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Michael Traikos
Michael_Traikos@THN
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Michael is the Managing Editor, Digital, for The Hockey News. He has more than 20 years of experience covering hockey, having previously been the national hockey columnist for Postmedia, where he covered multiple Stanley Cups and the Olympics.
Joined at Sep 21, 2023Activity
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Hannah Miller Deemed Ineligible To Play For Team Canada
After being named to Canada’s roster for the 2025 World Championships, the IIHF has ruled that Hannah Miller is ineligible to represent Canada at the 2025 World Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
Miller did not meet the IIHF standard of being outside the required two-year timeline from last playing overseas in order for her to be eligible to play for Canada.
“We are extremely disappointed to learn that Hannah is not able to compete for Canada at the upcoming world championship,” said general manager Gina Kingsbury. “We remained optimistic and believed she had met all the conditions outlined by the IIHF to represent her country, including the two-year timeline around the transfer portal. Hannah has worked hard this season, earned a spot on our roster and we will look forward to future opportunities for her to wear the Maple Leaf.”
It would have been Miller’s national team debut with Canada. The North Vancouver product represented Canada twice at the U-18 level but following her NCAA career went overseas and eventually played as a dual passport player for China at the World Championships and then most recently at the 2022 Olympic Games.
She currently sits fourth in the PWHL with 24 points in 26 games.
Miller will be replaced by Julia Gosling, who won gold last year with Canada at the 2024 World Championships in Utica.
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PWHL Draft: Pre-World Rankings Top 90
The NCAA season and U Sports seasons are over with Wisconsin and Bishop's winning national titles. In Europe, Frölunda claimed their first ever SDHL title. In essence, it means the scouting year for the PWHL Draft has only one event remaining, the 2025 IIHF World Championships.
There has been developments in recent weeks where we've learned more about the intentions of European players that has altered the rankings. In particular, Viivi Vainikka signed a new contract in Europe, as did Jenniina Nylund, meaning neither player will declare for the 2025 PWHL Draft. Conversely, all signs point to Michelle Karvinen, a Finnish legend and likely future Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, declaring for the PWHL Draft. Many of the European players originally on our rankings have been moved to our Watch List until clarity can be found regarding their potential declaration. Some remain who have made their interest in the draft clear.
The biggest questions marks remain in place due to the PWHL's timelines in announcing potential expansion. The decision to declare for North American stars including Abbey Murphy and Lacey Eden revolves around expansion. Similarly, there are a handful of European players including Swiss goalie Andrea Brandli watching for expansion news before finalizing her decision.
We've placed an asterisks (*) next to players named to their national teams for the upcoming World Championships, which will be the final chance for significant changes.
Here's a look at The Hockey News' Top 90 prospects for the 2025 PWHL Draft in our pre-World Championship rankings.
2025 PWHL Draft Rankings: Pre-Worlds Top 90
1. Abbey Murphy, RW, 2002, Minnesota / USA* - If the PWHL had announced expansion plans, we'd know if Murphy is destined to be the first overall pick at this year's PWHL draft, or in the mix to go in the top five next year. She's fast, physical, has an incredible shot, and backs down from no one. She'll need to manage that edge in the already aggressive PWHL, but her unique skill set does not come along every day.
2. Haley Winn, D, 2003, Clarkson / USA* - A fantastic skater who uses her feet to take away time and space, and to quickly transition pucks up ice. Topped all players in NCAA hockey in average time on ice, and her possession and play driving numbers are off the charts. She's the real deal and will make an impact on a PWHL top four.
3. Krystina Kaltounkova, C, 2002, Colgate / Czechia* - A true 200-foot player who is built for the PWHL game. She's not going to shy away from the physicality and will get things done both off the rush, at the net, and on special teams. She's not Marie-Philip Poulin, but stylistically, Poulin is likely the closest comparison.
4. Casey O'Brien, C, 2001, Wisconsin - Elite and consistent production, O'Brien won the 2025 Patty Kazmaier Award. She's a top six forward from day one who elevates those around her as both a playmaker and a goal scorer. Few in the NCAA see the ice offensively as well as O'Brien.
5. Nicole Gosling, D, 2002, Clarkson - She's a possession driving defender who alongside Winn, is one of only two in this draft who might make an offensive, and defensive impact from day one. She's steady, makes crisp outlet passes, and gets pucks through traffic. The omission from Team Canada shouldn't be a knock on Gosling, who will likely play her way back onto that roster via the PWHL.
