Land selected by Buffalo Beauts in NWHL draft

By Darryl G. Smart

Logan Land’s hard work over the years has always seemed to pay off. And now that hard work may get her a spot in the National Women’s Hockey League.

On Wednesday night during the NWHL draft, the 23-year-old defencemen from Turkey Point was selected in the fifth round, 26^th overall by the Buffalo Beauts.

“I’m very excited to continue my hockey career with such a great organization in Buffalo,” Land said. “I can’t thank RIT enough for the amazing years and I’m looking forward to being a Buffalo Beaut.”

Land becomes the second Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers player  ever chosen in the NWHL draft.

“Being the second player from RIT to ever get drafted into the NWHL was a very exciting and surprising moment for me,” Land said. “I hope this will continue to put RIT on everyone’s radar.”

Land’s selection  comes on the heels of one her best seasons with the Tigers. While wearing the captain’s ‘C’, Land had four goals and 12 assists, while leading the defensive charge for the Tigers.

In her four years on the ice, Land scored 12 goals and 25 assists in 135 games.

“Reflecting back on my five years at RIT, I couldn’t have asked for a better hockey program and university to complete my dream of playing Division 1 women’s hockey, while also achieving my academic goals and graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Management Information Systems and a Masters of Science in Media Arts and Technology,” Land said. “I’ve made so many friends and memories that will last a lifetime.

“Receiving the captaincy in my final year and getting to lead a group of amazing girls through all the ups and downs of being a college athlete at the highest level was truly an honor,” she said. “I can only hope that I’ve inspired them to fight through adversity, work hard, and follow your dreams. Finishing my last game in an RIT jersey was a very bittersweet moment. But I knew that it wasn’t my time to leave the game behind me.”

Before heading to RIT, the Holy Trinity graduate played three seasons with the Burlington Barracudas of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, where she showed off her great two-way play scoring 18 goals and 27 assists in 107 games, while being a force defensively.

The Beauts finished the season in fourth place with a 8-15-1 record, before losing 5-3 to the Connecticut Whale in the Isobel Cup quarter-final.