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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Wenczkowski, McManus Drafted by NWHL’s Boston Pride
4/29/2020 9:00:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
The senior linemates continue their careers in New England
BROOKLYN – On night two of the 2020 National Women's Hockey League draft, two University of New Hampshire forwards – captain Taylor Wenczkowski (Rochester, N.H.) and linemate Meghara McManus (Milton, Mass.) – were drafted by the Boston Pride in the third and fifth rounds, respectively.
Wenczkowski and McManus were the wingers on UNH's most proficient scoring line in the 2019-2020 season, with Wenczkowski tallying seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points, and McManus notching a team-high 27 points and 17 goals while also throwing in 10 helpers.
Wenczkowski, a lifelong resident of New Hampshire, tallied 82 career points in a UNH uniform, scoring 42 goals and notching 40 assists in 149 career games. Her sophomore season was cut short due to injury, but she responded in the 2017-18 season with a team-high 20 points. She followed that with a 20-goal season, UNH's first since Jonna Curtis '17, and garnered Hockey East All-Star honors on the Third Team.
The Pride's third-round pick was announced by UNH head coach Hilary Witt on the NWHL's twitter account.
"Taylor is incredibly skilled, competitive and driven," added Witt. "I am very proud of her for her accomplishments and excited to see her succeed in professional hockey."
McManus burst onto the scene her rookie season tallying 17 points on eight goals and nine assists. It was a sign of things to come as she became one of UNH's consistent point-getters, tallying 20+ points in her final three seasons with the Wildcats. In all, McManus tallied a team-high 84 career points on 48 goals and 36 assists. She played in 141 games for the Wildcats, surpassed only be her redshirt linemate Wenczkowski.
"Meghara gives everything she has to the game," said Witt. "She scores goals, blocks shots, kills penalties and sees the game really well. I am very proud of her and excited to see her succeed at the next level."
McManus' selection was made by Sarah Griffin, a co-host of the Boston Pride's official podcast, Pride Diehards.
Wenczkowski was the second Wildcat selected in the 2020 NWHL draft, after teammate Tori Howran (Bancroft, Ontario) was drafted by the Connecticut Whale seventh overall on night one of the NWHL draft. Wenczkowski was selected with the final pick of the third round, 18th overall. McManus followed in the fifth round with the 29th overall pick.
'CATS IN THE PROS
Wenczkowski, McManus and night one's draftee Howran are the three newest Wildcats to join the NWHL. Several other former Wildcats were drafted or signed in the league's first five years of play, and currently seven UNH alumni are signed to NWHL rosters.
Boston Pride
Meghara McManus '20 (2020 Draft – 29th overall)
Jenna Rheault '19 (2018 Draft – 25th overall)
Carlee Toews '18 (Undrafted Free Agent – 2019)
Taylor Wenczkowski '20 (2020 Draft – 18th overall)
Buffalo Beauts
Marie-Jo Pelletier '19 (Undrafted Free Agent – 2019)
Connecticut Whale
Tori Howran '20 (2020 Draft – 7th overall)
Minnesota Whitecaps
Jonna Curtis '17 (Undrafted Free Agent – 2018)
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Wenczkowski and McManus were the wingers on UNH's most proficient scoring line in the 2019-2020 season, with Wenczkowski tallying seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points, and McManus notching a team-high 27 points and 17 goals while also throwing in 10 helpers.
Wenczkowski, a lifelong resident of New Hampshire, tallied 82 career points in a UNH uniform, scoring 42 goals and notching 40 assists in 149 career games. Her sophomore season was cut short due to injury, but she responded in the 2017-18 season with a team-high 20 points. She followed that with a 20-goal season, UNH's first since Jonna Curtis '17, and garnered Hockey East All-Star honors on the Third Team.
The Pride's third-round pick was announced by UNH head coach Hilary Witt on the NWHL's twitter account.
Here's @UNHWHOCKEY Head Coach @coachwitt7 to announce the 18th Overall Pick for the 2020 #NWHLDraft for @TheBostonPride 🦁 pic.twitter.com/2fmFjiRaTk
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 29, 2020
"Taylor is incredibly skilled, competitive and driven," added Witt. "I am very proud of her for her accomplishments and excited to see her succeed in professional hockey."
McManus burst onto the scene her rookie season tallying 17 points on eight goals and nine assists. It was a sign of things to come as she became one of UNH's consistent point-getters, tallying 20+ points in her final three seasons with the Wildcats. In all, McManus tallied a team-high 84 career points on 48 goals and 36 assists. She played in 141 games for the Wildcats, surpassed only be her redshirt linemate Wenczkowski.
"Meghara gives everything she has to the game," said Witt. "She scores goals, blocks shots, kills penalties and sees the game really well. I am very proud of her and excited to see her succeed at the next level."
McManus' selection was made by Sarah Griffin, a co-host of the Boston Pride's official podcast, Pride Diehards.
Here's Sarah Griffin of @PrideDiehards to announce the 29th Overall Pick of the 2020 #NWHLDraft for @TheBostonPride 🦁 pic.twitter.com/8KXniUO3ed
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 30, 2020
Wenczkowski was the second Wildcat selected in the 2020 NWHL draft, after teammate Tori Howran (Bancroft, Ontario) was drafted by the Connecticut Whale seventh overall on night one of the NWHL draft. Wenczkowski was selected with the final pick of the third round, 18th overall. McManus followed in the fifth round with the 29th overall pick.
'CATS IN THE PROS
Wenczkowski, McManus and night one's draftee Howran are the three newest Wildcats to join the NWHL. Several other former Wildcats were drafted or signed in the league's first five years of play, and currently seven UNH alumni are signed to NWHL rosters.
Boston Pride
Meghara McManus '20 (2020 Draft – 29th overall)
Jenna Rheault '19 (2018 Draft – 25th overall)
Carlee Toews '18 (Undrafted Free Agent – 2019)
Taylor Wenczkowski '20 (2020 Draft – 18th overall)
Buffalo Beauts
Marie-Jo Pelletier '19 (Undrafted Free Agent – 2019)
Connecticut Whale
Tori Howran '20 (2020 Draft – 7th overall)
Minnesota Whitecaps
Jonna Curtis '17 (Undrafted Free Agent – 2018)
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