Janine Weber became the first player to join the newly formed National Women’s Hockey League on Thursday, signing a free-agent contract with the New York Riveters.
Weber recently competed in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, which for the last eight years has been the only high-level professional women’s league in North America.
In March, during the C.W.H.L. final, Weber scored the winning goal for the Boston Blades.
Weber said she had immediate interest when the N.W.H.L. formed shortly after the end of the C.W.H.L. season. The new league, which will have teams in New York, Buffalo, Connecticut and Boston, will provide players a salary, while the C.