The 2022-23 Riveters had only three holdovers from last season’s squad. That group finished with an underwhelming 7-12-1 record. This year’s edition of the Riveters, infused with European talent, fared much better. Head coach Venla Hovi’s squad finished in fifth place with a record of 11-13-0.
Hovi and the Riveters need to do more than bring in new stars this summer to continue trending in the right direction. They also need to identify, re-sign, and develop the newcomers from this year’s squad who helped get the team on the right track. In other words, the Riveters need to build from within and without this time around.
Before we dive in, let’s address some of the veteran new faces. Amanda Pelkey, Fanni Garát-Gasparics, Minttu Tuominen, and Katie Burt were all big additions that made this team better. With Hovi behind the bench, it’s unlikely Pelkey is going anywhere. It looks like Tuominen wants to be back but at age 32, she’s not exactly a long-term solution on the blue line.
It’s less likely that Garát-Gasparics and Tuominen will be back but that doesn’t mean the Rivs shouldn’t try. The Hungarian winger was a great signing but may be pulled back to Europe to be closer to her husband. Burt may also be difficult to re-sign because of her ties to New England.
Now, here are five newcomers who have the potential to be more than stopgaps for the Riveters.
Anna Kilponen | Defender
Kilponen, 27, was likely the Riveters’ most consistent blueliner this season. She provided invaluable stability and experience to the left side with her poise on the puck and sound positioning off of it. Kilponen is one of my favorite players to watch when defending the rush. She can skate and read the game as well as anyone and makes the little plays that can result in a change of possession.
Minttu Tuominen got a lot more attention for her goal-scoring prowess, but Kilponen quietly excelled in every role the coaching staff asked her to fill. Her ability to move the puck made this Riveters’ blue line significantly better in transition and in the offensive zone than the 2021-22 squad. Like Kristen Barbara or Kiira Dosdall-Arena, her game is about calculation and balance, not flash.
All of these traits make Kilponen an ideal LHD to pair with an RHD with more offensive upside. That could be Tuominen or another partner the Riveters find in free agency. Either way, the Riveters need to keep this Finn at the mall.
Sarah Bujold | Center
I have Bujold as the Riveters’ MVP in 2022-23. The Canadian center helped transform the offense away from one that was over-dependent on Madison Packer. Her skating and ability to read the game gave the Riveters’ offense a new dimension: the counter-attack.
Sarah Bujold now has TWO SHORTIES on the season. Three goals in three games for the Riveters. A brutal turnover for Tabin and Bujold beats CJ up high. pic.twitter.com/l2qwJzQROf
— Mike Murphy (@DigDeepBSB) November 20, 2022
Bujold was one of three Riveters to reach the 20-point mark in 2022-23, which makes re-signing her an open-and-shut case. That production reduced the impact of Kendall Cornine’s rough season which could have been disastrous to this club. Bujold was also outstanding on the dot, winning 54.3% of her draws, and played strong off the puck.
Given how special her debut season with the Riveters was, it might be wise to give Bujold a two-year deal. Even if the front office goes after a superstar center in free agency, the Canadian center should be a top priority this offseason. This team needs speed, skill, and depth down the middle and Bujold is a top-six center worth investing in.
Rachel McQuigge | Goalie
Burt’s stats were better in 2022-23, but McQuigge was really impressive after her return from injury. The rookie netminder could be the Riveters’ franchise goalie of the future but she can’t become that unless she sees pucks, minutes, and starts.
I don’t think it’s fair to look at McQuigge’s .888 Sv% in her rookie season and be underwhelmed. She played behind a team with a terrible penalty kill and had the highest average workload per 60 minutes (30.42 SA60) among the Riveters goalies. McQuigge may also be the best puck-handling goalie in the PHF. She is a secret weapon on the power-play and against overly aggressive forechecks at even strength.
The Riveters have had no consistency in the goal crease since the departure of Katie Fitzgerald. McQuigge is a young player with a ton of potential, as evidenced by her .928 Sv% at Princeton and the flashes of brilliance we saw in her first season with the Riveters. You don’t let goalies with that kind of promise go after eight pro starts in a season derailed by injury.
Emilie Harley | Defender
As The Ice Garden’s Dan Rice outlined in a recent story, Harley thrived with the Riveters in 2022-23. By the end of the season, it was clear that the Buffalo Beauts lost a special player when Harley signed with the Riveters on July 20, 2022.
Harley’s undeniable blend of size, skill, and potential was evident all year long. She finished third on the Riveters’ blue line in scoring with two goals and nine assists. The 6-foot defender did something we just didn’t see enough of from the 2021-22 Riveters’ blueliners: she made plays.
Harley carries the puck with a tremendous amount of poise and elusiveness for someone her size and was one of the Riveters’ most disciplined players on and off the puck. With the right opportunity and guidance, she could evolve from an outstanding second-pair defender into something more exciting. It’s up to the Riveters to recognize that potential and help Harley tap into it.
BEHIND THE SCENES: An unedited interview with Emile Harley of the Metropolitan Riveters.
Kennedy Ganser | Center
Elite teams have center depth and Kennedy Ganser, another former Buffalo Beaut, represents just that for the Riveters.
Ganser’s production on a Riveters team with a below-average offense should not be overlooked. She had two goals, nine assists, a 58.9 FO%, and just four minor penalties in 24 GP. For those who put more stock into where a player finished the year, Ganser played her way into a bigger role than she had when the puck dropped in October.
There’s a lot to like about Ganser’s game and what she represents to a deep team. An outstanding skater, she has the potential to be an elite defensive center with offensive upside. As she proved this season and during her time in Buffalo, Ganser can play in the top-six but is likely bringing her best value as a 3C behind Bujold and another scoring line center.
Ganser is one of those underrated players who will fit in and contribute even on the deepest of teams – not unlike Kayla Friesen or Janine Weber. No matter how many big splashes the Riveters make in free agency, Ganser should remain in their plans.