The NWHL, which is just a couple weeks from their inaugural Isobel Cup playoffs, has announced their first NWHL awards ceremony and what awards they will hand out.
On Mar. 20, the league will hold a ceremony during the NCAA Frozen Four Women’s Hockey Championships in Durham, New Hampshire to give out the following awards.
Regular Season Champions: “Awarded the team with the best record during the regular season.”
NWHL Foundation Award: “Awarded to the player most actively applying the core values of hockey to her community as well as growing and improving hockey culture.”
Leading Scorer: “Awarded to the player with the most points in the regular season.”
NWHL MVP: “Awarded to the player considered most valuable to her team, as voted by the NWHL Players Association.”
Perseverance Award: “Awarded to the player who most exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to her sport.”
NWHL Best Defenseman: “Awarded to the defenseman who most excels at her position.”
NWHL Best Goaltender: “Awarded to the goaltender who most excels at her position.”
The awards will come a week after the NWHL championship is concluded. The playoffs will begin on Mar. 4 with the Boston Pride and Connecticut Whale taking home-ice advantage. The Isobel Cup Final will be held at the Prudential Center Practice Facility in Newark, NJ on Mar. 11.
Additionally, the NWHL announced that free agency will begin on May 1 and run through Jul. 31. All NWHLers are currently on one-year deals and will be able to negotiate new contracts to play during the 2016-17 season beginning May 1. Current NWHL players and other players who have graduated from “the equivalent of a four-year college” are eligible to sign contracts.
The league will also host the 2016 NWHL Junior Draft on June 18. Teams will be able to draft players entering their senior year of college hockey. All teams will have an equal number of draft picks (no draft picks have been moved in trades) and the order will be determined by regular season standings.