Boston Blades focus on offense in 2015 CWHL Draft

With a series of recent and devastating departures, the Blades needed the 2015 CWHL draft to re-stock. After the event, the message was clear: offensive help was needed.

The top five picks were all forwards, with former Boston College center Kristina Brown taken in the first round with the fifth overall pick. Brown last played for the Eagles in the 2012-13 season, scoring five goals in 37 games. Throughout her collegiate career she racked up 21 points, with 13 goals and eights assists in 145 games.

The Blades took Holy Cross winger Nicole Giannino in the second round. Gianinno is coming off a 23 point senior season, scoring 14 goals in 28 games. She played a total of 103 games for Holy Cross, with 37 goals and 33 assists.

Rounding out the top five were Lionel Groulx College winger Elizabeth Tremblay, UCONN center Rachel Farrel and Syracuse forward Sadie St. Germain. The Blades took three additional forwards later in the draft: Emily Fluke in the ninth, Marguerite Gore in the eleventh and Maddie Burton in the twelfth.

In the sixth round the Blades changed it up, drafting Syracuse goaltender Amanda Cariddi. In two games last season, Cariddi earned a 2.57 GAA and a save percentage of .897.

Trinity College's Sarah Duncan was the first of three D drafted by the Blades. She accrued 15 points in her four year college career, leading the team in power play goals in Trinity's 2012-13 season. The seventh round pick of Duncan was followed by Shannon Cronin of the University of Southern Maine in the eighth and Caitlin Bray from Wesleyan in the tenth.

Of the 18 members of last year's team who have left to join the NWHL, 11 are forwards.