Captain Packer Returns!

NEWARK, NJ -- A staple to the team and community, the Metropolitan Riveters have re-signed forward Madison Packer to a Premier Hockey Federation contract through the 2023-24 season.

“I am most excited to continue growing women’s hockey in the New Jersey Metropolitan Area and continuing to build a foundation the Riveters brand will stand on for years to come,” the captain said. “I am incredibly grateful and humbled by the investment the Riveters’ organization is making in me with this contract and I look forward to working hard to bring a championship back to Newark. It is special and unique to have the opportunity to play 9 seasons for the same franchise, and it is something that really means a lot to me. I am excited for the season and I look forward to leading this group, learning from some of the younger players, and continuing to raise the bar for what excellence can look at our level.”

Averaging over a point per game through the regular season, Packer finished Season 7 as the team’s leading scorer, registering 23 points on 12 goals and 11 assists. Leading the club in goals scored as well, she was named for a fifth time as a PHF All-Star alongside the likes of forward Rebecca Russo.

She became the second player in league history to hit the 100 career point milestone, while playing on the team’s top line alongside Russo and centreman Kendall Cornine. With that, she stands alone as the club’s all-time leader in points, goals, assists, games and penalty minutes.

Adding to her stellar resume, which includes an Isobel Cup championship in 2017-18, Packer, across 116 PHF contests, has tallied 113 points, recording 56 goals, while adding 57 assists.

Packer was among 13 players to sign with the Riveters from the hockey club’s 2020-21 roster. Joined by Kelly Babstock, Cailey Hutchison, Kiira Dosdall-Arena, Rebecca Russo, Theresa Knutson, Emily Janiga, Kendall Cornine, Mallory Rushton, Brooke Avery, Allie Olnowich, Leila Kilduff, and Sonjia Shelly, the group reached the consolation game in Wesley Chapel, where they fell 4-1 at the hands of the Minnesota Whitecaps.

The face of the franchise since Day 1, Packer joined the National Women’s Hockey League after four years of college with the Wisconsin Badgers. From 2010-14, the righty, through 146 games, registered 104 points, tallying 46 goals while adding 58 assists.

In her Freshmen season, she helped the women’s hockey program to a Division I championship as a first-year member. 

Adding to her list of accolades, in her Junior season, she was the program’s second-highest leading scorer, trailing only Brianna Decker with 37 points. Following what was a career-best campaign for the English Studies graduate, she was named the next season as an alternate captain.

The Birmingham, MI native adds past experience from the U.S. National Team, who she competed with on two occasions, and secured a gold medal at the 2009 IIHF Women’s U18 World Championship.

Gazing ahead to her ninth season with the Riveters, Packer is excited by the incoming talent and being a leader for them, both on and off the ice.

“I always look forward to being pushed by the younger talent and my goal is to set a standard and example for them to want to attain and I have great confidence our group will rise to the occasion and in turn we will all push each other this season to reach new heights of greatness within the Riveters organization.”