Each team’s secured three players before the draft
Have you been keeping up with the PWHL’s first-ever free agency period? In case you’ve missed the latest signings, we’re excited to keep you in the loop between now and puck drop in January. Browse below and find out who your hometown team has secured for its inaugural roster!
Boston:
Megan Keller (D)
About: From Team USA to the PWHPA, Keller’s competitive spirit has taken her to the next level, and she remembers to pay it forward.
Quote: “Thank you to the tireless efforts of many to help make this dream a reality for generations of hockey players to come.”
Aerin Frankel (GT)
About: Fresh off her first World Championship, the gold medalist and Patty Kazmaier Award-winner is eager to play in front of a storied city.
Quote: “Having the opportunity to play here professionally in front of the greatest sports fans is a dream come true.”
Hilary Knight (F)
About: As one of the game’s most notable names, the Team USA icon is coming to Boston to solidify her legacy.
Quote: “This year will be historic in so many ways and I cannot wait to get started.”
Minnesota:
Kelly Pannek (F)
About: The five-time World Championship medalist and two-time Olympic medalist hopes to bring some hardware to her home state.
Quote: “I can’t wait to get to work as a part of this organization to hopefully bring home more trophies to Minnesota!”
Kendall Coyne Schofield (F)
About: The Team USA captain has shown her leadership skills both on and off the ice, and she’s grateful to carry this spirit to the Great Lakes.
Quote: “Signing this contract is a reflection of so many people who have worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality.”
Lee Stecklein (D)
About: The former Minnesota Whitecap and three-time Olympic medalist was the PWHPA’s last Top Defender award-winner.
Quote: “I am honored to be part of the first wave of players to sign officially with the PWHL, and I am thrilled by the opportunity to continue my career in Minnesota.”
Montreal:
Ann-Renée Desbiens (GT)
About: An Olympic gold medalist, a Clarkson Cup Winner and one of the most historic NCAA careers ever – there’s no debating Desbiens is one of the game’s most prominent players.
Quote: “I’m proud to be able to play the sport I love in my home province and the city I’ve called home for the past few years.”
Laura Stacey (F)
About: The former CWHL Rookie of the Year and two-time Olympic medalist has found a home in Montreal one season after she finished in the top four in scoring.
Quote: “The beginning of this new chapter is truly something I will remember forever. Allez Montreal!”
Marie-Philip Poulin (F)
About: Arguably the most well-known Canadian athlete, Poulin is the first-ever women’s hockey player to receive the Northern Star award, having won it just last year.
Quote: “This city lives for hockey, just like me. This is where I wanted to live my dream.”
New York:
Alex Carpenter (F)
About: Nearly 15 years after making her professional debut, the eight-time IIHF Women’s World Championship medalist is leading the charge.
Quote: “The organization is committed to qualities of hard work, accountability and leadership, all of which resonate with me personally and in my play.”
Micah Zandee-Hart (D)
About: The former Cornell University team captain is coming back to the big city on an even bigger stage.
Quote: “I am grateful to these women, to my fellow players today, the PWHL board of directors and specifically to the player board for their countless hours in making this a reality for us.”
Abby Roque (F)
About: The history-making forward was part of the first-ever professional women’s hockey game at MSG and is coming back to New York for more.
Quote: “New York is an amazing city and such a great place to start a women’s ice hockey franchise.”
Ottawa:
Emily Clark (F)
About: As a perennial member of Hockey Canada since 2011, Clark is excited to set a groundbreaking example in the nation’s capital.
Quote: “Having played [in Ottawa] before, it was evident that the fans are passionate and that this is a hockey city.”
Emerance Maschmeyer (GT)
About: One of the country’s top goaltenders is looking forward to bringing her defensive presence to the O-Town.
Quote: “I am thrilled to be joining the Ottawa organization as we build a strong-charactered, Championship-caliber team.”
Brianne Jenner (F)
About: The reigning 2022 Olympic MVP is eager to bring her extensive list of accomplishments to Ottawa’s latest organization.
Quote: “This is truly a dream come true for all of us.”
Toronto:
Blayre Turnbull (F)
About: The six-time World Championship medalist is coming off an impressive 2022-23 PWHPA campaign, where she finished in the top six in scoring.
Quote: “The opportunity to be a part of a franchise in such a great sports city like Toronto is super exciting and I can’t wait to get started!”
Renata Fast (D)
About: The defensive anchor is no stranger to the Six, previously playing for the CWHL’s Toronto Furies upon going pro.
Quote: “I am looking forward to helping set a standard of excellence…to grow the game of hockey for everyone and continue Toronto’s legacy as one of the world’s preeminent hockey cities.”
Sarah Nurse (F)
About: The record-setting forward and PWHPA board member is staying somewhat local to her hometown of Hamilton, ON.
Quote: “Growing up so close to the city… I have always seen Toronto as the mecca of hockey and pictured myself representing the city on a larger stage.”
