On Monday, Connecticut Whale General Manager, Lisa Giovanelli, announced the re-signing of Kelly Babstock for the 2016-17 season. The terms of agreement are one-year and $21,000.
Kelly Babstock is a power forward and was a huge part of our offense this season. Her hard work and tenacity on the forecheck set up a lot of scoring opportunities for us. We are very fortunate to have her back in a Whale jersey, as she will continue to be someone we look to bring a spark to our offense.
- Lisa Giovanelli – Connecticut Whale General Manager (from press release)
During the Inaugural Season Babstock proved to be a powerhouse for the Whale.
Babstock led the team in scoring in both the regular season (9 goals, 13 assists) and t
he playoffs (4 goals in 3 games). Although she was one of the better players on the team, Babstock was not added to the first ever NWHL All-Star Game.
I want to bring my best game every game, and bring my high energy to push us to the next level. I think our first year gave us a strong foundation and personally, getting back into the game after a year off has made me ready to really push my limits and contribute to making this year better than the year before.
- Kelly Babstock – Connecticut Whale Forward (from press release)
The Whale placed second in the regular season but lost to the Buffalo Beauts in the first round in the playoffs.
Before joining the NWHL, Babstock played for the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Over the course of 147 games she scored 95 goals and 108 assists making her the program leader in every offensive category.