There may be no more under-reported, intriguing story than what is going on in women's post-collegiate hockey in Minnesota.
If you're an elite hockey player in the Midwest, it is a tough go after college despite there being more options than ever. Two leagues, one in Canada and one in the northeastern United States, are currently playing. Both are very hyperlocal, however. Most players live in the area first rather than relocate. Neither has a Midwest team although both have made halfhearted gestures to Minnesota.
The number of Minnesotans and Midwest natives playing in either league are few compared to the proportion of United States national team players and collegians. 16.4% of all women's college hockey players come from Minnesota yet there are 4 in either the NWHL or CWHL. In comparison, three are playing overseas in Europe.
(Not even the #2 overall pick in the NWHL Draft would commit to playing in that league. That could change and is something to keep an eye on down the line. For now, a Minnesotan playing in the Northeast is the equivalent of playing overseas.)
The Minnesota Whitecaps exist as an independent team, featuring two of the top 10 players in the world and several Olympians. (While I hate to make equivalents to other sports, can you imagine that being a non-story anywhere else?) It allows those players, and other Minnesotans, a chance to keep in shape between international tournaments and Olympics.
Their schedule consists of mostly Midwest college teams with the rest being Shattuck and the NWHL teams in exhibitions. Not being in a league hasn't helped, but it also allows extra benefits. It didn't hurt either that the Whitecaps were able to do things either league has tried by having its game with the Boston Pride last weekend be available over the air on TV.
And it's a team that has floated under the radar. Not even one of the players knew anything about the Whitecaps until she started playing.
It's a long feature and focuses on the players being on the outside of what is going in women's hockey, but more than worth the read.
Yahoo's Puck Daddy blog, among others, linked to it, with several high-profile writers sharing the article to their followers.
http://wildxtra.com/articles.html/_/minnesota-wild-news/where-minnesotas-best-women-play-after-college-r1038
(Wild Xtra)
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