Watertown Pro Hockey Player Earns League Award for Perseverance, Sportsmanship

Boston PrideBoston Pride defender Lauren Kelly won the Premier Hockey Federation’s Denna Laing Award. The following announcement was provided by the Premier Hockey Federation:

The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced that defender Lauren Kelly of the Boston Pride has been selected as the Denna Laing Award recipient for the 2022-23 regular season. The award was determined by Denna and her family and goes to the player who most exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport. “Selecting the winner of this year’s Denna Laing Award was extremely difficult because there were many deserving candidates, each traversing their own adversity with relentlessness and a positive attitude,” said Laing. “This year’s winner, Lauren Kelly, has garnered the respect of her coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, and fans.

Watertown’s Lauren Kelly Brings Cup Home After Winning Women’s Pro Hockey Title

Boston PrideWatertown’s Lauren Kelly, right, celebrates after winning the Isobel Cup with the Boston Pride. It was the second straight title for the women’s professional hockey team. Watertown Middle School students greeted staff member Lauren Kelly with a big sign last week, and she brought along a great item for show-and-tell: the Isobel Cup, awarded to the team that wins the Premier Hockey Federation championship. Kelly, who works with autistic students in the Connections Program at WMS during the day, plays defense for the Boston Pride on nights and weekends. The women’s professional hockey team recently traveled to Tampa, Fla., for the Isobel Cup Playoffs, and came home champs after winning three straight games.

Watertown Hockey Player Selected Women’s Professional League Draft

Watertown’s Lauren Kelly was selected by the Boston Pride in the 2017 NWHL Draft. Kelly, who plays defense, was taken by the Pride in the fourth round and was selected 16th overall in the National Women’s Hockey League draft on Aug. 17. She is going into her senior year at Northeastern this fall. The Pride enters its third season in 2017-18, and plays its home games at Warrior Ice Arena – the Boston Bruins’ practice facility – in Brighton. Players are typically drafted before their senior year, but finish playing in college before joining their NWHL teams.

Last year, Kelly scored two goals and had eight assists for the Huskies, and played in all of the team’s games.