Katelynn Russ: A Whirlwind to the Whale

On February 22nd of last year, the Whale were part of a historic twin bill at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT. The NWHL game featuring the Connecticut Whale vs the Boston Pride, was followed by the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers game vs the Hershey Bears. While that amazing doubleheader was being contested, Union College was battling #1 ranked Cornell, 250 miles away, up in Ithaca, NY. Union rallied, but Cornell prevailed that day, For Union, it was the final college game for one of their forwards, #23 Katelynn Russ, and she went out in style. Katelynn scored a goal and had an assist as the Bulldogs, living up to their tenacious moniker, fell just short of overcoming a four goal deficit. It had to be a whirlwind of emotions after a game like that against possibly the best team in the country. A great way to end a hockey career. Except, as we all now know, it didn’t. Just two days later, Katelynntraded in her Union garnet sweater for one of Whale green. Here’s what Katelynn told us about how that all unfolded:

“It was like a whirlwind! Monday is when I got the call from our GM Bray, asking me if I would be interested in joining the Whale. And, I had until 3:00 that afternoon to sign the contract. So I signed, and the next day I was out in Connecticut for practice. So It was just Monday, it was just one day of being in contact and that was all it took It was kind of just full force after that. So then I was in Minnesota the next weekend,, a week after my last college game. It was so exciting! I mean after that Saturday, my last college game, I kind of thought that was it, I’m retired now, like no more hockey, and then all of a sudden, three days later, there I am on the ice again.It was super exciting. I love the entire experience it was crazy but totally worth it.”
Katelynn hit the ice like a whirlwind in Minnesota, quickly grabbing the attention of the fans, as she seemed to fit in seamlessly. Now wearing #17 for the Pod, she joined another recent signee, Allie LaCombeand All-Star Emma Vlasic as the right wing on the Whale’s top line. Katelynn revealed
“I thought Coach Colton did a really good job of figuring out which players I would work the best. with And as it ended up, I actually knew Emma Vlasic from back home in all-star star game in Chicago, we had played for the same organization. So her and I never played on the same team there but but we knew each other and played on a team in the summer together. And we have a similar type of game so as I said, Coach did really good job to figure out who I’d work best with really quickly. The system here at Union was very different from the ones we’re running with the Whale, so that was a bit of an adjustment. But I think my coaches and my line mates did a really good job of helping me out when I had questions. It was a system that I used to run a few years ago, but it’s just hard getting out of that mindset that I have been running just a week ago and for a whole year, and switching to a new system. But as I said, my team did a really good job of helping me out.”
In that first series against the Whitecaps, Katelynn did not get in the scoring column, but did record nine shots on goal over the weekend. And of course, the whirlwind intensified when Katelynn and the Pod headed back East to Buffalo. In the dramatic play-in round of the Isobel Cup Championships, she earned the second star of the game, scoring her first two NWHL goals, and adding an assist. Her line was involved in four of the Whale’s five goals in their 5-3 victory.

You can find out more about #23 Katelynn Russ, and what's happening with your Pod, on our website www.nwhl-cetaceans.com and by following Cetacean Nation social media sites on Facebook (Cetacean Nation Hockey), Twitter (@nation_cetacean) & on Instagram (cetacean_nation_hockey) As we say around the rink in Danbury, Fins Up!