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Kelly Babstock
Babstock with PWHL Boston in 2024
Born (1992-08-04) August 4, 1992 (age 32)
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
PWHL team
Former teams		 PWHL Boston
Playing career 2010–present

Kelly Babstock (born August 4, 1992) is a Canadian-American ice hockey player for the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She has Ojibwe roots and is originally from Little Current on Manitoulin Island, part of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.[1]

Babstock played college ice hockey with the Quinnipiac Bobcats women's ice hockey program and, as of September 2021, remains the top goal, assist, and point scorer in the program's history.[2][3][4] She was the first Canadian-born player to score a goal in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF; called the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) during 2014 to 2021) and went on to play a total of seven seasons in the league before it was dissolved in 2023.

Playing career

[edit]

Her junior ice hockey career was played with the Toronto Jr. Aeros of the Provincial Women's Hockey League (Provincial WHL). She helped the team win the gold medal and League Cup during the 2009–10 season, registering 25 goals and 35 assists (60 points) during the regular season, and nine goals and four assists (13 points) during playoffs.[2]

NCAA

[edit]

Babstock was a member of the Quinnipiac Bobcats women's ice hockey team from 2010 to 2014. She made her mark on college hockey in her freshman season, recording 59 points in 37 games. Across four seasons with Quinnipiac, Babstock registered a total of 95 goals and 108 assists, for a total of 203 points in 148 games.[5]

On November 12 and 13, 2010, Babstock made Quinnipiac program history as she accounted for six of the seven goals scored over the weekend via back-to-back hat-tricks against ECAC Hockey opponents No. 10 ranked Harvard and Dartmouth. As of November 14, Babstock led the Bobcats and the entire NCAA in goals (13) and points (27). In addition, she was the first skater in Quinnipiac history to record two hat-tricks in a single season.[6]

Versus the Brown Bears on Friday, December 3, 2010, Babstock became Quinnipiac's all-time leader in goals scored in a season by netting her 16th goal of the season. Her nation-leading sixth game-winning goal against Yale on Saturday, Dec. 4 was part of a Bobcats 3–1 win.[7]

With a second period goal versus the Colgate Raiders on November 19, 2011, Babstock became the Bobcats program's all-time leading scorer.[8] In just her second season, Babstock surpassed Vicki Graham, who previously held the record with 73 career points, set after the 2006–07 season. Babstock reached the milestone in her 50th career game.[9]

Babstock led all skaters in points at the 2011 Nutmeg Classic, with one goal and three assists for four points. With her two assists in the championship game, Babstock earned the 39th and 40th assists of her career, surpassing Caitlin Peters as the all-time assist leader in Bobcats history. Breann Frykas scored the game-winning goal as the Bobcats bested the Robert Morris Colonials by a 3–2 tally. In honor of her stellar performance, Babstock was named 2011 Nutmeg Classic MVP.[10]

After four record-setting seasons with the women's ice hockey program, Babstock joined the Quinnipiac Bobcats women's lacrosse team as a fifth-year senior. She played in ten games, recording four starts, and finished the season with 21 points (fourteen goals, seven assists). With this record at season's end, she ranked second on the Bobcats in points and was named to the 2014 MAAC All-Rookie Team.[11]

Professional

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Babstock with the Connecticut Whale in 2017
Connecticut Whale

Competing in the Connecticut Whale's inaugural game on October 11, 2015, Babstock scored a goal in the third period of a 4–1 win against the New York Riveters. Assisted by Kelli Stack, Babstock became the first Canadian-born player to score a goal in NWHL regular season play. Babstock was selected as a "media pick" to play in the 2017 NWHL All-Star Game.[12] Playing for Team Steadman, Babstock scored a goal at the 2nd NWHL All-Star Game,[13] the only Canadian to do so. She also participated in the 2018 NWHL All-Star Game, playing on Team Leveille.[14]

Buffalo Beauts

In June 2018, Babstock signed with the Buffalo Beauts.[15] She notched ten points in sixteen games with the Beauts during the 2018–19 NWHL season.

PWHPA

Babstock was affiliated with the Tri-State chapter of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) during the 2019–20 season but was not selected to participate in any of the organization's showcases or events.

