This season's Whale pride jerseys are now up for auction!!!!!
photo stolen from the auction page
I know there was a lot of interest in this season's pride jersey, so I wanted to alert you all that the MeiGray auction for the autographed game-worn and game-issued jerseys has begun!
Here it is!
A few points of note:
The auction ends on April 18th, 2023.
The jerseys are NOT cheap (the starting bid is $200), but they're being sold to raise money for the New Haven Pride Center, so it's for a good cause!
Certain players are more popular than others, and their jerseys will generally be bid up a lot more. I suspect that Shannon's jersey will go for a pretty substantial amount, since she wore it for her final home game before retirement. Kennedy's jerseys seem to be quite popular, etc.
Jerseys that don't sell in an auction are typically added to MeiGray's store, where they might be listed for a little less than the auction's starting bid. (The Pennies tribute jerseys that didn't sell at auction are currently listed at $195, for instance.) If you're VERY lucky, an unsold jersey might stick around until the annual summer sale, and you might be able to snag it for ~20% off. (That's how I got my pride jersey from last season!)
This probably goes without saying, but I have no affiliation with MeiGray. However, I have purchased Whale jerseys from them twice now (not through an auction) and had a positive experience. Oh, also, I did see that they're hiring for a bunch of positions, so if you live in New Jersey and want to get into the sports memorabilia business, they may have a job for you!
The 2023 Isobel Cup semifinals are nearly upon us!!!
Here's the schedule:
Thursday, March 16
Minnesota Whitecaps at Boston Pride - 7:00 PM EDT
Friday, March 17
Connecticut Whale at Toronto Six - 3:00 PM EDT
Saturday, March 18
Connecticut Whale at Toronto Six - 2:00 PM EDT
Minnesota Whitecaps at Boston Pride - 6:00 PM EDT
Sunday, March 19
Minnesota Whitecaps at Boston Pride - 6:00 PM EDT (if necessary)
Monday, March 20
Connecticut Whale at Toronto Six - 6:00 PM EDT (if necessary)
Games are primarily broadcast on ESPN+ (and its international partners) and TSN+. The Boston/Minnesota series will also be available via NESN+, and select games in the Toronto/Connecticut series will air on TSN2. (Here's a link to more info.)
[image: The Connecticut Whale logo (a blue silhouette of a whale surrounded by a blue, white, and green letter C appears in the background]
Your 2022-23 Connecticut Whale—a primer by whalepropaganda
Slide 2: Overview.
The Connecticut Whale is a professional hockey team that plays within the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF; formerly known as the National Women’s Hockey League, or NWHL). The Whale is one of the Founding Four teams in the league and the only one of those four that has yet to win the Isobel Cup. They were really bad for several years, but now they’re really good!
NUMBER ONE IN THE LEAGUE LAST SEASON BAYBEYYYY
[image: A red arrow points toward a partial screenshot of the 2021-22 PHF standings. The Whale are at the top of the standings.]
anyway then they lost to Boston in the Isobel Cup Final and honestly I’m still Quite Annoyed About It
Whale games are broadcast on ESPN+ in the US, TSN+ in Canada, and ESPN Affiliates in other countries.
Whale home games will (mostly) take place at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury.
[image: a partial map of New England. The location of the International Skating Center of Connecticut is circled in red and has an arrow pointing to it. The city of Boston is visible near the edge of the map and is crossed out with a red X]
Slide 3: Oh Captain My Captain
[image: Shannon Turner smiling while surrounded by several teammates, all wearing the Whale’s 2021-22 pride jerseys]
• Was part of the first Canadian roster to win a gold medal at U18 Women’s Worlds (2010)!
• Won a 2021–22 PHF Foundation Award!
• Came out of retirement for last season and got soooo close to winning the Cup, but alas L L L She says this will be her last season, so I’m gonna need the Whale to remember one thing:
[image: “Do it for her” meme from the Simpsons, with photos of Shannon added to it]
This is Theo! He’s excellent.
[image: A red arrow points toward a photo of a very cute German Shepherd dog]
Slide 4: Alternate Captains
Alyssa, Janine, and Emma are returning As; Kennedy is new to the leadership group [smiley face emote]
Alyssa Wohlfeiler
[image: photo of Alyssa from during a game]
Position: Forward | Born: May 6, 1989 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Saugus, California, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 18 | G 8 | A 8 | Pts 16 | PIM 8
• Wohlfy!
• An original NWHLer
Janine Weber
[image: headshot of Janine in her Whale jersey]
Position: Forward | Born: June 19, 1991 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Innsbruck, Austria
2021–22 stats: GP 16 | G 5 | A 8 | Pts 13 | PIM 6
• The first player ever to sign an NWHL contract!
