Boston Fleet looking to finish the job in the PWHL in Year 2

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One in a series of training camp previews. Here is a look at how the Boston Fleet shape up heading into the season.

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The Boston Fleet struggled to find its footing in Year 1 of the PWHL but once they did find it, they didn’t look back. A stellar playoff that including a 3-0 sweep of Montreal and then a 3-2 loss in a five-game series. Aerin Frankel almost single-handedly won Boston a championship as she got red hot in the Boston goal in the playoffs. Susanna Tapani and Alina Muller and defender Megan Keller led the way offensively as Boston came within a game of winning the first-ever PWHL Walter Cup Trophy.

LAST YEAR: Finished tied for third following the regular season before sweeping Montreal in a best-oif-five semi-final in three consecutive overtime wins and then losing the championship final 3-2 to Minnesota.

RETURNING CORE: Hilary Knight, Megan Keller, Aerin Frankel, Alina Muller, Jamie Lee Rattray, Susanna Tapani, Loren Gabel, Hannah Brandt

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NOT RETURNING: Hard-hitting defender Kaleigh Fratkin has retired. Defenders Emma Buckles and Abby Cook have also called it a career.

NEWCOMERS: The draft provided Boston instant upgrades at forward and defence with American Hannah Bilka arriving to bump up the offence while Czech defender Daniela Pejsova should help on the back end. Defender Emma Greco has made the move from PWHL Minnesota to Boston and should help offset some of the losses on the blue line to retirement. Former Toronto dender Maude Poulin-Labelle is in Boston’s camp trying to crack the roster. Czech goalie Klara Peslarova arrives in an already crowded goalie situation in Boston with Frankel holding down the No. 1 spot and Emma Soderberg her backup.

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BIGGEST QUESTION: Boston seemed to finally gel after the trade deadline last season that brought  Tapani over from Minnesota along with Abby Cook in exchange for defender Sophie Jaques. The move helped both teams giving Minnesota’s back end a lift and giving Boston’s offence a much needed boost. Will this chemistry still be there in Year 2 after a valiant but eventually unsuccessful run at the Walter Cup.

TEAM STRENGTH: Perseverence is clearly a strong point given Boston spent most of the year out of the playoff picture but stuck with it and after the arrival of Tapani became a very sound team. With Keller logging heavy minutes and Frankel between the pipes, this is a tough team to score upon.

TEAM WEAKNESS: Despite an abundance of talent at both ends of the ice with plenty of natural skill, Boston was hurt significantly by their special teams. The power play operated at just a 7.5% success rate while their penalty kill was second worst in the league. Only Minnesota was worse.

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PRIMED FOR A BREAKOUT: Loren Gabel had some tough injury luck in Year 1. After a solid start to her year, she missed eight games and was not quite the offensive threat she was once she came back. A full off-season should see Gabel back to her old self.

THE MOTIVATION: The Fleet were so close to a championship year in Season 1 and return most of their key people on top of an excellent draft. GM Danielle Marmer has shown she is not afraid to make a big move if one is needed but Boston seems primed for a more consistent showing than they had in Year 1.

THE PRE-SEASON ROSTER

FORWARDS

Lexie Adzija Signed

Sophie Shirley Signed

Alina Muller Signed

Jillian Dempsey Camp Invite

Amanda Pelkey Camp Invite

Taylor Girard Signed

Ilona Markova Drafted

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Hannah Bilka Drafted and signed

Hannah Brandt Signed

Hilary Knight Signed

Shay Maloney Drafted

Loren Gabel Signed

Theresa Schafzahl Signed

Jamie Lee Rattray Signed

Kelly Babstock Camp Invite

Susanna Tapani Signed

DEFENDERS

Emily Brown Signed

Megan Keller Signed

Hadley Hartmetz Drafted

Sidney Morin Free agent Min

Sydney Bard Signed

Jessica DiGirolamo Signed

Emma Greco Free agent Min

Daniela Pejsova Drafted and signed

Maude Poulin-Labelle Camp Invite

GOALIES

Klara Peslarova Camp Invite

Emma Soderberg Signed

Aerin Frankel Signed

Cammi Kronish Camp Invite

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