canada’s development camp and won a silver medal in 2009 with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship. While playing for Team British Columbia from 2008-10 she won three consecutive Canadian national championships. Fratkin also was the first female to play on a British Columbia midget major boys’ hockey team. She played for the Vancouver North West Giants of the British Columbia Midget Major League and helped lead them to the 2010 provincial championship.

Boston, March 1, 2014 -- Boston University women's hockey defense Kaleigh Fratkin, center, and Providence College women's hockey forward Janine Weber, center right, play during the East Quarterfinals. The game was held at Boston University's Walter Brown Arena in Boston, MA. BU won 3-2. Photograph by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick/BUNS 2014.
© Carolyn Bick/BUNS 2014.

Fratkin then went on to play four seasons with the Boston University Terriers where she never missed a game. In 151 games, Fratkin recorded 9 goals and 57 assists. Things were rather calm for her during freshman and sophomore year but junior year things amped up. Fratkin was second in the league with most blocked shots, 65. In the 7 of the last 8 games of the season Fratkin recorded an assist which helped her set a career high of 16 assists.

Senior year came and Fratkin was named assistant captain. She had 14 assists on the power-play making her first in Hockey East and tied for 6th in the nation. Fratkin also was named to the New England Division I All-Star, and the Hockey East All-Tournament Team.

According to the NWHL’s press release, Fratkin played for the Boston Blades last season when they won the Clarkson Cup.

The Connecticut Whale will benefit from Fratkin’s tenacity and cool as a cucumber attitude in high pressure situations.

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Elaine Shircliff

Elaine Shircliff

Elaine is in her first year writing for The Hockey Writers. She will mostly be covering the Columbus Blue Jackets, Lake Erie Monsters, NWHL, and the charitable works all hockey players partake in.

She just ended a two season internship with the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets.

More by Elaine Shircliff →