Madison Packer

Last updated

Madison Packer
Madison Packer 2022.jpg
Packer with the Metropolitan Riveters in 2022
Born (1991-06-25) June 25, 1991 (age 33)
Birmingham, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
PWHL team
Former teams
New York Sirens
Metropolitan Riveters
Playing career 2015present

Madison Packer (born June 25, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the New York Sirens of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).

Contents

Packer served as captain of the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). One of the longest tenured players in PHF history, she is the league's second leading all-time scorer, has played in four All-Star Games, and won the Isobel Cup in 2018 with the Riveters. [1]

Early life

Raised in Birmingham, Michigan, Packer began playing ice hockey at age five and played on a boys team as a youth. [2] [3] She was the second of four children born to Gregory (a hockey coach) and Laura Packer (an Ironman athlete). [2] [3] Packer is a graduate of private Roman Catholic Marian High School in Bloomfield, Michigan in Metro Detroit. [4] While at high school, she played minor hockey for Little Caesar’s AAA team in Detroit, [4] winning four Michigan State championships. Packer is an inductee of the Marian and Catholic League Hall of Fame. [4] While at high school, the death of friend and team-mate Kelly Scheuer led to Packer joining "Common Ground", a suicide prevention awareness center. Packer led a walk in Scheur's name, raising money for the center. [5]

Playing career

College

Packer with Wisconsin in 2013 Madison Packer Wisconsin.jpg
Packer with Wisconsin in 2013

[6] Packer earned a scholarship to and played ice hockey for, the University of Wisconsin while majoring in journalism. Before playing for the Badgers, Packer had to recover from reconstructive surgery on her right knee, performed in May 2010. She was able to return to ice hockey five months later. [7] In her first season, she helped the club win the 2011 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament. [8]

During her tenure at Wisconsin, the team would also win one WCHA Championship, and two WCHA league championships. [9] Packer earned rookie honours and player-of-the-week honors during her tenure. During her final season, Packer was an alternate captain for her college team. [10] [7] Packer played 146 games for Wisconsin, scoring 46 goals and 58 assists for a total of 104 points. [11] After her fourth year, Packer retained a connection to hockey, as the radio announcer for Badgers games during the 2014–15 season. [12]

NWHL/PHF

The second women's professional hockey league, the NWHL was launched in 2015. After college, Packer was interning at a law firm in preparation for law school when she learned about the NWHL. She travelled to New York for tryouts and was signed by the New York Riveters: "I think for a lot of us, we’re just excited to get back on the ice again,” Packer said. “For me, to have this opportunity when I thought my career was over, it’s definitely a humbling experience and it’s something we’re really excited about. You only get to be part of the first time for something once." [13] She described the experience to Agence France-Presse of pioneering the women's game as "the first time that we've really gotten interest, gotten people interested in the game, people wanting to come out and support us, and the first opportunity in the States at least to be professional athletes and get paid for what we're doing, so it's pretty special". [14] In her first season, Packer played 16 games, scoring 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points, but the team finished last.

Packer with the Riveters in 2015 Madison Packer.jpg
Packer with the Riveters in 2015

In early 2016, Packer became one of the first players to re-sign with the New York Riveters for the 2016/17 NWHL season alongside Morgan Fritz-Ward, signing a $15,000 one-year contract. [15] Packer was named alternate captain for the Riveters. In August 2016, Packer was announced as the team's official ambassador to the You Can Play program to eradicate homophobia in sports. [16] [17] Packer had previously held an online campaign against bullying, inspired by the suicide of her friend Scheuer, the same incident during her minor hockey days that inspired her to write. [18] The team cleaned house and Packer was one of the few retained from the previous season: "We went through a lot together. It’s tough to come to the rink and get your ass kicked every night and that’s kind of what we did last. A lot of respect for that group, but we kind knew we needed to clean house and a different dynamic… Speed is definitely going to be our advantage this year. We want to use it." [19] The Riveters would improve to 8–7–1 in 2016–17, for second place in the NWHL.

Packer was selected to play in two league All-Star Games, having played in the 2016 All-Star Game and voted in by fans for the 2017 All-Star Game in February 2017. [20] [21] [22] Playing for Team Steadman, Packer scored twice at the 2nd NWHL All-Star Game. [23] Packer served as an alternate captain for the Riveters for the franchise's first two seasons (2015–2017) before retiring.