Babstock with the Riveters in 2022
Metropolitan Riveters

On May 2, 2020, Babstock announced her return to the NWHL, signing with the Canadian expansion team, the Toronto Six, for the 2020–21 NWHL season.[16] She joined four former PWHPA players already signed with the Six, including former Connecticut Whale teammates Shiann Darkangelo and Emma Greco. On returning to the NWHL after a year with the PWHPA, she explained, "I realized the [PWH]PA's goals didn't match mine and the NWHL's matches with my goals. So I'm excited to play hockey again."[17] On October 15, 2020, it was announced that the Six had traded her to the Metropolitan Riveters in exchange for the Riveters' first round pick in the 2021 NWHL Draft and second round pick in 2022.[18]

In the opening game of the 2020–21 NWHL season, she became the fourth player in NWHL history to reach 100 career penalty minutes (PIM) and also picked up two assists as the Riveters defeated the Six 2–0.[19] A number of issues plagued the league and the Riveters specifically during the 2020–21 season, which culminated in the team playing only two games.

Babstock led the team in penalty minutes during the 2021–22 PHF season, collecting 30 minutes in twenty games and finishing second in the league for PIM behind the Boston Pride's Kaleigh Fratkin (34 PIM).[20] She ranked fifth on the Riveters for scoring, with thirteen points from five goals and eight assists.[21]

In the 2022–23 PHF season, she tied captain Madison Packer as the Riveters' points leader after scoring 21 points in 24 regular season games – her best points total since her rookie season with the Whale in 2015–16. She was selected to play for Team Canada in the 2023 PHF All-Star Game, her third All-Star Game appearance.[22]

Personal life

[edit]

Babstock's mother, Donna, is Ojibwe from the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and her father, David, is from Newfoundland. She is the third eldest of six siblings with one older and two younger sisters and two brothers. Her eldest brother, Jeff Shattler, played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and serves as Director of Player Development for the Fighting Sioux lacrosse program of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation.[23]

She attended Port Credit Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, where she was the ice hockey leading scorer for three years and the men's field lacrosse leading scorer for one year.

A Canadian citizen by birth, Babstock gained American dual-citizenship in 2019. She began pursuing American citizenship in her junior year of university, motivated by a desire to establish her post-college life in the United States. Her Canadian-born Native American status made it relatively easy to gain a green card and she became an American citizen in a naturalization ceremony held at KeyBank Center on January 29, 2019. Of gaining American citizenship, she said, "It's a big deal, you know? You're Native American, and you have these rights [codified under US immigration law as a result of the Jay Treaty], and I just took advantage of them."[24]

In late-January 2021, Barstool Sports began a social media campaign targeting women with histories of reporting on or working for the NWHL.[25] The campaign was mounted in response to a limited expression of disappointment on Twitter after Babstock and teammate Rebecca Russo appeared on Token CEO, a podcast hosted by Barstool CEO Erika Nardini. Babstock became embroiled when she voiced support for Nardini and liked Tweets by Barstool-founder Dave Portnoy that arbitrarily called for her Riveters teammate, Saroya Tinker, to be jailed after Tinker stated she was not in favour of the NWHL associating with Barstool and called the outlet an "openly racist platform."[26][27]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs Provincial WHL 1 2 1 3 0 — — — — —
2007–08 Toronto Jr. Aeros Provincial WHL 29 14 18 32 49 7 2 7 9 6
2008–09 Toronto Jr. Aeros Provincial WHL 33 25 34 59 88 8 4 6 10 14
2009–10 Toronto Jr. Aeros Provincial WHL 33 25 35 60 42 7 9 4 13 6
2010–11 Quinnipiac Bobcats NCAA 37 30 28 58 34 — — — — —
2011–12 Quinnipiac Bobcats NCAA 37 18 22 40 32 — — — — —
2012–13 Quinnipiac Bobcats NCAA 36 28 27 55 40 — — — — —
2013–14 Quinnipiac Bobcats NCAA 38 19 30 49 30 — — — — —
2015–16 Connecticut Whale NWHL 18 9 13 22 24 3 4 0 4 2
2016–17 Connecticut Whale NWHL 17 10 9 19 26 1 0 0 0 2
2017–18 Connecticut Whale NWHL 14 4 5 9 22 1 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Buffalo Beauts NWHL 16 4 6 10 22 2 0 0 0 6
2019–20 Tri-State PWHPA — — — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Metropolitan Riveters NWHL 3 0 2 2 6 — — — — —
2021–22 Metropolitan Riveters PHF 20 5 8 13 30 1 1 0 1 4
2022–23 Metropolitan Riveters PHF 24 10 11 21 30 – – – – –
2023–24 Ladies Team Lugano SWHL A 8 6 7 13 18 - - - - -
2023–24 PWHL Boston PWHL 4 0 1 1 2 8 0 0 0 4
NCAA totals 148 95 107 202 136 — – – – –
PHF totals 112 42 54 96 160 8 5 0 5 14

