TORONTO – The Toronto Sceptres today announced that forward Kirsten Simms has signed a three-year Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Standard Player Agreement through the 2028-29 season. Selected eighth overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft on June 17, Simms is the first member of the Sceptres draft class to sign ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
“We’re really excited to have Kirsten commit to Toronto for the next three seasons,” said Gina Kingsbury, Sceptres General Manager. “She brings offensive skill and creativity to our lineup, and we believe there’s a lot of upside to her game. Having her here for three years gives us the opportunity to build together, and we’re excited about the impact she can make on our team and in the Toronto market.”
Simms joins the PWHL following four collegiate seasons at the University of Wisconsin where she scored 100 goals and recorded 238 points in 152 career games with the Badgers, on top of winning three National Championships. The 22-year-old from Plymouth, MI, contributed 59 points (26G, 33A) in 31 games as a senior in 2025-26 and earned All-WCHA Second Team recognition. She had previously received consecutive First Team All-American and All-WCHA First Team honours as a sophomore and junior. Internationally, Simms won a gold medal representing the United States at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan and won gold and silver at the 2025 and 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championships.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Toronto Sceptres. Toronto is the best hockey market in the world, and having the opportunity to play in front of such passionate fans is something really special,” said Simms. “I’m looking forward to getting to know my teammates, learning from the incredible players and leaders in this organization, and doing whatever I can to help our team succeed. I want to bring energy, compete every day, and be someone my teammates can count on. I can’t wait to get started and be part of what we’re building in Toronto.”
Simms is one of 16 players under contract of the 29 invited to Sceptres training camp next month. She is one of four Sceptres signed through 2028-29 alongside defenders Renata Fast and Kali Flanagan, and goaltender Raygan Kirk.
The Sceptres begin the 2026-27 regular season in Ottawa on Sunday, Dec. 6, followed by the home opener at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Tuesday, Dec. 8 against PWHL Hamilton. Single Game Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, while fans interested in more games can purchase Season Ticket Memberships, Half Packs, and Flex Packs, offering the best value and benefits, online here. Fans can also stay up to date on detailed ticketing information by signing up for the Official Sceptres Newsletter, The Beacon, here, opens in a new tab.
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.