HAMILTON, ON (June 15, 2026) – PWHL Hamilton today announced the addition of forward Peyton Hemp ahead of the team’s inaugural 2026-27 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) season. Hemp joins the team from the Ottawa Charge following selection in the Expansion Roster Completion process to conclude Phase 4 of the PWHL’s Expansion Player Distribution Process, with PWHL Hamilton acquiring her contract rights.
Hemp completed her rookie season with Ottawa by registering nine points (2G, 7A) in 30 regular-season games and one goal in eight playoff matchups. The 23-year-old from Andover, MN, tied for seventh in assists among the 2025 draft class, tied for second in scoring among Charge rookies, and was one of three PWHL newcomers with a shorthanded goal in 2025-26. Her playoff goal came in Ottawa’s only win against the Montréal Victoire when facing elimination in Game 3 of the PWHL Walter Cup Finals. Prior to her fourth-round selection by Ottawa in the 2025 PWHL Draft, Hemp played four NCAA seasons at the University of Minnesota where she tallied 123 points (58G, 65A) in 156 career regular-season games and served as captain for her junior and senior campaigns. Internationally, Hemp won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2020 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.
On PWHL Hamilton, Hemp marks the final addition in Phase 4, following the two-year contracts signed by defenders Riley Brengman and Allyson Simpson and forward Abby Hustler. Hemp will reunite with Charge teammates Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark after both forwards signed in Phase 2. Additional Hamilton signings include forward Alina Müller (Phase 2), defenders Nicole Gosling (Phase 2) and Zoe Boyd (Phase 3), and goaltender Kayle Osborne (Phase 2). Hemp is one of four Hamilton players from the 2025 draft class following Gosling (first-round pick), Hustler (second-round pick), and Brengman (fourth-round pick).
With today’s end to the Phase 4 signing period and expansion roster completion, each expansion team has 10 total players. Players eligible to be signed in Phase 4 were those not signed or protected in Phases 1-3, including players on expiring contracts and players under contract for 2026-27, while only players currently under contract or whose rights were held by an existing team were eligible for selection. Existing teams could lose a maximum of four players who are under contract for the 2026-27 season in Phases 1-4.
A complete list of player signings and transactions is available on the official PWHL Transactions Page. To see the full overview of the status of PWHL player contracts, visit the PWHL Contract Guide here.
ABOUT PWHL HAMILTON
PWHL Hamilton is one of 12 teams in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which was founded in 2023. The PWHL began its inaugural season in January 2024 and features the best women’s hockey players in the world. PWHL Hamilton was officially announced as one of the league’s four new expansion teams on May 13 and will debut at TD Coliseum in the fall. Fans can place a time-stamped deposit here, opens in a new tab to secure priority access to season tickets for PWHL Hamilton’s historic inaugural season, once ticket packages are released. To learn more and stay up to date, visit HamiltonPWHL.com, subscribe to PWHL Hamilton’s newsletter here, opens in a new tab, and follow the team on Facebook PWHL Hamilton, opens in a new tab, Instagram @PWHL_Hamilton, opens in a new tab, X @PWHL_Hamilton, opens in a new tab, TikTok @PWHL_Hamilton, opens in a new tab, YouTube PWHL Hamilton, opens in a new tab, Threads @PWHL_Hamilton, opens in a new tab, Bluesky @PWHL-Hamilton, opens in a new tab, and LinkedIn PWHL Hamilton, opens in a new tab.
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