During the 2016-17 season, the NWHL announced salary cuts to the players, sparking a statement from Packer and the other NWHL players to the league over health insurance, an audit of league finances, naming the league investors and further determinations about the league's viability. [24] After suffering a torn labrum in the 2016-17 season, she announced her retirement from professional ice hockey on 19 March 2017. [25] [26] However, in September 2017 Packer announced that she would continue with the New York Riveters (now renamed the Metropolitan Riveters) for the 2017–18 season. [27] [28] [29]

She was named to the rosters for the 2019 NWHL All-Star Game in Nashville. [30]

She was named Riveters captain ahead of the 2019–20 season, going into the year as one of eight players from the league's original season still active and tied for the league's all-time points record with Jillian Dempsey. She scored 34 points in 24 games during the season, leading the Riveters in points and good for fifth in total league scoring. She was named captain of one of the teams at the 2020 NWHL All-Star Game, the team being named Team Packer in her honour, and picked up an assist during the game. [31]

PWHL

Packer was named to the roster of New York of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) after being invited to training camp. [32] The team announced on December 19, 2023, that they had signed her to a one-year contract. [33]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ice hockey
World U18 Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2008 Calgary
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2009 Germany

Packer attended Team USA National Development Camps in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Packer was a team member of the U.S. Women's U-18 Team in 2008 and 2009, serving as alternate captain in 2009. She was two-time International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's U18 Championships participant in 2009 in Fussen, Germany and 2008 in Calgary, Alberta, capturing Gold medals both times. [25]

After her junior year of college, Packer was cut from the US Women's team prior to Olympic tryouts. She described the experience in a panel session with the Brooklyn Historical Society:

"It became clear that that Olympic dream wasn't going to happen. I was prepared to graduate, and retire following my senior year, and I did. When I finished my senior year, I trained for an Ironman, walked away from hockey as a player, and began coaching while I finished my final semester of college. The mentality then was that if you weren't in your respective national program, it was basically graduate and play in a pick up league, or move to Canada or Boston if you could make a team in the CWHL and play for free." [34]

Style of play

Packer has been described as a power forward, one of the most physical players in the NWHL, and has been noted for her leadership talents. [35] [36] She has also been noted for being able to contribute both offensively and defensively, often playing prominent roles in the Riveters' penalty-killing units and blocking a high number of shots. [37] She led the NWHL in penalty minutes in the 2018–19 and 2019-20 seasons, and is second all-time in career PIM.

Personal life

On July 22, 2018, she became engaged to fellow NWHL athlete Anya Battaglino. [38] They were married on August 16, 2019 in Newport, Rhode Island. [39] In September 2020, their son was born. [40] She has twelve tattoos. [41]

While playing, Packer has also coached the under-16 team of the New Jersey Rockets minor hockey program. In 2017, she added coaching of the under-19 team and general manager of the entire girls’ program to her duties. [9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2010–11 University of Wisconsin WCHA 3813132636
2011–12 University of WisconsinWCHA364141856
2012–13 University of WisconsinWCHA3518193758
2013–14 University of WisconsinWCHA3711122367
2015–16 Metropolitan Riveters NWHL 163472221014
2016–17 Metropolitan RivetersNWHL1785132210112
2017–18 Metropolitan RivetersNWHL12108181221234
2018–19 Metropolitan RivetersNWHL1585133520002
2019–20 Metropolitan RivetersNWHL241321344810002
2020–21 Metropolitan RivetersNWHL30004
2021–22 Metropolitan RivetersPHF201211232010002
2022–23 Metropolitan RivetersPHF2411102114
2023–24 New York PWHL 230114
NWHL/PHF totals1316564129177923516
PWHL totals230114

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2008 United States U18 Gold medal icon.svg55496
2009 United StatesU18Gold medal icon.svg5651114
Junior totals101192020

Awards and honors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Kessel</span> American ice hockey player (born 1991)

Amanda Kessel is an American ice hockey executive and professional player, currently serving as manager of minor league operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League and assistant general manager for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liudmila Belyakova</span> Russian ice hockey player (born 1994)

Liudmila Viktorovna "Luda" Belyakova is a Russian ice hockey forward and member of the Russian national ice hockey team, currently playing in the Zhenskaya Hockey League (ZhHL) with HC Tornado. She is a 'Master of Sports of Russia of International Class,' as named by the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Picard</span> American ice hockey player

Michelle "Shelly" Picard is a retired American ice hockey player who played defense for the United States women's national ice hockey team. Picard also played for the Harvard Crimson and Metropolitan Riveters. She later served as deputy commissioner of the National Women's Hockey League from 2019 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janine Weber</span> Austrian ice hockey player

Janine Weber is an Austrian professional ice hockey player and member of the Austrian national team, currently playing in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) with the Connecticut Whale. She previously played with the Boston Pride and the New York Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League, the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), and the EHV Sabres Wien and Ravens Salzburg of the Elite Women's Hockey League (EWHL). With the Blades, Weber scored the game-winning goal of the 2015 Clarkson Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premier Hockey Federation</span> Former North American professional womens ice hockey league