6. Lacey Eden, RW, 2002, Wisconsin / USA* - 200 feet of energy, Eden is a big game player who assisted on the national championship winning overtime goal this year with Wisconsin. There's nothing left for her in the NCAA, and she can be an impact player from day one in the PWHL. Whether her new team elevates her and allows her to utilize her offensive tools, or they place her in a middle six role to provide secondary scoring while facing top lines from opponents, Eden will bring the goods.
7. Natalie Mlynkova, LW, 2001, Minnesota / Czechia* - Mlynkova's second half has been strong. A two-way presence, Mlynkova looks prepared to take on the day-to-day grind of the PWHL.
8. Rory Guilday, D, 2002, Cornell - Big and mobile for her size, Guilday is a defender who will help any team in this league, likely on a second pairing. One downside to her game is there isn't a ton of offensive upside, but teams already have high risk, high reward blueliners. At 5-foot-11, her size is a major benefit.
9. Michelle Karvinen, F, 1990, Frolunda / Finland* - Michelle Karvinen is not returning to Frolunda. At least that’s not her plan unless something changes. She’s made it clear that there’s only one challenge she’s yet to face in her Hall of Fame career, and that is likely the PWHL. In a league where 2-3 year contracts are considered long term, there’s no risk in drafting an older player like Karvinen who can make an immediate impact. For an expansion team, adding a veteran like Karvinen would be invaluable.
10. Anne Cherkowski, C, 2002, Clarkson - Cherkowski can do it all. Her versatility will make her a player in this league for years to come. Her offense has improved all season, but it's her two-way awareness and speed that will help a PWHL team.
11. Kendall Cooper, D, 2002, Quinnipiac - Likes to play with an edge, Cooper is mobile and is part of the small cohort of defenders who can step in and play at the PWHL level immediately. Has good offensive upside, but also a fierce competitor.
12. Jenna Buglioni, C, 2002, Ohio State - A highly intelligent player, Buglioni is a two-way player who has good speed. She drives possession, and gets to dangerous scoring zones. Not the biggest player, which is a concern, but has the skills to make up for size.
13. Ella Huber, C, 2002, Minnesota - Huber has speed and intelligence on the ice. She can find seams and generates time for herself as a deceptive puckhandler and by changing her pace on entries. Good production this season.
14. Abby Hustler, F, 2003, St. Lawrence - Hustler sees the ice as well as anyone on this list. An excellent playmaker, Hasn't got a look from Canada, but should be a good pro.
15. Kiara Zanon, F, 2002, Ohio State - Having her slowest offensive season of her NCAA career, Zanon's stock hasn't slipped much. She showed well for USA at the Euro Hockey Tour, and balances a solid attack as both a playmaker and scorer.
16. Sara Hjalmarsson, C, 1998, Linkoping / Sweden* - She's declaring. Big, physical, a menacing net front presence. Is she the best skater in the draft? No. Does she get where she needs to go, and arrive with an impact? Always. Hjalmarsson has all the intangibles that will make a PWHL team harder to play against, can get out front on the power play, win pucks in the corners, and add secondary scoring.
17. Andrea Brandli, G, MoDo / Team Switzerland* - With or without expansion, there are PWHL teams who will be taking a long look at their goaltending options. If expansion occurs, Brandli will be a top target for any team who loses their backup, or for the expansion teams themselves to run a 1A / 1B crease. Brandli is competitive, and wants to be in the net. She's a goalie who wants to play, and hates losing. Whether she's a starter or backup, it's a drive that will make her team better.
18. Skylar Fontaine, D, 1998, ZSC Lions - A top blueliner in the NCAA for years as a four-time All-American with Northeastern, the 26-year-old was named the Best Defender in Switzerland last year. After being denied a visa to return to Switzerland, Fontaine will certainly be looking at the PWHL. She's
19. Emma Seitz, D, 2000, MoDo - A two-time second team All-American in the NCAA, Seitz jumped to Sweden and has continued to grow her game. She is shifty with the puck and can turn the play up ice in a blink. Has a pro mentality. Will positively impact a PWHL team's attack from the back end.
20. Vita Ponyatovskaia, D, 2003, Yale - A fun defender to watch, Ponyatovskaya can dazzle creeping in from the blueline or joining the rush. Great hands, especially for a defender, and extremely mobile. Could she be the PWHL's first Russian?
21. Skylar Irving, C, 2002, Northeastern - A great two-way forward who has contributed to the accelerated rebuild of Northeastern's program after the departure of star player after star player to the pros.
