Former Minnesota Duluth captain Zoe Hickel was traded this week from the Boston Pride to the Connecticut Whale in a move that should give the National Women's Hockey League all-star a larger role.
In two NWHL seasons with Boston, Hickel totaled four goals and nine assists in 27 games, including one goal and five assists in 12 games this season. She will represent the Pride this weekend in the NWHL All-Star Game in Pittsburgh before joining the Whale for their next game, Feb. 19 at the New York Riveters.
After playing a third-line role with the undefeated and NWHL-leading Pride (12-0), Hickel is likely to play on Connecticut's top line, which will help her in her quest to make the U.S. Women's National Team for the 2018 Olympics. The Whale (4-10) are last in the NWHL.
The Pride received a 2017 first-round pick for Hickel, plus future considerations.
