Moon Township, Pa. – Redshirt senior forward Brittany Howard became the first Robert Morris University women's hockey player drafted by the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) when she was selected 10th overall by the Buffalo Beauts last night.

Howard, the reigning College Hockey America (CHA) Player of the Year, led the Colonials to a CHA championship and the program's first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament last season. The St. Thomas, Ontario native led both RMU and CHA in points with a career-high 50 while also ranking second in the league with 20 goals. She also established a career-high and program best 30 assists.

"We are both excited and proud for Brittany, what great honor and fantastic achievement," said head coach Paul Colontino. "She has worked extremely hard over the course of her career here at RMU and continues to see great success on and off the ice."

She earned All-CHA Rookie Team honors as well as All-USCHO Rookie Team laurels in 2013-14 and was named to the All-CHA Second Team. After being limited to just the first two games of the 2014-15 season due to injury, Howard returned in 2015-16 to lead the CHA in points (40), assists (23), power-play points (15) and short-handed points (three).

The Buffalo Beauts are the defending NWHL Isobel Cup champions and are no stranger to the Colonials. Four former members of the team including Morgan Beikirch, Brianne McLaughlin, Ashley Vesci and former Director of Operations Kelley Steadman were members of the Beauts last season.

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