Megan Keller, Loren Gabel Highlight Beauts' 2018 Draft Class
December 20, 2018 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
Buffalo Beauts News Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Beauts selected five players in the 2018 NWHL Draft on Wednesday and Thursday, including three forwards and two defensemen. The team selected defenseman Megan Keller and forward Loren Gabel on day one before rounding out the draft with forward Jessie Eldridge, defenseman Olivia Zafuto and forward Nicole Schammel on day two.
"Megan has played on the international level with some of the players on our roster. She provides both offense and size to our already-strong defensive core," General Manager Nik Fattey said. "Loren is a dynamic scorer with game-changing ability. As a two-time NCAA champion, she has proven she can perform at a high level in high-pressure situations."
Keller (5'11", 5/1/1996), selected by Buffalo in the first round (third overall), won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. She played in all five games in the tournament and recorded two assists. The Farmington, Michigan native also captured gold with the United States at the 2015, 2016 and 2017 IIHF Women's World Championships.
Currently a senior at Boston College, Keller has 22 points (9+13) in 19 games this season. The defenseman averaged more than a point per game during her sophomore and junior seasons and has totaled 137 points (35+102) in 132 career games.
The Beauts selected Gabel (5'4", 7/24/1997) in the second round. The Clarkson University forward currently ranks third in the country with 32 points (14+18) in 16 games this season. A member of Clarkson's back-to-back National Championship-winning teams in 2017 and 2018, Gabel was named ECAC Hockey Player of the Year after the 2017-18 season, during which she established new Clarkson records in points (75) and goals (36). The Kitchener, Ontario native has totaled 176 points (90+86) in 138 games career games for the Golden Knights.
The Beauts' third-round selection (13th overall), Eldridge (5'9", 12/17/1997) leads Colgate University and is tied for sixth in the nation with 13 goals this season. After two consecutive seasons as Colgate's Offensive MVP, the Barrie, Ontario native was named the Raiders' captain for her senior season. She has recorded 23 points (13+10) in 18 games in 2018-19 to increase her career total to 132 points (57+75) in 133 NCAA games.
Buffalo selected another Raider in the fourth round (18th overall), adding a Niagara Falls, New York native in Zafuto (5'6", 1/25/1997). A graduate of Nichols School, Zafuto is currently in her senior season at Colgate University, where she has totaled 82 points (27+55) in 131 career games. She was selected as a member of the All-NCAA Tournament team in 2018 after helping lead Colgate to the national championship game.
Selected in the fifth round (23rd overall), Schammel (5'5", 4/9/1996) has totaled 25 points (6+19), including a career-best 19 assists, through the first 20 games of her senior season at the University of Minnesota. Her 25 points tie for ninth-most in the nation and rank second among WCHA skaters, while her 19 assists tie for third in the country. In 133 collegiate games with Minnesota and Minnesota State, the Red Wing, Minnesota native has totaled 91 points (40+51).
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Premier Hockey Federation Stories from December 20, 2018
- Top Defenders Highlight Final Rounds of 2018 NWHL Draft - PHF
- Megan Keller, Loren Gabel Highlight Beauts' 2018 Draft Class - Buffalo Beauts
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