2nd NWHL All-Star Game

The 2nd NWHL All-Star Game took place at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on February 12, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A skills competition was held the day prior on February 11, 2017. 
 
This edition of the All-Star Game featured a "fantasy draft" format in order to determine the rosters. The team captains were Amanda Kessel from the New York Riveters, and forward Kelley Steadman, who was the MVP of the 2016 NWHL All-Star Game, from the Buffalo Beauts.
==Selected players==
===Fan voting===
Over 20,000 votes were cast in order to select four more players to add to the All-Star Game rosters.
Player 	Nationality	Team 	# of votes
Harrison Browne	 	Buffalo Beauts 	
Gigi Marvin 	 	Boston Pride 	
Madison Packer 	 	New York Riveters	
Rebecca Russo 	 	New York Riveters	
 
===Media selection===
A group of NWHL reporters were given the ability to choose two players to attend the All-Star Game on 6 January 2016.
Player 	Nationality	Team
Ashley Johnston	 	New York Riveters
Kelly Babstock 	 	Connecticut Whale
==Rosters==
Team Kessel 	Team Kessel 	Team Kessel	Team Kessel	Team Kessel	Team Kessel
Player 	Team 	Pos. 	Nat. 	 	
Brittany Ott 	Boston Pride 	Goaltender 	 	 	
Nicole Stock 	Connecticut Whale 	Goaltender 	 	 	
Kacey Bellamy 	Boston Pride 	Defense 	 	 	
Megan Bozek 	Buffalo Beauts 	Defense 	 	 	
Courtney Burke 	New York Riveters 	Defense 	 	 	
Gigi Marvin 	Boston Blades 	Defense 	 	 	
Harrison Browne	Buffalo Beauts 	Forward 	 	 	
Meghan Duggan 	Boston Pride 	Forward 	 	 	
Zoe Hickel 	Boston Pride(traded to Connecticut before deadline)	Forward 	 	 	
Amanda Kessel 	New York Riveters 	Forward 	 	 	
Hilary Knight 	Boston Pride 	Forward 	 	 	
Rebecca Russo 	New York Riveters 	Forward 	 	 	
Kelli Stack 	Connecticut Whale 	Forward 	 	 	
Dana Trivigno 	Connecticut Whale 	Forward 	 	 	
Team Steadman 	Team Steadman 	Team Steadman	Team Steadman	Team Steadman	Team Steadman
Player 	Team 	Pos. 	Nat. 	 	
Katie Fitzgerald 	New York Riveters	Goaltender 	 	 	
Brianne McLaughlin 	Buffalo Beauts 	Goaltender 	 	 	
Blake Bolden 	Boston Pride 	Defense 	 	 	
Kaleigh Fratkin 	New York Riveters	Defense 	 	 	
Ashley Johnston 	New York Riveters	Defense 	 	 	
Emily Pfalzer 	Buffalo Beauts 	Defense 	 	 	
Kelly Babstock 	Connecticut Whale	Forward 	 	 	
Corinne Buie 	Buffalo Beauts 	Forward 	 	 	
Alexandra Carpenter	Boston Pride 	Forward 	 	 	
Shiann Darkangelo 	Buffalo Beauts 	Forward 	 	 	
Brianna Decker 	Boston Pride 	Forward 	 	 	
Madison Packer 	New York Riveters	Forward 	 	 	
Haley Skarupa 	Connecticut Whale	Forward 	 	 	
Kelley Steadman 	Buffalo Beauts 	Forward 	 	 	
==Game summary==
The All-Star Game started with a 3-2 lead for Team Kessel, as they emerged victorious in the Skills Competition held on February 10, 2017, which saw both teams compete in a series of five skills events. A pair of twenty-five minute periods was staged at the All-Star Game, rather than the traditional format of three twenty-minute periods.
In the first period, Team Steadman scored the first goal, as Brianna Decker scored against Team Kessel goaltender Brittany Ott. Rookie Alexandra Carpenter was credited with the assist on Decker’s goal, as the score was now tied 3-3.
Kessel would score an unassisted goal on Team Steadman goaltender Brianne McLaughlin to reclaim the lead. Before the period would expire, a total of 10 goals were scored, with Team Kessel claiming an 8-7 lead.
Goals for Team Kessel were scored by Megan Bozek, Rebecca Russo and Harrison Browne, while Kessel scored another. Madison Packer would score twice for Team Steadman. Other Team Steadman scorers in the first included Emily Pfalzer and Kelly Babstock, the first (and only) Canadian-born player to score a goal in the game.
The second period saw Katie Fitzgerald between the pipes for Team Steadman, while Nicole Stock guarded the crease for Team Kessel. Harrison Browne would score another goal, while Hilary Knight also added her name to the scoresheet.
Team Steadman’s other scorers in the second period included Haley Skarupa, Carpenter and Steadman. Of note, Steadman would score to tie the game at 10-apiece. An empty net goal by Kessel would win the game for her team, as she recorded the first hat trick in NWHL All-Star Game history. For her efforts, she was recognized as the Game’s Most Valuable Player.
===Skills competition===
*Fastest skater: Rebecca Russo
*Hardest shot: Blake Bolden
*Shooting accuracy: Kelley Steadman
== References ==
Category:National Women's Hockey League (2015)
Category:2017 in ice hockey