University of New Hampshire Athletics
Scammell and Middleton Selected in NWHL Draft 2021
6/29/2021 8:38:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
DURHAM, N.H. – Julia Scammell (Truro, Nova Scotia) and Grace Middleton (Midland, Mich.) of the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team were selected in the NWHL Draft 2021 on Tuesday night.
Scammell was drafted by the Metropolitan Riveters with the fifth pick in Round 3 (17th overall) and Middleton was taken by the Connecticut Whale with the second pick in Round 5 (26th overall). It is the second consecutive year a UNH player has been drafted by the Whale.
Scammell, a 5-foot-10 defenseman, skated in 11 of 21 games in the 2020-21 season. She recorded one point with an assist at Providence College. Scammell did not miss a game until her senior season, as she skated in all 36 games as a freshman and sophomore and all 37 as a junior.
"Our goal was to refresh our defense and I'm very excited to work with this group," Riveters coach Ivo Mocek said.
In 120 career games as a UNH Wildcat, Scammell tallied a goal and 11 assists for 12 points. Her highest single-season point total was in 2017-18, when she recorded six assists for six points.
"Julia is a consistent defenseman who defends well and has poise with the puck," UNH head coach Hilary Witt said. "She also contributes to the offense by getting the puck to the net with a hard and accurate shot."
Middleton received special recognition at UNH's annual Senior Banquet this past May. The Coaches Award is presented to a senior student-athlete who has either overcome adversity, or is an unsung hero, or is a team leader, or has gone above and beyond.
Middleton was born with bilateral congenital hearing loss and started using hearing aids at age four. That did not deter her from becoming a Division I student-athlete and succeeding as a UNH Wildcat on the ice and in the classroom.
Middleton, a 5-7 forward, played in all 22 games this past season and 127 of 131 games the past four years – more than any other Wildcat. She finished with 23 points on eight goals and 15 assists in her four-year career.
Middleton is a two-time member of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma. She has also been named both an AHCA All-America Scholar and to the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year.
"Grace is a strong forward with a hard shot," Witt said. "She sees the ice well and can make plays in tight spots. She is a hard working two-way player who is a dream to coach."
Middleton and Scammell are the fifth and sixth Wildcats selected in the NWHL draft in the past four years. Here are the nine 'Cats who have signed an NWHL contract in that span.
Boston Pride
Meghara McManus '20 (2020 Draft – 29th overall)
Jenna Rheault '19 (2018 Draft – 25th overall)
Carlee Toews '18 (2019 undrafted free agent)
Carlee Turner '20 (2020 undrafted free agent)
Taylor Wenczkowski '20 (2020 Draft – 18th overall)
Buffalo Beauts
Marie-Jo Pelletier '19 (2019 undrafted free agent)
Connecticut Whale
Tori Howran '20 (2020 Draft – 7th overall)
Minnesota Whitecaps
Jonna Curtis '17 (2018 undrafted free agent)
Toronto Six
Julie Allen '11 (2020 undrafted free agent)
Scammell was drafted by the Metropolitan Riveters with the fifth pick in Round 3 (17th overall) and Middleton was taken by the Connecticut Whale with the second pick in Round 5 (26th overall). It is the second consecutive year a UNH player has been drafted by the Whale.
Scammell, a 5-foot-10 defenseman, skated in 11 of 21 games in the 2020-21 season. She recorded one point with an assist at Providence College. Scammell did not miss a game until her senior season, as she skated in all 36 games as a freshman and sophomore and all 37 as a junior.
"Our goal was to refresh our defense and I'm very excited to work with this group," Riveters coach Ivo Mocek said.
In 120 career games as a UNH Wildcat, Scammell tallied a goal and 11 assists for 12 points. Her highest single-season point total was in 2017-18, when she recorded six assists for six points.
"Julia is a consistent defenseman who defends well and has poise with the puck," UNH head coach Hilary Witt said. "She also contributes to the offense by getting the puck to the net with a hard and accurate shot."
Middleton received special recognition at UNH's annual Senior Banquet this past May. The Coaches Award is presented to a senior student-athlete who has either overcome adversity, or is an unsung hero, or is a team leader, or has gone above and beyond.
Middleton was born with bilateral congenital hearing loss and started using hearing aids at age four. That did not deter her from becoming a Division I student-athlete and succeeding as a UNH Wildcat on the ice and in the classroom.
Middleton, a 5-7 forward, played in all 22 games this past season and 127 of 131 games the past four years – more than any other Wildcat. She finished with 23 points on eight goals and 15 assists in her four-year career.
Middleton is a two-time member of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma. She has also been named both an AHCA All-America Scholar and to the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year.
"Grace is a strong forward with a hard shot," Witt said. "She sees the ice well and can make plays in tight spots. She is a hard working two-way player who is a dream to coach."
Middleton and Scammell are the fifth and sixth Wildcats selected in the NWHL draft in the past four years. Here are the nine 'Cats who have signed an NWHL contract in that span.
Boston Pride
Meghara McManus '20 (2020 Draft – 29th overall)
Jenna Rheault '19 (2018 Draft – 25th overall)
Carlee Toews '18 (2019 undrafted free agent)
Carlee Turner '20 (2020 undrafted free agent)
Taylor Wenczkowski '20 (2020 Draft – 18th overall)
Buffalo Beauts
Marie-Jo Pelletier '19 (2019 undrafted free agent)
Connecticut Whale
Tori Howran '20 (2020 Draft – 7th overall)
Minnesota Whitecaps
Jonna Curtis '17 (2018 undrafted free agent)
Toronto Six
Julie Allen '11 (2020 undrafted free agent)
Players Mentioned
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