The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) was a women's professional ice hockey league in the United States and Canada that operated from March 2015 until June 2023. The league was established in 2015 as the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL), comprising four league-owned teams. Over time, some teams gained independent ownership and the number of teams grew to seven; teams during the league's final season in 2022–23 included the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, Montreal Force, and Toronto Six. The Isobel Cup was awarded annually to the league playoff champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Riveters</span> Former womens professional ice hockey team in East Rutherford, New Jersey

The Metropolitan Riveters were a professional women's ice hockey team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with home games at the American Dream Meadowlands ice rink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut Whale (PHF)</span> Former womens professional ice hockey team in Simsbury, Connecticut

The Connecticut Whale were a professional ice hockey team based in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). They played in Simsbury, Connecticut at the International Skating Center of Connecticut. The team was established in 2015 as one of the four charter franchises of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL), which became the PHF in 2021. Their name and colors paid homage to the Hartford Whalers, a former NHL and WHA franchise based in Connecticut. The team folded along with the PHF in 2023 as part of the creation of a new, unified women's league, the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).

The 2015–16 New York Riveters season was the first in franchise history and the National Women's Hockey League's inaugural season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Babstock</span> Canadian-American ice hockey player

Kelly Babstock is a Canadian-American ice hockey player for the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She has Ojibwe roots and is originally from Little Current on Manitoulin Island, part of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaleigh Fratkin</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Kaleigh Fratkin is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). The second-longest tenured player and leading scorer among defenders in PHF history, she was the first Canadian player to sign a contract in the league, is a five-time PHF all-star, and is a two-time PHF Defender of the Year in 2020 and 2021. She was also a member of the Boston Pride roster that captured the 2021 and 2022 Isobel Cup, and was one of three 2023 PHF All-Star captains. Previous to the joining the NWHL, she won the Clarkson Cup in 2015 and was the first girl to play boys' midget AAA hockey in British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 NWHL season</span> Sports season

The 2016–17 NWHL season is the second season of operation of the National Women's Hockey League. All four teams from the inaugural season returned for this season: the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, and New York Riveters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Johnston</span> Canadian ice hockey defender (born 1992)

Ashley Johnston is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defender and current assistant coach of the Premier Hockey Federation's Metropolitan Riveters. Known for her gritty, stay-at-home style of play as a shutdown defender, she was the first player to serve as team captain in Riveters history, a role she would hold for three years until her initial retirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Fitzgerald</span> American ice hockey goaltender

Kathleen "Katie" Fitzgerald is an American ice hockey player who currently plays for the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). She previously played for the Metropolitan Riveters in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). Having played NCAA hockey with the St. Cloud State Huskies, she was the first Husky to sign a contract in the PHF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebecca Russo</span> American ice hockey player

Rebecca Russo is an American-born women's ice hockey player. Having won a national U19 championship at Shattuck St. Mary's, Russo played her NCAA hockey with the BU Terriers. On November 3, 2015, Russo set the Boston University Terriers women's ice hockey record for most assists in one game, with five against Yale.

Anya Packer is an American retired ice hockey player and former general manager of the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She played three PHF seasons with the Connecticut Whale before retiring from top-level play and stepping into the role as executive director of the Premier Hockey Federation Players' Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabie Figueroa</span> American ice hockey player

Gabriella "Gabie" Figueroa is an American former professional ice hockey player who played for the New York Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiira Dosdall</span> American ice hockey player

Kiira Dosdall-Arena is an American professional ice hockey player, who currently plays with the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She has previously won two Elite Women's Hockey League championships and one Isobel Cup, and is the seventh longest tenured player in PHF history, one of the few still active from the league's inaugural season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 NWHL season</span> Sports season

The 2019–20 NWHL season was the fifth season of the National Women's Hockey League. All five teams from the previous season returned: the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, and the Minnesota Whitecaps.

Kate Whitman Annis is an American ice hockey executive, currently serving as executive director of the Devils Youth Foundation, the youth outreach arm of the New Jersey Devils. She previously served as executive of operations for W Hockey Partners, the organization that oversees the league-owned teams in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bray Ketchum</span> American ice hockey player and executive

Bray Ketchum is an American former ice hockey player and executive. She played for the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) and the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL), winning the Isobel Cup and the Clarkson Cup respectively, before ending her playing career and serving as general manager of the Connecticut Whale during the 2019–20 NWHL season.

