2015–16 CWHL season


The 2015–16 CWHL season is the ninth season of the Canadian Women's Hockey League.

Offseason

CWHL Draft

For the second consecutive year, the Brampton Thunder held the first pick overall and selected Harvard defender Sarah Edney. Two members of Canada's gold medal winning roster at the 2014 Winter Olympics were selected during the first round: Marie-Philip Poulin by Les Canadiennes and Brianne Jenner by the Calgary Inferno. Calgary also selected Hayley Wickenheiser ninth overall. In total, the five teams selected 55 players over 13 rounds.

Regular season

won the Commissioner's Trophy for the best regular season records for the fifth time in seven years, eight points ahead of second-place Calgary Inferno. Montreal also lead the league with a +78 goal differential and an average of 4.75 goals per game. With a 5–4 win against the Brampton Thunder in the final game of the season, Calgary was the second team to secure home-ice advantage for the play-offs. Defending Clarkson Cup champions Boston Blades, however, would only record one shootout victory in their second game of the season, finishing last in the league with two points.
Regular season scoring was led by four Canadiennes players, with Marie-Philip Poulin claiming the Angela James Bowl as the CWHL's top scorer. Along with Natalie Spooner of the Toronto Furies and Laura Fortino of the Brampton Thunder, she was also nominated for the MVP title.

Milestones

In a game against the Brampton Thunder on December 13, 2015, Noemie Marin registered the 200th point of her CWHL career
. She would record two assists in the game, including one on the game-winning tally, to reach the milestone.

Standings

indicates team has clinched regular season title
indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
Team
y– Les Canadiennes24200100342.87511436
x– Calgary Inferno24160011634.7089767
x– Brampton Thunder24132101733.6889167
x– Toronto Furies24600111614.2925987
Boston Blades2400100232.04218122

All-Star Game

The CWHL All-Star Game was held at Toronto's Air Canada Centre for the second time. In an online poll, Natalie Spooner and Julie Chu voted as team captains by the fans. Chu's Team Black won the game 5–1, with Marie-Philip Poulin scoring two goals and being named the All-Star Game MVP.

Statistical leaders

Leading skaters

The following players are sorted by points, then goals.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Marie-Philip PoulinLes Canadiennes2223234610
Ann-Sophie BettezLes Canadiennes2419254412
Kim DeschenesLes Canadiennes241320336
Caroline OuelletteLes Canadiennes2415173218
Natalie SpoonerToronto Furies2217133020
Jamie Lee RattrayBrampton Thunder2213162918
Brianne JennerCalgary Inferno241018286
Laura FortinoBrampton Thunder248202810
Rebecca VintBrampton Thunder241972642
Elana LovellCalgary Inferno241412268

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average.
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice ; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss
PlayerTeamGPTOISAGASOGAASV%WLOTLSOL
Charline LabonteLes Canadiennes201144:263862951.52.92517200
Liz KnoxBrampton Thunder10502:002762122.51.9247200
Erica HoweBrampton Thunder17941:244954222.68.9159501
Delayne BrianCalgary Inferno201104:295005522.99.89011510

Clarkson Cup playoffs

Awards and honors