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. 

UNH Star Jonna Curtis Joins Hometown Whitecaps

Bolden Returns to NWHL With Beauts

All-Star Defender Boulier Signs With Whitecaps

NWHL fans got to see a brief glimpse of Boston Pride defender Mallory Souliotis
 during the 2017-18 season. A late-season signing, the Yale University graduate
 joined the team that had drafted her eighth overall in the 2017 NWHL Draft for
 "The Pack';s" postseason run. Now Pride fans can be excited about having
Souliotis on their roster for an entire season. She becomes the sixth defender
to be announced as being on Boston';s 2018-19 roster.

BREAKING: Mallory Souliotis re-signs with @TheBostonPride. Souliotis signed
with the Pride and was able to play 2 games at the end of 2017-18 after
finishing her senior season at @YaleWhockey. 

🔗: https://t.co/H9B90m6WbO pic.twitter.com/DkSLcJmuz8

- NWHL (@NWHL) August 15, 2018

"The Pride was extremely welcoming and supportive from day one, and they showed
 me what it takes to play for the team and represent the NWHL," Souliotis said
in the press release about her signing. "The pace and skill of the game was
different from college, and was a huge motivating factor for me to not only
return to the NWHL, but also to continue to work on my game on and off the
ice."

THW takes a closer look at how the addition of Souliotis has rounded out
Boston';s defense corps very nicely. She has proven to be a shutdown defender
throughout her hockey career, while also being capable of contributing
offensively. The Pride seem to have a monopoly on this particular type of
blueliner.A Brief Look at Souliotis

Souliotis played in the final two regular season games for Boston last season,
but did not appear in their lone playoff game in the semi-final against
Buffalo. In her two appearances she fired three shots on goal, but would come
away as a minus-two for plus/minus. One shot came in 3-2 win over the
Connecticut Whale on Mar. 3, 2018, while the other two came during a 4-1 loss
to the Metropolitan Riveters on Mar. 10, 2018. Souliotis feels that with a
complete season ahead she will have much more opportunity to contribute.After
two regular season games during 2017-18 Mallory Souliotis now returns to the
Boston Pride for her a full season ahead (Photo Credit: Al Saniuk).

"I hope to contribute offensively from the blue line while also playing a
strong defensive game," she went on to say in the release. "Although I am not a
 very big defenseman, I need to ensure that I play at a fast pace and be
stronger in the defensive zone. I also have some experience at forward, and I
am willing to play wherever Coach Mara thinks is best for the team. We were
disappointed in last season';s ending, and I know we want to bring Isobel back
to Boston."

At 5-foot-5, Souliotis is in the middle for size among Boston';s blueliners. Of
 the ones listed presently on the roster, two are shorter than she is and three
 are taller. It is somewhat of a different look for Boston';s back end so far,
as last season';s team had six defenders who were at least 5-foot-7, with a
couple pushing towards the 6-foot mark. More signings are still to come but for
 the time being this will be a faster moving back end for the Pride. Anything
they might lack in size is more than made up for in sound decision making and
quickness.Prepared for the Pros by a Solid College Career

Souliotis played for the Yale Bulldogs from the 2014-15 season through 2017-18.
 Her finest offensive season was arguably her sophomore year when she came
close to being a point-per-game defender. In 29 games that season she scored
four goals and added 21 assists for 25 total points. Her senior year numbers
were relatively similar with four goals and 20 assists in 31 games. Those
numbers were solid enough to lead all Ivy League defenders for the 2017-18
season. When her time with the Bulldogs was said and done, Souliotis had
compiled 12 goals and 58 assists in 117 games for 70 career points. Another
interesting college tidbit about her is that she once broke a pane of glass
with her shot.

Anyone have an extra pane of glass? Thanks to Mallory Souliotis we need one at
Ingalls Rink. #IvyTop5 #SCTop10 @IvyLeagueNet @ESPN3 pic.twitter.com/k792oXFuBU

- Yale Athletics Video (@YaleILN) January 28, 2017

College hockey was the vehicle that brought her to where she is today, while
she provided the fuel and the drive. Recognizing that, Souliotis is very much
appreciative of the opportunity that the NWHL affords players to play hockey
beyond college and at the highest possible level. She is excited for the
continuation and growth of the league.

"Playing in the NWHL is a dream come true," she continued to say. "Playing in
my hometown and inspiring the next generation of women';s hockey players will
continue to fuel my passion for the game I have loved for so long. Before I
went to college, there was no NWHL, so I thought it would be final four years
of competitive hockey, but then the NWHL was founded and I still can';t believe
 how far the league has come. My sister is a sophomore in high school, so
hopefully the league will continue to grow and prosper and I can watch her play
 some day."

With Souliotis'; signing, here is how the Pride look as of Aug. 15:

Goalie: Katie Burt.

Defense: Alyssa Gagliardi, Toni Ann Miano, Lauren Kelly, Lexi Bender, Kaleigh
Fratkin, Mallory Souliotis.

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

The post Souliotis Returns to Pride for a Second Campaign appeared first on The
 Hockey Writers.

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