NWHL releases 2017-18 schedule
Neutral site games in Rochester, Pittsburgh highlight third year of NWHL.
Season three of the NWHL is officially on!
The league announced their 2017-18 schedule today (which can be found here). The third season will be 16 weeks long with an All-Star Weekend and playoff format similar to season two.
Here's a look at the full schedule. Two neutral-site games currently scheduled in Rochester, NY and Pittsburgh, PA, plus wherever the ASG is pic.twitter.com/1yjCHuGyaE
— The Ice Garden (@TheIceGarden) August 8, 2017
The Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, and New York Riveters will all be returning to their home rinks from last season with the Whale moving to Terry Conners Ice Rink in Stamford, as previously announced.
Pride will play @ Warrior Ice Arena, Beauts @ Harborcenter, Whale @ Terry Connors Ice Rink, and Riveters @ RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House
— The Ice Garden (@TheIceGarden) August 8, 2017
Opening day will see all four teams play at approximately the same time, but in two different cities, unlike last season’s opening day. The Pride will visit the Riveters with a 2 p.m. start while last year's Isobel Cup champions, the Buffalo Beauts, will travel to Connecticut to face the Whale at 2:30 p.m.
The first neutral site game will be between the Buffalo Beauts and the New York Riveters on Nov. 4, in Rochester, NY. That leaves Beauts fans until Nov. 11 for their first home game (But the wait might be worth it as the game will be a rematch of last season’s Isobel Cup).
The second neutral site game is on Jan. 14, when the Whale will call Pittsburgh home against the Beauts.
The All-Star Weekend is slated for Feb. 10 and 11, in what the NWHL calls an “NHL city.” The exact location is yet to be announced.
The league will not take a break for the Olympics, as most (if not all) of their players will not be participating.
The playoffs are tentatively scheduled for March 17 (semifinals) and March 24 (Final).
NWHL schedule is out! Teams will play 16 regular season games, starting on October 28. Isobel semifinals tentatively Mar 17, Final Mar 24.
— The Ice Garden (@TheIceGarden) August 8, 2017
Games To Watch
Nov. 11 - Pride at Beauts: Not only is this the first home game for the Beauts, but it's a rematch of the Isobel Cup Final. Both teams will look different as the Pride lost a lot of players to centralization and the Beauts retooled their team.
Nov. 18 - Riveters at Beauts: Technically Nov. 4 is the first match up between former-Beaut-turned-Riveter Harrison Browne, but it's a neutral site game. The Week 4 game will be the first time Browne returns to Buffalo.
Jan. 20 & 21 - Riveters at Boston & Boston at Riveters: Week 10 will see the only home-and-home series of the season. A 7:30 p.m. start in Boston followed by a 3 p.m. start in New Jersey the next day will make for an interesting Sunday game.
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