2015–16 NWHL season


The 2015–16 NWHL season is the first season of operation of the National Women's Hockey League. Four teams competed for the inaugural Isobel Cup: the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, New York Riveters and Connecticut Whale.

League business

The 1st NWHL All-Star Game was held January 24, 2016 at HarborCenter in Buffalo, the home of the Beauts.

Regular season

Standings

Playoffs

Statistics

Scoring leaders

PlayerTeam
Hilary KnightBoston Pride171518338
Brianna DeckerBoston Pride1714152920
Kelli StackConnecticut Whale178142224
Kelly BabstockConnecticut Whale189132224
Kelley SteadmanBuffalo Beauts131372016

Milestones

Awards and honors

NWHL draft

The 2015 NWHL draft took place in Boston on June 22, 2015. The draft was not binding on the players, who did not enter their names and did not have to give their consent. It was not clear that the players felt themselves bound by the decisions made in the draft. However, during the season the NWHL was frequently active on social media about draft picks' success in the NCAA, and on April 1, 2016 the NWHL announced that the draft would be enforced insofar as there would be salary cap penalties for teams that signed other teams' draftees.
A draft lottery was held by NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan, with the New York Riveters earning the first pick overall.
#PlayerPosNationalityTeamCollege/Junior/Club Team
1Alexandra CarpenterFNew York RivetersBoston College
2Hannah BrandtFConnecticut WhaleUniversity of Minnesota
3Kendall CoyneFBoston PrideNortheastern
4Courtney BurkeDBuffalo BeautsUniversity of Wisconsin
5Haley SkarupaFNew York RivetersBoston College
6Michelle PicardDConnecticut WhaleHarvard University
7Emerance MaschmeyerGBoston PrideHarvard University
8Sarah LefortFBuffalo BeautsBoston University
9Erin AmbroseDNew York RivetersClarkson University
10Milica McMillenDConnecticut WhaleUniversity of Minnesota
11Lexi BenderDBoston PrideBoston College
12Amanda LeveilleGBuffalo BeautsUniversity of Minnesota
13Dana TrivignoFNew York RivetersBoston College
14Maryanne MenefeeFConnecticut WhaleUniversity of Minnesota
15Miye D'OenchFBoston PrideHarvard
16Emily JanigaFBuffalo BeautsMercyhurst College
17Kimberly NewellGNew York RivetersPrinceton University
18Cassandra PoudrierDConnecticut WhaleCornell University
19Shannon MacAulayFBoston PrideClarkson University
20Jenna DingeldeinFBuffalo BeautsMercyhurst College

Free agency

Trades