Beginning June 1, NWHL teams can re-sign players from their 2017-18 roster and
their draft picks. Additionally, for those players who have completed their
college eligibility and want to continue their hockey careers, NWHL Free Agency
 provides the best opportunity to continue playing at the highest level of
professional women's hockey. The fourth season of the NWHL will begin in
October as the Metropolitan Riveters defend their Isobel Cup championship, and
with the addition of a fifth team - the Minnesota Whitecaps - this will be the
most competitive season yet.

My colleague Dan Rice will keep THW readers up-to-date on Metropolitan and
Connecticut's signings throughout the summer, while I post updates on Buffalo
and Boston. Together we will be keeping readers informed of all of Minnesota';s
 signings. 

Olympian Skarupa Comes Back to the Pride

Pride Sign Czech Scoring Machine Křížová

Accursi, Burns & Casorso All Back with Beauts

Just as much as the Boston Pride have been building up their offensive
weaponry, they are equally ensuring strength along their back end. On Aug. 7,
2018 they further solidified their defense corps by bringing back NWHL All-Star
 blueliner Lexi Bender. The 5-foot-8 defender just turned 25 years old in July,
 and is seemingly on the cusp of playing her best professional season yet. What
 is especially nice to see is that the Pride are fully invested in her. Bender
was drafted by Boston as the 11th overall pick of the 2015 NWHL Draft - the
first draft in the league';s history. She has remained an integral part of the
team ever since and has continuously improved.Lexi Bender takes a shot in the
Hardest Shot competition at the 2018 NWHL All-Star Weekend. (Photo Credit:
Matthew Raney)

As her signing was announced, Bender made it quite clear that she is determined
 to get the Isobel Cup back to Boston. She did not mince any words in the press
 release:

"My goal this year is to do anything and everything I can to help the Pride win
 the Isobel Cup. I'm sick of seeing pictures of other teams with it all
summer!"

The fact that she is back with the Pride is a big step in the right direction
toward making Bender';s affirmation come to fruition. Keep in mind that she was
 not yet a member of the team when Boston won the league';s first championship
during the inaugural 2015-16 season. THW takes a closer look at the Bender
signing and how it keeps Boston near the top of the list of viable Cup
contenders.A Blended Defender With Early Successes

Bender possesses an ideal blend of offense and physicality. Her NCAA career at
Boston College is a good indicator of that. In 154 career games, she potted 19
goals and 76 assists for 95 points. Certainly very decent numbers for any
blueliner. Bender';s finest season offensively was her senior year when she
scored six goals and assisted on 27 others to have 33 points in 41 games. The
physicality seems to be captured by the fact that she put up 142 penalty
minutes in those same 154 games. Furthermore, when measuring out defensive
capability, Bender finished her NCAA career as a sizable plus-166 for
plus/minus.

BREAKING: @TheBostonPride have re-signed defender Lexi Bender. 

🔗: https://t.co/gvPlkpLJl1 pic.twitter.com/JW5Rt7Xso2

- NWHL (@NWHL) August 7, 2018

When she made the jump to the professional game during the 2016-17 NWHL season
Bender did not miss a beat. She played in all 17 of Boston';s regular season
games, plus both playoff games. Bender scored a pair of goals and added four
assists in her first year. What was most impressive however was that her
plus-20 was the second highest plus/minus number on the roster, behind only
Alex Carpenter. That was a better number than some very noteworthy teammates,
including Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker and Meghan Duggan to name a few.

Though Boston fell to the Buffalo Beauts in the 2017 Isobel Cup Final, Bender
still had a solid playoff performance in her rookie season. She was one of only
 six Boston skaters to score a goal in the postseason, and was second among the
 team';s defenders in plus/minus for the playoffs (plus-three).Providing
Stalwart Defense for "The Pack"

This past season Bender once again played in all 16 regular season games for
Boston and their lone playoff game. She is asserting herself as a bit of an
"iron woman" in that she has not missed a game yet since she began her pro
career with the Pride. Bender';s numbers - like Boston';s in general - slumped
a bit during the 2017-18 season. Despite putting forth 22 shots on net, she
finished the regular season with just one assist. Likewise, she finished the
season as a less than ideal minus-four. Bender did however put a goal by
former Beauts goaltender Amanda Leveille in Boston';s opening-round loss to
Buffalo in the playoffs. She was one of just two Pride skaters to score
postseason goals.

In a way, that playoff goal was part of a few instances in which there was a
silver lining to Bender';s most recent campaign. Call them "bright spots" on
the year, if you will. Her admirable defensive play and reliability saw her
receive a nod to the NWHL All-Star Weekend in Minnesota. Similarly, Bender';s
kindheartedness and character saw her be named Boston';s recipient of the
league';s Foundation Award presented annually to the players most actively
involved in applying the core values of hockey to their community, and for
being positive ambassadors for advancing the game as a whole.Lexi Bender and
Meagan Mangene at the 2018 NWHL All-Star Weekend. (Photo Credit: Matthew Raney)

"Giving back to young players is the best part about playing in the NWHL,"
Bender went on to say in the press release. "It's something I try to never take
 for granted, and an opportunity I take very seriously."

Such achievements in only her second season give ample cause for excitement
toward Bender';s upcoming third season in Boston. There is reason to think that
 the best is yet to come for both she and the Boston Pride. Looking at the four
 defenders thus far named to "The Pack';s" 2018-19 roster, there is also a
sense that they shall be rather stingy with giving up goals. Look for Bender to
 be a vital cog in that respect.

As of Aug. 7, here is how the Pride look thus far:

Goalie: Katie Burt.

Defense: Alyssa Gagliardi, Toni Ann Miano, Lauren Kelly, Lexi Bender.

Forward: Emily Field, Dana Trivigno, Denisa Křížová, Haley Skarupa. 

The post All-Star Bender Is Back for Third Year With Pride appeared first on
The Hockey Writers.

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