We are two days away from the start of the first EWSHL season in Hudson, New Hampshire. Yesterday, we introduced you to a defensive group that includes three Olympic Gold Medalist from 2018. Today, the four goaltenders that will take the ice on Thursday become public.
Katie Burt, Kassidy Sauve, Jessica Strack and Rose Pijaca will dress on Thursday for the EWSHL’s opening night.
Burt, a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, was one of the top goalies in college hockey during her career at Boston College. During her four seasons in college, she never had a save percentage lower than .933. Her career-high save percentage of .943 was set during a spectacular sophomore season in 2015-16 over the course of 36 games. As a freshman, she posted a .941 save percentage in 35 games.
Burt has represented the United States on the international stage, winning one gold and one sliver medal at the U18 World Championship. Burt also was selected 1st overall in the 2017 NWHL Entry Draft. She will be one of two first overall picks from the NWHL suiting up in the league. She posted a .920 save percentage in 16 games in her lone season with the Boston Pride.
Sauve, a native of Whitby, Ontario, played three seasons of college hockey at Ohio State before finishing her career at Clarkson University. She posted a .937 save percentage and a 1.71 goals against average in 36 games during the 2018-19 season at Clarkson. She set a career-high in terms of save percentage during the 2016-17 season at Ohio State when she posted a .942 mark in 36 games.
Like Burt, Sauve has a U18 World Championship Gold Medal to her name. She won it with Team Canada during the 2013-14 season.
Both Burt and Sauve played the 2019-20 season in the PWHPA, and are set to tryout for a regional training hub for the 2020-21 season.
Strack is a native of nearby Reading, Massachusetts. She completed her college career this past season at Franklin Pierce University, where she was a captain. It was Strack’s second consecutive season as part of the leadership group. She wore an ‘A’ on her jersey as a junior in 2018-19. Strack’s best season came in that junior campaign, as she registered a .917 save percentage and a 1.60 goals against average.
Pijaca, from Worcester, Massachusetts, completed her college career in 2019. She suited up for Manhattanville College for four seasons after a strong high school career with Worcester Academy. Pijaca set a career-high with a .930 save percentage and a 1.86 goals against average in her senior season in 2018-19. She accomplished those marks over the course of 21 games.
More goaltenders will be added as the summer goes on.
