Chelsea Laden and Shiann Darkangelo, former members of the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team, have both signed one-year deals with the Connecticut Whale of the National Women’s Hockey League. The team is based in Stamford, Connecticut, about one hour from Quinnipiac.

As the Whale prepare for the league’s inaugural season, Laden and Darkangelo became two of the first three players to be signed.

While at Quinnipiac, Laden had a career save percentage of .923 and an average of 1.56 goals allowed in her four years as as Bobcat. She also holds the program record for lowest single-season goals-against average, and owns the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s record for more shutouts in a season.

Darkangelo was a transfer from Syracuse University, and played her junior and senior seasons as a Bobcat. In her two years at Quinnipiac, she posted 33 goals and 27 assists in 74 games. Darkangelo also played in the U.S. national system, winning a silver medal at the 2014 Four Nations Cup, and competing for the U-22 team last summer.

The Connecticut Whale are one of four teams in the newly formed NWHL, and the league’s season will start on October 17.