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Bender, Johnson Sign with NWHL Clubs
May 02, 2016 | Women's Hockey
Seniors ink their first professional deals on Monday
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Boston College women's hockey seniors Lexi Bender and Kaliya Johnson signed their her first professional contracts today, inking a one-year deals with the Boston Pride and Connecticut Whale, respectively. Both clubs are part of the four-team NWHL, which is entering its second season of play this fall.
Bender capped her collegiate career in March, finishing her stay at The Heights with 95 career points (19 goals, 76 assists) in a program-record 154 games played. Among defensemen, her 95 points are second-most in program history, while her 19 goals are fourth most and her 76 assists are second most. Overall, among all skaters, Bender wrapped her collegiate career ranked eighth in career assists and 17th overall in scoring. She is a three-time Hockey East All-Star, including back-to-back first-team honors in 2015 and 2016.
The Pride originally drafted Bender in third round (11th overall) in the 2015 NWHL Draft.
Johnson closed her collegiate career with 43 points (7 goals, 36 assists) in 142 career games. She signed a free-agent contract with Connecticut after a career-year in 2015-16 that saw her notch 17 points from four goals and 13 assists, both career-bests. She finished her career ranked 10th in program history in defenseman scoring and defenseman assists.
The duo was also part of one of the nation's best defenses, which ranked third nationally in 2015-16 – allowing just 1.24 goals per game and posting a program-record 14 shutouts.
Bender and Johnson are part of the winningest class in both program history and Hockey East history. The six-player graduating class amassed a 129-18-8 overall record in four years, and a 79-4-4 mark in league play.
Last week, a trio of BC seniors – and all U.S. National Team players – saw their rights traded among NWHL teams.
On Tuesday, April 26, Haley Skarupa's rights were sent from the New York Riveters – who drafted her fifth overall in the 2015 Draft – to the Connecticut Whale in exchange for the rights to Harvard's Michelle Picard.
On Wednesday, April 27, Dana Trivigno took the same route, heading to Connecticut from New York (who drafted her 13th overall in 2015) in exchange for the rights to Minnesota's Hannah Brandt.
Finally, on Thursday, April 28, Alex Carpenter – the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 draft – saw her rights traded to Boston from New York in exchange for the rights to Harvard's Miye D'Oench.
NWHL restricted free agency began April 1 and lasted until April 30. Free agency began May 1 and lasts until July 31. The 2016 NWHL Draft will be held on June 18.
Bender capped her collegiate career in March, finishing her stay at The Heights with 95 career points (19 goals, 76 assists) in a program-record 154 games played. Among defensemen, her 95 points are second-most in program history, while her 19 goals are fourth most and her 76 assists are second most. Overall, among all skaters, Bender wrapped her collegiate career ranked eighth in career assists and 17th overall in scoring. She is a three-time Hockey East All-Star, including back-to-back first-team honors in 2015 and 2016.
The Pride originally drafted Bender in third round (11th overall) in the 2015 NWHL Draft.
Johnson closed her collegiate career with 43 points (7 goals, 36 assists) in 142 career games. She signed a free-agent contract with Connecticut after a career-year in 2015-16 that saw her notch 17 points from four goals and 13 assists, both career-bests. She finished her career ranked 10th in program history in defenseman scoring and defenseman assists.
The duo was also part of one of the nation's best defenses, which ranked third nationally in 2015-16 – allowing just 1.24 goals per game and posting a program-record 14 shutouts.
Bender and Johnson are part of the winningest class in both program history and Hockey East history. The six-player graduating class amassed a 129-18-8 overall record in four years, and a 79-4-4 mark in league play.
Last week, a trio of BC seniors – and all U.S. National Team players – saw their rights traded among NWHL teams.
On Tuesday, April 26, Haley Skarupa's rights were sent from the New York Riveters – who drafted her fifth overall in the 2015 Draft – to the Connecticut Whale in exchange for the rights to Harvard's Michelle Picard.
On Wednesday, April 27, Dana Trivigno took the same route, heading to Connecticut from New York (who drafted her 13th overall in 2015) in exchange for the rights to Minnesota's Hannah Brandt.
Finally, on Thursday, April 28, Alex Carpenter – the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 draft – saw her rights traded to Boston from New York in exchange for the rights to Harvard's Miye D'Oench.
NWHL restricted free agency began April 1 and lasted until April 30. Free agency began May 1 and lasts until July 31. The 2016 NWHL Draft will be held on June 18.
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