• Won 2015 Clarkson Cup (CWHL), 3x D1A Worlds silver & more
Emma Vlasic
[image: photo of Emma in her jersey from the 2021-22 All-Star Game]
Position: Forward | Born: September 2, 1996 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois, USA
2021–22 stats: GP 20 | G 4 | A 9 | Pts 13 | PIM 4
• Like basically every player with the last name Vlasic, she’s Pickles
Kennedy Marchment
[image: photo of Kennedy in street clothes, flashing a peace sign]
Most recent team(s): Team Czechia; Brynäs IF (SDHL)
• Katka!
• Played for the Whale in 2018–19
• Won 2013 Clarkson Cup (CWHL)
• Won D1A Worlds gold in 2014 and 2015
• Won bronze at Worlds in 2022 (Czechia’s first medal at that tournament!)
Meeri Räisänen
[image: photo of Meeri in her Team Finland jersey, sticking her tongue out]
Position: Goalie | Born: December 2, 1989 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Tampere, Finland
Most recent team(s): Team Finland; JYP U20 Akatemia (U20 Mestis)
• Played for the Whale in 2018–19
• Won bronze medals at Worlds in 2015 and 2021
• Won bronze at the Olympics in 2018 and 2022
Slide 9: Primer I Hardly Know ‘Er!
(the new additions)
Caitrin Lonergan
[image: photo of Caitrin in her Clarkson University jersey]
Position: Forward | Born: September 10, 1997 | Height: 5’6” | Hometown: Roslindale, Massachusetts, USA
Most recent team(s): Clarkson University
• U18 silver (2014)
• U18 gold (2015)
Lenka Serdar
[image: photo of Lenka in her Whale jersey]
Position: Forward | Born: July 21, 1997 | Height: 5’8” | Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
Most recent team(s): Team Czechia; Linköping HC (SDHL)
• Born in US but plays for Czechia
• Competed at 2021 Worlds and the 2022 Olympics
Justine Reyes
[image: photo of Justine in street clothes]
Position: Forward | Born: February 14, 1997 | Height: 5’4” | Hometown: Chino Hills, California, USA
Most recent team(s): Linköping HC (SDHL)
• Was 2018–19 MVP at St. Lawrence University
Emma Keenan
[image: photo of Emma in her Buffalo Beauts jersey]
Position: Defender | Born: November 26, 1997 | Height: 5’7” | Hometown: Mission Viejo, California, USA
Most recent team(s): Buffalo Beauts (PHF)
• 2x NCAA champion with Clarkson University
Mallory Souliotis
[image: photo of Mal in her Boston Pride jersey and a bucket hat after winning the Isobel Cup in 2022 (sigh)]
Position: Defender | Born: April 1, 1996 | Height: 5’5” | Hometown: Acton, Massachusetts, USA
Most recent team(s): Boston Pride (PHF)
• 2x Isobel Cup champion with the Pride (2021, 2022)
• Won a 2018–19 PHF Foundation Award
Tori Sullivan
[image: photo of Tori in her Boston Pride jersey]
Position: Forward | Born: August 4, 1996 | Height: 5’5” | Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan, USA
Most recent team(s): Boston Pride (PHF)
• 2x Isobel Cup champion with the Pride (2021, 2022)
Slide 10
Misc. Fun Facts
• Jessica Strack, who was a practice player for most of last season and officially signed with the team late in the season, is back as a practice player for 2022–23. She’s also the Whale’s current equipment manager.
• Longtime NWHL/PHF player and 2018 Isobel Cup champion Kiira Dosdall-Arena (D) is a practice player this season.
• Meeri and Katka are sharing a beach rental in Milford for the season (seemingly also with the Whale’s new athletic trainer). Taylor, Amanda, Tori H., and Hannah are also sharing a rental on the beach. (I feel like these are fun facts, idk)
“Is [Whale Player] Related to [Dude]?” Containment Zone
• Mason Marchment is Kennedy’s cousin
• Alex Vlasic is Emma’s brother, and Marc-Édouard Vlasic is her cousin
• Mackie Samoskevich is Melissa’s brother
• The cool guy who showed up to the 2022 playoffs in a whale costume is Janine’s husband, Bruce
Team Staff
• Coach: Colton Orr
• Assistant coaches: Jeff Devenney, Sue Merz
• Consulting coach: Jack Han
• General manager: Alexis Moed
Where Are They Now?
(i.e., are players from the 2021–22 roster playing hockey this season, and if so, where?)
• Hanna Beattie: Whale director of youth hockey and gameday operations
