NWHL releases playoff schedule; finals to be held in Newark, N.J.

Connecticut’s Jessica Koizumi (56, left) and New York’s Celeste Brown battle for the pack at Ingall Rink in New Haven earlier this season.

NEW YORK – If the Connecticut Whale can advance to the championship series of the National Women’s Hockey League, the finals will be played in Newark, New Jersey.

The NWHL has announced the playoff schedule for its first Isobiel Cup tournament. The best-of-3 semifinals will be March 5-6 in Connecticut and Boston with the best-of-3 championship series set for March 11-13 at the Prudential Center’s practice facility in Newark.

The NWHL can’t use the main arena at the Prudential Center because the circus is in town.

In the semifinals, the Connecticut Whale will host the either Buffalo or New York at its home rink, Chelsea Pier in Stamford. Game 1 is Friday, March 4 at 7:10 p.m. with game two on Saturday night, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. If necessary, game three will be Sunday, March 6, at 6 p.m.

In the other semifinal, the Boston Pride will host either Buffalo or New York at the Raymond Bourque Arena in Beverly, Mass., on March 4-6. The Pride spent the season playing at Harvard. The No. 1 seed will face the No. 4 seed with the No. 2 team hosting the No. 3 seed.

The championship series will be at the Prudential Center’s practice facility in Newark. Game 1 is Friday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. with game two on Saturday night, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. Game three, if necessary is March 13 at 1 p.m. The Prudential Center is home of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.

With three games remaining in the season, Connecticut (12-3) leads Boston (11-3-1) by one point. The two teams play twice in the final three weeks, including Sunday in Boston at 3 p.m. (NESN).

Whale lose third general manager

NEW YORK – The Connecticut Whale’s interim general manager George Speirs, who was the NWHL’s chief operating officer, has resigned, the league said Thursday.

Speirs joined the league in 2015. He was named interim GM in late December when Whale GM Harry Rosenholtz resigned. Rosenholtz joined the team in August and was responsible for assembling the majority of Connecticut’s roster.

Rosenholtz got the job after the team’s first GM Chris Ardito stepped down in August.

“We’d like to thank George for his service and everything he’s done to help get the league off the ground,” NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan said. “Despite rumors to the contrary, the league’s best interests were always top of mind with George and we’re saddened by his decision to leave.”

The NWHL said that it would take over team operations until a suitable replacement is found.

Connecticut has led the league from the first week, going 8-0 under Rosenholtz and 4-3 under Speirs’ leadership.