Source:[28]

Awards and honours

[edit]
Award Year or period
College ice hockey
ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week (5) Week of October 5, 2010 [29]
Week of November 16, 2010
Week of November 30, 2010
Week of December 7, 2010
Week of February 15, 2011
Quinnipiac University Athlete of the Month (4) November 2010[30] [31]
December 2010
January 2011
November 2013
ECAC Hockey Player of the Week (10) Week of December 7, 2010 [29]
Week of February 15, 2011
Week of November 22, 2011 [32]
Week of February 21, 2012
Week of October 9, 2012 [33]
Week of October 16, 2012
Week of December 4, 2012
Week of February 12, 2013
Week of October 22, 2013[34]
Week of December 3, 2013[35]
Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd January 17, 2011[36]
ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year 2010–11[37]
Quinnipiac Women's Hockey Rookie of the Year 2010–11[38]
All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team 2010–11[39]
ECAC Hockey Player of the Year 2010–11[40]
Quinnipiac University Female Athlete of the Year (2) 2010–11[5]
2013–14[41]
Quinnipiac Women's Hockey Most Valuable Player (2) 2010–11[31]
2011–12
All-ECAC Hockey First Team (3) 2010–11 [39]
2012–13
2013–14
New England Women's Division I All-Star (4) 2010–11[42]
2011–12[43]
2012–13[44]
2013–14[41]
Patty Kazmaier Award Nominee 2010–11[45]
ECAC Hockey Player of the Month (2) November 2011[46]
October 2012[47]
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team 2011–12[39]
Patty Kazmaier Award Top-10 Finalist 2013–14[48]
CCM/AHCA All-American
Women's University Division - Second Team 		2013–14[49]
ECAC Hockey All-Decade Second Team 2020[50]
PHF (NWHL)
All-Star Game 2017 (Team Steadman)[12]
2018 (Team Leveille)[14]
2023 (Team Canada)
Player of the Week November 20, 2017[51]
Foundation Award 2018–19
Other
Aboriginal Role Model of the Year 2011[1]
MAAC Women's Lacrosse All-Rookie Team 2014[11]
Little Native Hockey League Hall of Fame – Alumna 2016[52]
North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame inductee 2023[53]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b D'Arcangelo, Lyndsey (October 18, 2018). "As the NWHL's only Native player, Beauts newcomer Kelly Babstock is on a mission to open the door for others". The Athletic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "2013-14 Women's Ice Hockey: 8 Kelly Babstock". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "Women's Ice Hockey Individual Career Records". Quinnipiac University Athletics. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  4. ^ "Quinnipiac Women's Ice Hockey Record Book, All-Time Individual Career Records" (PDF). Quinnipiac University Athletics. September 2, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Career Statistics: Kelly Babstock". U.S. College Hockey Online. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Nanji, Babstock & Jamieson Earn ECAC Hockey MLX Skates Weekly Honors". ECAC Hockey. November 16, 2010. Archived from the original on August 2, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  7. ^ "ECAC Hockey Women's Weekly Awards" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. December 7, 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "ECAC Hockey Women's Weekly Awards" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. November 22, 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  9. ^ "Kelly Babstock Named ECAC Hockey Player Of The Week". Quinnipiac University Athletics. November 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  10. ^ "Women's Ice Hockey Repeats As Nutmeg Classic Tournament Champions, Downs Robert Morris, 3-2". Quinnipiac University Athletics. November 26, 2011. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "2015 Women's Lacrosse: Kelly Babstock". Quinnipiac University Athletics. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Linehan, Meg (January 6, 2017). "Whale's Babstock, Riveters' Johnston added to NWHL All-Star Game". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  13. ^ "NWHL Stars Shine Bright in Pittsburgh". NWHL. February 13, 2017. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Media Guide for the 2018 NWHL All-Star Game". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  15. ^ Ayala, Erica (June 17, 2018). "Kelly Babstock is taking her talents to Buffalo". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  16. ^ Chidley-Hill, John (May 2, 2020). "Veteran forward Kelly Babstock returns home, joining Toronto's NWHL team". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  17. ^ Jay, Michelle (May 2, 2020). "Kelly Babstock signs with NWHL's Toronto team". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Murphy, Mike (October 15, 2020). "Riveters acquire Kelly Babstock from Six in trade for two draft picks". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  19. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (January 23, 2021). "NWHL Day 1 Takeaways: Riveters, Whale, Whitecaps ahead early". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "PHF (W) Stats 2021-2022 (Sort=PIM)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  21. ^ "Metropolitan Riveters 2021-2022 Skater States (Sort=PIM)". Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  22. ^ Laskaris, Sam (January 30, 2023). "All-star Babstock glad to be back in Canada to play at historic hockey site". WindSpeaker.com. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  23. ^ Nordal, Kaitlynn (June 16, 2019). "Standing Buffalo lacrosse adds Rush player to coaching staff". Eagle Feather News. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  24. ^ Wolf, Jason (February 22, 2019). "Proud of her Canadian roots, Beauts' Kelly Babstock becomes U.S. citizen". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "National Women's Hockey League Sighs Deeply, Deals With Barstool Sports". Vice. January 27, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  26. ^ Mertens, Maggie (February 27, 2021). "The Sports League That Refuses to Court Certain Fans". The Atlantic. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  27. ^ Burgess, Melissa; Hayden, Zoë (October 7, 2021). "Barstool CEO Erika Nardini Was In Talks to Own Three Premier Hockey Federation Teams". The Victory Press. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  28. ^ "Player Profile: Kelly Babstock". Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  29. ^ a b "2010–11 MLX Skates Players of Week". ECAC Hockey. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  30. ^ "Kelly Babstock and James Johnson Named Quinnipiac November Athletes of the Month". Quinnipiac University Athletics. December 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  31. ^ a b "2010-11 Quinnipiac Athletics Awards Program". Issuu. Quinnipiac University Athletics. May 4, 2011. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  32. ^ "2011–12 Players of Week". ECAC Hockey. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  33. ^ "2012–13 Players of the Week". ECAC Hockey. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  34. ^ "Babstock, Woods & Slebodnick Earn Weekly Awards". ECAC Hockey. October 22, 2013. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  35. ^ "2013–14 ECAC Hockey Women's Weekly Awards" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. December 3, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  36. ^ Fenwick, Alexandra (January 17, 2011). "Faces in the Crowd". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  37. ^ "Babstock Named Rookie of the Year". ECAC Hockey. February 28, 2011. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  38. ^ "Quinnipiac Women's Ice Hockey's Kelly Babstock Named Rookie Of The Year & Most Valuable Player At Annual Banquet". Quinnipiac University Athletics. April 17, 2011. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  39. ^ a b c "ECAC Hockey History: Annual Awards & All Conference" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  40. ^ "League's Player of the Year Awarded to Babstock". ECAC Hockey. March 2, 2011. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  41. ^ a b "Babstock Tabbed 2014 Quinnipiac Female Athlete of the Year". ECAC Hockey. May 4, 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  42. ^ "Three Women's Hockey Players Selected As New England All-Stars". Boston College Athletics. March 30, 2011. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  43. ^ "2012-13 Quinnipiac Women's Ice Hockey Media Guide". Issuu. Quinnipiac University Athletics. November 25, 2012. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  44. ^ "Kelly Babstock and Regan Boulton Named to 2012-13 New England Women's Ice Hockey All-Star Team". Quinnipiac University Athletics. April 3, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  45. ^ "Kelly Babstock Named Finalist For ECAC Hockey Rookie Of The Year". Quinnipiac University Athletics. February 24, 2011. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  46. ^ "Babstock, Saulnier & Howe Name[d] Fischer-Hockey Monthly Winners". ECAC Hockey. December 2, 2011. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  47. ^ "2012-13 Hogan Hockey/ECAC Hockey Women's Monthly Awards" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. November 1, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  48. ^ "Top-10 Finalists Named for 2014 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award". USA Hockey (Press release). February 27, 2014. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  49. ^ "2013–14 All-Americans". American Hockey Coaches Association. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  50. ^ "ECAC Hockey Announces Women's Second-Team All-Decade". ECAC Hockey. February 19, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  51. ^ "NWHL Player of the Week: Kelly Babstock". NWHL. November 20, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  52. ^ "Hall of Fame". Little Native Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  53. ^ Richard, Rochelle (February 3, 2023). "Kelly Babstock, #8 for the Metropolitan Riveters has been inducted into the NAIAHF". Women's Hockey Life. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
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