Whale Sign Brittany Dougherty and Shannon Doyle

Just days before the roster deadline in the NWHL, the Connecticut Whale have signed two more players, forward Brittany Dougherty and defenseman Shannon Doyle. The signings were announced by Whale GM Harry Rosenholtz on Thursday.

Dougherty finished up her NCAA career at the University of Maine as a two-time all-conference player. As well as getting named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star in her junior year when she scored 16 goals and 17 assists.

Rosenholtz described Dougherty’s game at the NWHL site saying, “Dougherty is a physically punishing power forward whose presence will make the middle of the ice very challenging for opponents… Brittany exemplifies the kind of competitor that we are trying to attract to the Whale.”

On Doyle, Rosenholtz added, “She possesses a rare combination of toughness and finesse, and she will be effective in special team situations.”

Doyle split her NCAA career, spending two years each at Colgate and Boston University. In her last two seasons, playing with the Terriers, Doyle was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star and a New England Division I All-Star in her junior year. She redshirted a season, then came back last year scoring a career-high in points with four goals and 25 assists. She also blocked 106 shots last year, ranking third in the nation.

These signings come in just prior to the August 17 roster deadline for NWHL teams. The season opens on October 11 with all four teams in play.

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