The Metropolitan Riveters (originally the New York Riveters) are a professional women's ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, who play their home games in the Barnabas Health Hockey House at the Prudential Center. Its team name and logo are based upon Rosie the Riveter, the subject of the World War II-era motivational poster "We Can Do It!"

They are one of the four charter franchises of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).

History [ edit ]

The first player signed to a contract was Janine Weber, who also became the first player in the history of the NWHL to be signed to a contract.[2] With the first pick overall in the 2015 NWHL Draft, the Riveters selected Alexandra Carpenter, a medalist from the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. The team made its debut in 2015 playing at Aviator Sports & Events Center in Brooklyn, New York. The first player to ever score a goal for the Riveters was Brooke Ammerman. The New York Riveters won their first game against the Boston Pride on November 15, 2015. Nana Fujimoto became the first New York Riveters goaltender to earn a win in the NWHL and the first Japanese born goaltender to win a NWHL game. Meghan Fardelmann became the first Riveter to record a hat trick.

On May 1, 2016, the Riveters signed free agent Amanda Kessel to a one-year deal worth $26,000, making her the highest paid player in the league. At the 2016 NWHL Draft, held in Brooklyn, the Riveters held the first overall pick for the second consecutive year and selected Kelsey Koelzer from the Princeton Tigers women's ice hockey program.[3]

On August 1, 2016, it was announced that the Riveters would move from Brooklyn to Barnabas Health Hockey House at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.[4]

Prior to their second season in New Jersey, the Riveters announced they had partnered with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL), becoming the first NWHL team to officially partner with an NHL team. Upon the announcement, the Riveters changed their name to the Metropolitan Riveters to reflect the broader geographic region. The Riveters also adopted the colors of the Devils and changed their jerseys. As part of the new affiliation, the Riveters and Devils held a doubleheader for the Riveters' 2017–18 season opener against the Boston Pride followed by the Devils' game against the Arizona Coyotes at the Prudential Center.[5] In the 2017–18 season, the Riveters won both the regular season and the Isobel Cup against the previous champions, the Buffalo Beauts.

At the end of their 2017–18 championship season, original head coach Chad Wiseman resigned, taking a job closer to home as an assistant with the Guelph Storm, and was replaced by Randy Velischek.[6]

Season-by-season records [ edit ]

Season GP W L T OTL SOL Pts GF GA Playoffs 2015–16 18 4 12 0 2 0 10 47 78 Lost Preliminary Round to Boston Pride 2016–17 18 8 7 0 1 2 19 55 58 Lost Preliminary Round to Buffalo Beauts 2017–18 16 13 3 0 — — 26 64 30 Won Isobel Cup Championship over Buffalo Beauts

Draft history [ edit ]

A draft lottery was held for the 2015 NWHL Draft, taking place on June 20, 2015. and the New York Riveters earned the first pick overall.[7] With the first pick in the 2015 NWHL Draft, the New York Riveters selected Alexandra Carpenter.

NWHL Draft [ edit ]

The following were the Riveters selections in the 2015 NWHL Draft on June 20, 2015.[8]

Awards and honors [ edit ]

Ashley Johnston, New York Riveters, 2017 NWHL Denna Laing Perseverance Award

Katie Fitzgerald, New York Riveters, 2017 NWHL Goaltender of the Year

Franchise milestones [ edit ]

Milestone Player Date First goal Brooke Ammerman October 11, 2015 First game-winning goal Bray Ketchum November 15, 2015 First hat trick Meghan Fardelmann December 27, 2015[9] First multi-point game To Be Determined To Be Determined First win Nana Fujimoto November 15, 2015 First African-American player Cherie Stewart November 15, 2015 First shutout[10] Katie Fitzgerald November 20, 2016