Buffalo Beauts

Buffalo Beauts
2016–17 Buffalo Beauts season
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City	Buffalo, New York
League	National Women's Hockey League
Founded	2015
Home arena	HarborCenter
Colors	Blue, White, Black, Gray
Owner(s)	NWHL
General manager	Ric Seiling
Head coach	Ric Seiling
Captain	Emily Pfalzer
Media	The Buffalo News WBNY NWHL Cross Ice Pass (On YouTube)

The Buffalo Beauts is a professional women's ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. It is one of the four charter franchises of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).

History

The Beauts play at HarborCenter in Buffalo, which is across the street from and connected to First Niagara Center, the home of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. The Beauts held their first-ever summer free agent camp on May 23 and May 24, 2015. In July 2015, the Beauts signed free agent and 2-time Team USA Olympic goaltender Brianne McLaughlin, making her the first player in franchise history to sign a contract with the franchise.

Of note, the team made its debut at home on October 11, 2015 in a 4-1 loss versus the Boston Pride. During a 5-3 home loss against the Boston Pride on October 25, 2015, Brianne McLaughlin allowed three goals by Brianna Decker, resulting in the first hat trick in NWHL history. Of note, McLaughlin also became the first goaltender in league history to lose three consecutive games.

The Beauts would finish the regular season third out of four teams, beating out the New York Riveters. In the semi-finals for the inaugural Isobel Cup championships, the Beauts faced off against the Connecticut Whale. The Connecticut had a perfect record against the Beauts in the regular season. The Beauts would go on to upset the Whale by winning the last two games, going on to face the Boston Pride in the finals. There, they would drop two games in succession and finish second in the playoffs.

Team

Roster For 2015-16 Season

Updated September 25, 2015

Player	Position	Nationality
Amanda Makela	Goalie	Canada
Brianne McLaughlin	Goalie	United States
Kimberly Sass	Goalie	United States
Lindsay Grigg	Defense	Canada
Paige Harrington	Defense	United States
Kelly McDonald	Defense	Canada
Megan Bozek	Defense	United States
Shelby Bram	Forward	Canada
Hailey Browne	Forward	Canada
Meghan Duggan	Forward	United States
Jessica Fickel	Forward	Canada
Kourtney Kunichika	Forward	United States
Hannah McGowan	Forward	United States
Tatiana Rafter	Forward	Canada
Devon Skeats	Forward	Canada
Hayley Williams	Forward	United States
Erin Zach	Forward	Canada

Draft history

Courtney Burke from the Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey program became the first player in franchise history to be selected in the inaugural 2015 NWHL Draft. Raised in the state capital of Albany, New York, Burke was also the first defenseman selected in NWHL Draft history.

NWHL Draft

Main article: 2015 NWHL Draft

The following are the Beauts' selections from the 2015 NWHL Draft of college players in their junior year held on June 20, 2015. Note: The team has not announced any contract signings from this list to date. A player who is drafted but does not sign with the organization that selected her, may enter free-agency after completing her senior year.

#	Player	Position	Nationality	College
4	Courtney Burke	Defense	United States	Univ of Wisconsin
8	Sarah Lefort	Forward	Canada	Boston University
12	Amanda Leveille	Goalie	Canada	Univ of Minnesota
16	Emily Janiga	Forward	United States	Mercyhurst
20	Jenna Dingeldein	Forward	Canada	Mercyhurst

Franchise milestones

• See also: List of Buffalo Beauts records

Milestone	Player	Date
First goal	Kelley Steadman	October 11, 2015
First win	Brianne McLaughlin	November 29, 2015
First Isobel Cup goal	Shelby Bram	March 11, 2016

Media

In local Media the Buffalo Beauts are covered by The Buffalo News and home games are broadcast live on radio by WBNY the station out of Buffalo State College.