After signing earlier this offseason with the PHF's Metropolitan Riveters, Lauren Dabrowski and Naomi Rogge have now signed with Sweden's SDE.
After signing earlier this offseason with the PHF's Metropolitan Riveters, Lauren Dabrowski and Naomi Rogge have now signed with Sweden's SDE.
Only a month ago, Lauren Dabrowski and Naomi Rogge were celebrating signing their first professional contracts with the PHF's Metropolitan Riveters.
With the acquisition of the PHF by the Mark Walter Group, to be enveloped into a new professional women's hockey league, players had to choose to wait and hope for a spot in the new six team league, or sign elsewhere. Rogge and Dabrowski both chose the latter, signing with SDE in the SDHL, considered the top professional league outside North America.
Dabrowski, 21, was a First Team All-Canadian with St. Francis Xavier, notching 15 goals and 34 points in 28 games for St.FX. According to Riveters coach Venla Hovi, Dabrowski is a player with "a great amount of potential and is ready for the new challenge of pro hockey. Lauren has great offensive instincts on defense and isn’t afraid to join the rush. She can filter pucks to the net, and makes smart, quick first passes on breakouts.”
It was a sentiment echoed by SDE's Helene Åström, who said "In Lauren Dabrowski, we get an offensive back who has a very good feel for both the offensive and defensive game. She will mean a lot to us and I am excited to see Lauren in the SDHL next season."
"Playing over in Europe is a dream come true," said Dabrowski in an SDE release.
"Professional hockey is the next step in my career and the SDHL is such a great league that I look forward to playing in. I had very good conversations with Helene and with the coaches, which ultimately made me feel like I was coming into a family. Traveling abroad is a new adventure but I am looking forward to it and I know I will be looked after. I am looking forward to meeting the players in my team who have been playing for a long time and have so much experience."
It's a similar situation for Naomi Rogge, a five year standout for the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA.
"Naomi is a well-rounded forward who has upsides both ends of the ice,” said Hovi at the time of her signing with the Riveters. “She contributed positively in many roles playing her college years at UMD which speaks volumes of her ability to read situations.” She is an effective penalty killer and has a shot blocking mentality which is what we need to be better at this upcoming season. She has above average quick release shot and hunts for loose pucks around the net."
"I think that SDE can give me a fantastic experience in my continued hockey career," said Rogge. "I have had good conversations with coaches and managers and it feels exciting for the upcoming season. I am looking forward to the pace of play in the SDHL and the different style of play in Europe. I've only heard a lot about the league, Sweden and Stockholm. I had a teammate from college who is from Sweden who told me about all the fun in the country and Stockholm. She has also told me about the high level of SDHL and I am looking forward to it."
SDE also added USports star Kate Stuart in net and All-Canadian Shae Demale up front, as well as Czechia national team member Karolína Kosinová and NCAA standout Emily Pinto from New Hampshire.