By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – Courtney Wittig, a 2015 Bay Port graduate, will be long remembered for her stellar career with the Bay Area Ice Bears girls’ hockey team, but even that may soon be forgotten.
In a historic move, Wittig became the first NCAA Division III women’s hockey player to be drafted into the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) when she was taken with the 11th overall pick by the Metropolitan Riveters (Newark, New Jersey) in the most recent draft.
Witting is a senior forward currently skating for UW-Eau Claire, where she has 11 goals in the team’s first 13 games this season.
“When (UW-Eau Claire head) coach (Erik) Strand and I talked about the possibility of getting drafted, I didn’t think it would happen,” said Wittig, who is the daughter of Laurie and Joe Wittig. “All of the players that get drafted come from big-time Division I programs like Boston College, Harvard and Wisconsin. I probably didn’t give coach the reaction he wanted because I didn’t think it was real. It shows that Division III players can play at that level – it opens the door for others.”
Women’s professional hockey in the United States wasn’t a reality until 2015 when the NWHL was formed.
In addition to the Riveters, the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and Minnesota Whitecaps play in the league.
“The biggest thing will be meeting the team,” Wittig said. “I’ve already talked to their coach, but I am looking forward to getting a feel of how they run their program and their system. I want to focus on what my job will be on the team – we will see what happens from there.”
In 69 career games with the Blugolds, Wittig has 41 goals and 27 assists.
“Courtney has a constant work ethic,” said Strand, who is in his fourth year as head coach at Eau Claire. “She has brought leadership, great offensive skill and ability and a passion to the game.”
Considering who Wittig was up against in terms of getting drafted, Strand was somewhat surprised she got the call but wasn’t shocked it happened, either.
“You look at the overall draft and the players picked before and after her, there were tremendous players nationally that were available,” Strand noted. “In terms of everyone else being Division I players and Courtney being Division III, yes, it was a surprise. But since talking to her future coach, he told me that some of his best players right now are from the Division III ranks. He saw a player in Courtney that mirrors what he likes on his squad. I have no doubt that she will have a lot of success – it could be for a season or it could be for five. It’s certainly exciting for women’s hockey. For her to have this opportunity, it will be what she makes of it. I couldn’t be happier for Courtney.”
Looking back on her Bay Area days, Wittig scored 121 goals in her four years playing varsity, including a remarkable 46 her senior year.
She also helped the Ice Bears win the 2014 WIAA state championship, scoring the overtime winner in the semifinals and two goals in the finals.
“Playing for the Ice Bears was so nice,” added Wittig, who is studying criminal justice at Eau Claire and will graduate this May. “Back when I was in youth hockey, high school hockey wasn’t even a thought. Because it’s a co-op team, it was nice meeting girls from other schools and it brought in better competition. Winning the state championship was probably my best moment in hockey before getting drafted.”