Contact: Todd Bell, Marketing & Communications Manager /O: 952-681-7668 / C: 972-825-6686 / Email: [email protected] Website: wcha.com / Twitter: @wcha_whockey / IG: @wcha_whockey / FB: facebook.com/wchawomenshockey / Watch on FloHockey.tv FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WCHA SENDS FIVE TO THE NWHL IN THE 2020 DRAFT The Minnesota Whitecaps selected forward Alex Woken in the first round BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – April 30, 2020 – Five alumnae of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association are continuing their hockey careers after being selected in the 2020 National Women’s Hockey League Draft. Alex Woken and Patti Marshall of the University of Minnesota, Presley Norby and Maddie Rowe of the University of Wisconsin and Haley Mack of Bemidji State University were selected by the Minnesota Whitecaps in this year’s draft. The first and second rounds aired on April 28 while the final three rounds were concluded on April 29. Woken earned the first nod of the former WCHA skaters. The Fargo, N.D., native heard her name called in the first round as the Minnesota Whitecaps claimed the 2019-20 WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year with the fifth-overall pick. Marshall followed her former teammate when the Whitecaps selected her in the second round with the 11th-overall pick. Norby joins Woken and Marshall on the Whitecaps roster after Minnesota selected the Wisconsin forward in the third round with the 17th-overall pick. Bemidji State became the third university to see one of their players selected in this year’s draft as Mack went to the Whitecaps with 23rd-overall pick. Rowe rounded out the handful of Whitecaps draftees as the 2019 Isobel Cup Champions chose the former Badgers defender in the fifth round with the 28th -overall pick. “Congratulations to Alex, Patti, Presley, Haley and Maddie on being drafted,” WCHA Commissioner Jennifer Flowers said. “We’ve been fortunate to have a front row seat for years as they’ve displayed their talents in the WCHA. We wish them the best as their hockey careers continue.” Prior to the 2020 Draft, the WCHA boasted 20 alumnae playing in the now-six-team NWHL. This year’s draftees join a Whitecaps team that already features 15 of those former league skaters. Norby and Rowe will be Wisconsin’s lone representatives on the Minnesota roster, while three other former Badgers skate in the NWHL for the Connecticut Whale (1) and the Metropolitan Riveters (2). Mack will mark the second Bemidji State alumna to grace the Whitecaps roster while Woken and Marshall give Minnesota an even 10 former Gophers suiting up with the ‘Caps. WCHA Players Selected in the 2020 NWHL Draft Alex Woken, F, Minnesota (Fargo, N.D.), First Round, 5th -Overall Pick Woken boasted 75 points on 38 goals and 37 assists in her career with the Gophers. The Minnesota forward had a career-best season in 2019-20 during which she tallied career highs in points (32), goals (16) and assists (16). Her senior season saw her reach the 50-career-points mark during a six-point weekend at Minnesota State, and she tallied seven multi-point games on the year. Woken is a two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team honoree. Patti Marshall, D, Minnesota (Thief River Falls, Minn.) Second Round, 11th-Overall Pick Marshall served as Minnesota's team captain for the 2019-20 season and recorded 10 points on a goal and nine assists in her senior campaign. Her career with the Gophers saw the defender rack up 61 points from eight goals and 53 assists. Marshall was a three-time WCHA All-Academic honoree. - MORE – Presley Norby, F, Wisconsin (Minnetonka, Minn.), Third Round, 17th-Overall Pick Norby tallied 94 points on 38 goals and 56 assists in 153 games during her career and recorded four-straight seasons of 20+ points for Wisconsin. Her senior campaign saw her score 10 goals and add 11 helpers for 21 points amongst an already star-studded Wisconsin roster. The Badger forward helped UW claim the program’s fifth NCAA title in 2019 and was a three-time WCHA All-Academic team member as well as the WCHA Rookie of the Month in October 2016. Haley Mack, F, Bemidji State (River Falls, Wis.), Fourth Round, 23rd-Overall Pick Mack totaled 77 points in her career with Bemidji State, tallying 38 goals and 39 assists in her four seasons. In her senior campaign she led the Beavers in points (28) and goals (15) and concluded her career fifth on BSU’s career goal scoring list. Mack was a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team and earned the Forward of the Week nod on Oct. 22, 2019 after a four-point weekend against Minnesota Duluth. Maddie Rowe, D, Wisconsin (East Grand Forks, Minn.) Fifth Round, 28th-Overall Pick Rowe recorded 30 points during her career, scoring 11 goals and tallying 19 assists in her 152 games as a Badger. The defender’s sophomore campaign saw her notch 19 points (7g-12a) and earn WCHA Forward of the Week honors after a three-point outing against St. Cloud State. About the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Women’s League The Women’s League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is marking its 21st season in 2019-20. The nation’s premier women’s hockey conference, WCHA member institutions have won a record 17 national championships since the league’s inception in 1999 (including 16 of a possible 19 NCAA titles), while producing seven Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winners, 101 All-Americans and numerous Olympic and national team members. The seven-team, NCAA Division I conference consists of: Bemidji State University (Beavers), the University of Minnesota (Golden Gophers), the University of Minnesota Duluth (Bulldogs), Minnesota State University (Mavericks), Ohio State University (Buckeyes), St. Cloud State University (Huskies) and the University of Wisconsin (Badgers). For more information, visit wcha.com. - WCHA – .