Wikwemikong’s Babstock an all-star in the National Women’s Hockey League

By Sam Laskaris

HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT – For the second consecutive year Kelly Babstock was an all-star.
The 25-year-old Ojibwe forward is a member of the Connecticut Whale, who compete in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL).
The American-based NWHL consists of four teams. The league’s all-star match was staged this past Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild was a partner for the NWHL all-star weekend, which also included a skills challenge on Saturday.
Babstock suited up for a squad that was defeated 8-6 in the all-star match. She scored once and added three assists in the contest.
“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “All of the girls were very skilled.”
Babstock was also pleased she was able to spend some time with others from the league.
“It was fun to meet other players I play against,” she said. “They don’t like my personality on the ice. But then when they meet me they say things like you’re so nice.”
Though she primarily grew up in Mississauga, Babstock was born in Little Current on Manitoulin Island. But she would spend a good chunk of her summer on the Wikwemikong Territory, where her mother Donna is a member.
When possible Babstock still returns to Wikwemikong for its annual cultural festival.
For now though, home for Babstock is the Connecticut town of Hamden. She first arrived in Hamden in 2010, to play for the Quinnipiac University women’s hockey team.
Babstock played four seasons for the NCAA Division 1 squad and graduated from the university in 2015.
Babstock had originally planned to return to her home country and try her luck in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
But a few months before her graduation she found out the NWHL was being launched and that the Whale, based in Hamden, would be one of the franchises.
“My plan was to come back home and play in the CWHL,” she said. “But then I decided to stay in Connecticut and try to build the Whale program.”
And it doesn’t look like Babstock, who is in her third season of playing for the Whale, will be returning to live in Canada any time soon.
“I’m pretty happy here,” she said. “I like living in Connecticut. I’ve been here eight years now.”
Though the NWHL is a pro league since it pays its players, all of those in the circuit must find other ways to supplement their income.
That’s because players are only paid under a three-tier system where they earn between $250-$350 (U.S.) for every game they play. Babstock is paid $350 (U.S.) for each contest she plays.
“We can’t live off what we make from the league,” she said.
Babstock also works as a private instructor for youth hockey players. Each spring she also coaches three different girls’ lacrosse teams.
Babstock had also participated in the NWHL all-star game last year in Pittsburgh. Her side came out on the losing end of that contest.
That’s why she was hoping to be on the winning club this time around. And there was another reason why she wanted her squad to prevail.
“Those on the winning team got $500 each,” she said, adding any additional cash she can get helps. “And those on the losing team got $250 each.”
Babstock is uncertain whether female pro hockey players will start earning salaries they can live off during her playing days. She believes for that to happen some more NHL franchises will have to partner with women’s teams.
A pair of NWHL squads do currently have partnerships with NHL squads. The Buffalo Beauts team up with the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils support the New Jersey-based Metropolitan Riveters.
Babstock believes the women’s game might also benefit if the NWHL were to merge with the CWHL, which is operating with seven franchises this season, including two based in China.
“That’s been the chat since the NWHL started,” she said. “I’m not sure where the process is with that. It seems to make sense though.”
Babstock is not the only professional athlete in her family. Her brother Jeff Shattler plays in the National Lacrosse League with the Calgary Roughnecks.