Danbury’s Connecticut Whale abruptly exits NWHL tournament

The Connecticut Whale, the Danbury-based team within the professional National Women”™s Hockey League, abruptly withdrew without explanation from participation in their league”™s championship games in Lake Placid.

Connecticut whale
Connecticut Whale players in action.

The team was scheduled to play against the Minnesota Whitecaps last night in a bubble tournament, but forfeited the match by withdrawing from play. The Whale is the second team to exit the tournament ”“ last week, the Metropolitan Riveters of Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, withdrew citing Covid-19 concerns.

The online news site Sportsnet reported the Whale”™s withdrawal was not related to Covid-19, but the team offered no public explanation for its decision. With the Whale out of the tournament, four remaining teams will play for the league”™s top prize, the Isobel Cup.