References

  1. "All-Time Starting Lineup: Metropolitan Riveters". September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Madison Packer". University of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Jackson-Gibson, Adele (March 23, 2016). "Madison Packer and her 'beast of a mother,' Momma Pack". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Meloy, Daniel (January 25, 2016). "Marian grad a pioneer in professional women's hockey". The Michigan Catholic. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. Cimini, Kate. "Riveters' Madison Packer is Standing up to Bullying". slapshothockey.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  6. Staffieri, Mark (February 25, 2022). "Fifth PHF All-Star Showcase adds to lasting legacy of Madison Packer". Women's Hockey Life. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Baggot, Andy (December 5, 2013). "Badgers women's hockey: Madison Packer displays 'uncommon' leadership". Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  8. Berkman, Seth (April 13, 2015). "New Women's Pro League Offers Players Novel Perks: A Choice and a Salary". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  9. 1 2 Aber, Matt (March 25, 2017). "Madison Packer Re-Joins Rockets Program". NewJerseyRockets.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  10. NHWL (2016). "Riveters Add Power Forward with Packer". NHWL. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  11. "Madison Packer bio". University of Wisconsin Badgers. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  12. Berkman, Seth (March 10, 2017). "Wisconsin and Minnesota Await Latest Round in Ice-Melting Rivalry". New York Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  13. Gibbs, Lindsay (October 9, 2015). "These women are about to make hockey history". thinkprogress.org. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  14. "Professional women's ice hockey league launches in US". AFP. October 24, 2015. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  15. "Fritz-Ward and Packer Re-Sign With Riveters | NWHL". nwhl.co. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016.
  16. Murphy, Mike (August 2, 2016). "Madison Packer will be the Riveters You Can Play Ambassador". SB Nation. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  17. Nelson, Dustin (November 14, 2015). "New York Riveters, Connecticut Whale Name Captains". The Hockey Writers. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  18. "New York Riveters' Madison Packer Stands up to Bullying". pacer.org. November 10, 2015. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  19. Pendrys, David F. (September 27, 2016). "NWHL: New York Riveters v. Team Russia". DFP Sports. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  20. Balf, Celia (January 4, 2017). "NWHL All-Star Weekend getting closer: Fans' Four selected". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  21. Ayala, Erica (October 18, 2016). "New Season, Same Riveters?". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  22. Patton, Kristi (January 13, 2017). "Team Kessel And Team Steadman Rosters Set For 2017 NWHL All-Star Game". Hockey Now. Archived from the original on October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  23. "NWHL Stars Shine Bright in Pittsburgh". NWHL. February 13, 2017. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  24. Cimini, Kate (November 19, 2016). "Q&A with Madison Packer, on NWHL salary cuts and player response". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  25. 1 2 Forrester, Nick (March 19, 2017). "New York Riveters forward Madison Packer retires". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  26. Ayala, Erica L. (April 14, 2017). "Madison Packer closes one chapter to open another". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  27. Ralph, Pat (September 8, 2017). "Madison Packer goes back on retirement plans and returns to New York Riveters". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  28. Rice, Dan (September 11, 2017). "Riveters Reload For a Cup Run". The Hockey Writers. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  29. Ralph, Pat (September 8, 2017). "Madison Packer goes back on retirement plans and returns to New York Riveters". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  30. Clinton, Jared (February 9, 2019). "Set free from frustration, Riveters' Packer begins flourishing in fourth NWHL campaign". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  31. Murphy, Mike (February 10, 2020). "Everyone wins at the 2020 NWHL All-Star Weekend". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  32. Kennedy, Ian (December 12, 2023). "PWHL Releases Final Rosters Ahead Of Inaugural Season". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  33. @PWHL_NewYork (December 19, 2023). "It's New York or nowhere. 🗽 Former captain of the Metropolitan Riveters Madison Packer has officially signed a one-year contract!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 19, 2023 via Twitter.
  34. Boyle Machlan, Beth (February 6, 2016). "Interview With Madison Packer of the New York Riveters: Playoffs, Pasta, and Grinding it Out". blueshirtbanter.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  35. Bryant, Casey (June 30, 2020). "The three best rivalries in the NWHL". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  36. Murphy, Mike (October 27, 2017). "Inside the NWHL: Madison Packer and the masked physical toll of women's hockey". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  37. Murphy, Connor (November 24, 2015). "Madison Packer is a Perfect Fit for New York Riveters". Blue Shirt Banter. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  38. Anya Battaglino (July 22, 2018). "When these NWHL players got engaged in Boston Public Garden the whole place cheered". SB Nation - Outsports. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  39. Ennis, Dawn (August 19, 2019). "Wedded wives: 2 NWHL players tied the knot". Outsports. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  40. Strollo, Leighann (September 7, 2020). "Madison Packer embarks on new journey in season six". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  41. Huang, Jen (May 11, 2018). "Rink Ink: Q&A with Madison Packer". The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  42. "Madison Packer at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  43. "NWHL Players of The Week: Madison Packer and Sarah Edney". nwhl.zone. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.