NHL Notebook: Howie Draper leaves PWHL New York, returning to University of Alberta
By Zach Laing
2 months agoHowie Draper is set to return to the University of Alberta after a disheartening first season with PWHL New York.
Draper and New York agreed to mutually part ways, the club said in a statement Saturday, allowing him to return to his role as the University’s Women’s Hockey coach.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to have gotten to know Howie both personally and as a coach,” New York General Manager Pascal Daoust said in a statement. “His contributions will forever be a part of this team’s foundation, and I feel privileged to have worked alongside him.”
Despite the change, Draper will remain with the team, working as a special advisor in the scouting department.
“I’ve been blessed to have been a part of PWHL New York this past season,” said Draper in a statement. “It was an honor to have worked alongside this outstanding group of staff and athletes. I look forward to the opportunity to remain involved in the continuing growth of the program.”
Here’s more on the change, from Daily Faceoff’s Hunter Crowther:
The 57-year-old Draper will return to the University of Alberta’s women’s club, where he served as head coach for the previous 26 season. With 667 career wins, he is the winningest coach in Canadian University women’s hockey history.New York is one week removed from finishing last in the league with a 9-12-3 record and 26 points. Forward Alex Carpenter had a highly productive season, scoring eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in 24 games. Right behind them was Ella Shelton, who led the league in all offensive categories for defenders, scoring seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points.
Marchand injured after collision with Bennett
Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand left Friday night’s game against the Florida Panthers after a centre ice collision with Sam Bennett. It happened minutes into the game, when Marchand went to lay a hit on Bennett.
The Panthers centre raised his arms as he did, sending Marchand hard into the boards. He would end up playing 10:51 across the first two periods, but didn’t return for the third.
The Bruins, meanwhile, were not a fan of Bennett’s hit.
“My eyes weren’t on the exact play,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery told The Athletic Saturday. “But having seen it, there’s a history there with Bennett. Hard player. But there’s clearly evidence of what went on. People can say it wasn’t intentional. We have our view of it.”
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice didn’t think there was a punch laid.
“No, and I don’t think most of you would either,” he told The Athletic. “It was just a collision. In a perfect world, every team has everybody healthy. Nobody likes to see anybody hurt.”
The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa and Michael Russo reported, citing league sources, that Bennett would not face supplemental discipline.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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