Connecticut Whale Draft Quinnipiac’s Taylor Girard First Overall
Photo by Liz Flynn
June 29, 2021
One of Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey’s standout seniors will remain local next winter.
Taylor Girard, who finished her career with the Bobcats this past season, was picked by the Connecticut Whale with the first overall selection in Tuesday’s National Women’s Hockey League Draft.
She becomes the fifth NWHL draft pick out of Quinnipiac, following fellow Whale selections Melissa Samoskevich and Emma Woods, along with Taylor Cianfarano and Sydney Rossman.
Girard was a two-year member of Cassandra Turner’s program, transferring in from Lindenwood before the 2019-20 season. In 39 games in Hamden, the forward recorded 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 total points.
With the Whale, Girard will reunite with former Quinnipiac teammate Abbie Ives, the goaltender who ranks second all-time on the program’s saves list.
Samoskevich, the 2019 Quinnipiac captain and a two-time leading point scorer, made her NWHL debut with the Whale last season as well and remains on the roster.
The group of Quinnipiac alumnae playing professionally in the NWHL continues to grow. Girard becomes the 13th player to sign in the league and the ninth with the Whale.
Four Bobcats — Shiann Darkangelo, Emma Greco, Woods, and Sarah-Eve Coutou Godbout — are currently on the roster of the Toronto Six, an expansion team in 2020-21.