22. Sanni Ahola, G, 2000, St. Cloud State / Finland* - Has potential to be a starting goalie in this league. Competes for pucks, and makes big saves every game that would otherwise be goals. If no expansion, can go to Europe and start for a season.
23. Nina Jobst-Smith, D, 2001, Minnesota-Duluth / Germany* - Having another predictably solid season, Jobst-Smith could be a sneaky-good pick up for a team in the middle to late rounds of this draft. She's played solid minutes all the way through for Minnesota-Duluth, and internationally is Germany's top defender.
24. Clara Van Wieren, C, 2002, Minnesota-Duluth - Great size, capable at both ends, and experienced playing for a Minnesota-Duluth program that has produced reliable pros in this league. Might be a player who surprises many.
25. Anna Shokhina, RW, 1997, Dynamo-Neva St. Petersburg - There’s no Russian forward on the planet more decorated and respected internationally than Shokhina. Worth a late round shot.
26. Maya Labad, F, 2002, Quinnipiac - Likes to get herself to the net, Labad scores in different ways, but they all count. She's a player who has more upside than many.
27. Peyton Hemp, RW, 2003, Minnesota - There's a lot to like about her game, but will need to start in a bottom six to prove her game. Might benefit from a year in Europe to take her development further.
28. Makenna Webster, RW, 2002, Ohio State - A smart winger, good instincts, plays a solid game in all three zones. Constantly on the puck and driving play. Size is a realistic concern at 5-foot-3.
29. Emma Gentry, C, 2002, St. Cloud State - Gentry's size alone will get her a look on a fourth line in this league, and her production may actually increase at the next level. She won't shy away from anyone in the league, and can play off the puck as well.
30. Sarah Wozniewicz, RW, 2002, Wisconsin - You're not going to get a ton of offense from Wozniewicz, but you are getting a player who brings speed and momentum to the ice. She's dogged in pursuit of the puck, and thrives in her own zone.
31. Dayle Ross, D, 2003, St. Cloud State - A good skater who does the little things right. Takes away time and space well and is used to facing top match ups night in and night out in the WCHA. Ross
32. Riley Brengman, D, 2002, Ohio State - A good passer, Brengman likes to close shooting lanes with her body and isn't afraid to block shots. Could be a consistent third pair defender.
33. Hannah Murphy, G, 2003, Colgate - The best North American goalie available in this draft. She could slide in as a backup with expansion; without might be better to go to Europe with the rest of the goalies in this draft to get games.
34. Hanna Baskin, D, 2003, Minnesota-Duluth - Solid in her own end. Blocks shots, good passer. Reliable.
35. Morgan Neitzke, F, 2003, Lindenwood - Could be a sleeper coming out of Lindenwood. Lots of offensive skill, likes to play physical. She'll fight for a spot.
36. Vanessa Upson, F, 2003, Mercyhurst - Sometimes players from lower ranked programs have an advantage. Upson has played in many roles and is counted on to produce, which she has, consistently.
37. Lyndie Lobdell, D, 2002, Penn State - A reliable defender who plays a responsible game, makes good decisions, and good outlet passes.
38. Maddi Wheeler, F, 2002, Ohio State - A 200-foot player, seeing a boost to her offensive game after transfer to Ohio State.
39. Anna Bargman, F, 2002, Yale - A monster in the advanced stats categories. Whether it's expected goals, possession models, puck control, it doesn't matter, Bargman exceeds all expectations. It could make her a pick that people look back at and kick themselves for not snapping up.
40. Lily Delianedis, F, 2001, Cornell - Came on after missing an early portion of the season. Her metrics were all great despite slower offense coming back. Two-way player who does the little things right.
41. Brianna Brooks, F, 2002, Penn State - She drives scoring chances and possession. Advanced stats rarely lie, and she outperforms half the players above her on this list.
42. Olivia Wallin, F, 2002, Minnesota-Duluth - Production was solid this year, and she's got a higher ceiling than some. Plays a lot, gets to tough areas on the ice, generates chances, and drives play.
43. Millie Sirum, F, 2003, Providence / Norway* - A scrappy two-way forward who could become a checking line energy player.
44. Neena Brick, C, 2003, Colgate - A consistent two-way player, Brick is good on the face-off dot, and sees the ice well. She's likely more of a playmaker, but can also score.
45. Anna Segedi, F, 2000, St. Lawrence - Good vision, good hands, good leadership. Slippery with the puck, Segedi has the skill and hockey IQ. Having a down year offensively. May end up in China's top league for a season, or playing in Sweden.
47. Tamara Giaquinto, D, 2002, Boston University - Not a defender to sleep on. She's not going to put up huge numbers in the PWHL, but she has the potential to be a reliable two way defender who doesn't flash and dash, but takes care of her zone, makes good outlets, and defends well.
46. Brooke Becker, D, 2002, Providence - Wins a lot of puck battles, and defends well. A model of consistency who has good possession numbers.
48. Maddy Samoskevich, C/D, 2002, Quinnipiac - Versatile being moved from defense to center this year. A PWHL team might snap her up for her ability to play everywhere on the ice. Surprisingly adept in the face-off circle and she helped her team gain and keep control.
49. Olivia Mobley, RW, 2001, Minnesota-Duluth - Has bounced between NCAA programs but found success everywhere she's gone. Could be a late round steal.
50. Laura Fuoco, F, 2003, Dartmouth - An intriguing forward who looks like she has more upside that can be tapped. 5-foot-11 frame is an asset.
51. Marianne Picard, C, 2002, Wisconsin - A defensive forward who could do all the little things right on a bottom line in this league.
52. Julia Shaunessy, D, 2002, Boston University - Unique upside given her size and offensive production this season.
53. Nadia Mattivi, D, 2000, Lulea / Italy - Having a good year with Europe's top team, Mattivi was Boston University's captain last year, has good size, and is a heads up player. Blueline depth opening through expansion could get her a look.
54. Paula Bergstrom, D, 1999, Frolunda - Consistent in the SDHL and for Sweden internationally. Not a big offensive producer, but makes simple plays that keeps her team out of trouble.
55. Ava Rinker, D, 2002, Connecticut
56. Sydney Langseth, F, 2002, Minnesota State
57. Maren Friday, D, 2002, Union - Hard to gauge Friday's upside coming from a weaker Union program. At 5-foot-11, she has the frame, produced well this season, and is strong on pucks.
58. Reece Hunt, LW, 2001, Lulea - Had her year cut short due to injury, but it wouldn't be surprising to see someone take a shot on her in the late rounds. Puts pucks into spaces for her teammates, and finds them in shooting lanes often. Has some unexplored upside.
59. Sara Boucher, F, 2002, New Hampshire
60. Maggie MacEachern, D, 2001, KRS Shenzhen - If expansion occurs, MacEachern would be a valuable pick up. A steady blueliner who finds ways to drive possession. Focuses on her own end first, but got an opportunity to be offensive at times this season in China.
61. Olivia Muhn, D, 2003, Yale
62. Kylie Aquaro, F, 2003, RIT
63. Elizabeth Lang, F, 2000, HC Davos - U Sports All-Canadian last year with Calgary, and now scoring two points per game as HC Davos' leading scorer in the Swiss league. Might need to go to Sweden to make her case, but also would be worthy of a free agent invite if nothing else.
64. Emma Bergesen, D, 1999, SDE - Skating is the issue that will hold Bergesen back. Vision, puck skills are all there.
65. Leah Herrfort, F 2001, Waterloo - Another U Sports standout with NCAA experience. Likely going to play in Europe for a season, but keep an eye on Herrfort in the future.
66. Lauren Bellefontaine, C, 2000, MoDo - Excellent two-way forward would could play a depth checking role in the PWHL.
67. Franziska Feldmeier, F, 1999, Eisbaren Berlin
68. Brette Pettet, F, 1999, Djurgardens
69. Alyssa Mcleod, F, 2002, St. Lawrence
70. Abby Newhook, F, 2003, Boston College - A solid two-way forward with good offensice instincts.
71. Callie Shanahan, G, 2003, Boston University
72. Sydney Pederson, D, 2003, Mercyhurst
73. Amanda Thiele, G, 2002, Ohio State
74. Kira Juodikis, F, 2003, New Hampshire
75. Chanreet Bassi, F, 2001, British Columbia - A point machine in U Sports with a great work ethic. Good motor. Could fit well into a bottom line and continue her development upward.
76. Jessymaude Drapeau, F, 2000, Concordia - One of the best U Sports players available coming from Canada's top program. Oozes leadership.
77. Sydney Fess, D, 2002, Clarkson
78. Mackenzie Kordic, F, 2001, British Columbia - Big and mean with an edge and ability to score. Skating will need to improve.
79. Maggy Burbidge, F, 2001, HC Fribourg-Gottéron
80. Teghan Inglis, D, 2001, HV71 - She has a canon from the point. Also likes the physical side of things. Good NCAA career, thriving in her first season in Europe.
81. Emily Rickwood, 2000, KRS Shenzhen - Does the little things right. Loves to block shots and battles hard. Got a good opportunity to grow her offensive game this season in China.
82. Madison Laberge, D, 2001, Nipissing
83. Kassidy Sauve, G, 1996, SDE
84. Stephanie Neatby, G 1998, Frolunda
85. Jada Habisch, F, 2002, Connecticut
86. Karley Garcia, D, 2003, Penn State
87. Katie Chan, C, 2003, Cornell
88. Bryn Saarela, F, 2001, Syracuse
89. Kaitlin Jockims, F, 2001, Cornell
90. Sarah Marchand, F, 2003, St. Lawrence
91. Hannah Johnson, D, 2003, Providence
Goaltender Watch List
- Pia Dukaric, G, 2000, Yale / Slovenia
- Ena Nystrom, G, 2000, Brynas / Norway
- Skylar Vetter, G, 2003, Minnesota
- Ida Boman, G, 2003, Djurgardens / Sweden
- Kaley Doyle, G, 2001, Quinnipiac
- Jorden Mattison, G, 2002, Mercyhurst
Skater Watch List
- Mia Biotti, D, 2002, Harvard
- Kennedy Bobyck, RW, 2001, HV71
- Andrea Dalen, F, 1992, Frolunda / Norway
- Estelle Duvin, F, 1997, SC Bern / France
- Emma Forsgren, D, 2002, Djurgardens / Sweden
- Jenna Goodwin, C, 2003, Clarkson
- Kayleigh Hamers, D, 1997, SDE
- Tory Mariano, D, 2003, Northeastern
- Madison Mashuga, F, 2001, Minnesota State
- Lauren Messier, F, 2003, Dartmouth
- Hanna Olsson, F, 1999, Frolunda / Sweden
- Michaela Pejzlova, F, 1997, Ambrì-Piotta / Czechia
- Clara Rozier, F, 1997, SC Bern / France
- Klara Seroiszkova, D, 2001, HV71
- Linnéa Johansson, RW, 2002, Lulea
- Courtney Kollman, F, 2000, HC Davos
- Darcie Lappan, LW, 2001, MoDo
- Sinja Leeman, F, 2002, ZSC Lions / Switzerland
- Julia Liikala, F, 2001, Ambri-Piotta / Finland
- Maggie Nicholson, D, 2002, Minnesota
- Lotti Odnoga, D, 1999, SDE
- Emma Nordin, F, 1991, Lulea
- Maude Pepin, F, 1999, Bishop's
- Shailynn Snow, F, 2001, HC Fribourg-Gottéron
- Alexandra Huszak, F, 1995, MAC Budapest
- Adriana Van de Leest, D, 2003, Maine
- Lily Martinson, D, 2003, Providence
- Ellie Kaiser, F, 2002, RPI
- Mia Tsilemos, D, 2002, RTI
- Julia Nearis, F, 1999, HV71
- Leonie Philbert, D, 1999, Concordia
- Malory Dominico, F, 2001, Nipissing
- Maggie McKee, F, 2001, Nipissing
- Kyla Bear, D, 2003, RIT
- Bronwyn Khangsar, D, 2003, RIT
- Keri Clougherty, D, 2003, Boston College
- Athena Vasdani, F, 2003, RIT
- Kaitlyn Kotlowski, D, 2001, Wisconsin
- Jeannie Wallner, F, 2003, Long Island
- Dominique Cormier, D, 2003, Princeton
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Montreal Places Ann-Renee Desbiens On LTIR, Will It Impact Team Canada?
The Montréal Victoire have placed starting goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens on long term injured reserve retroactive to March 18.
Desbiens left the game March 18 against the Boston Fleet after suffering a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old needed to be helped off the ice by teammates.
“The results from the medical exams following her injury are encouraging, and we expect her to return in the near future. This type of injury will require a weekly, if not daily follow ups,” declared Victoire General Manager Danièle Sauvageau.
In a subsequent move, Montréal signed former Montreal Force goaltender Tricia Deguire to a contract. Deguire took pare in a tryout with the Victoire this Fall. The move is allowable following the PWHL's roster free date to fill a goaltending position.
Will Desbiens' Injury Impact Team Canada?
Canada named Ann-Renée Desbiens to their initial IIHF World Championship roster. There's no reason to believe Desbiens will not be available for Canada at the World Championships. At the PWHL level, LTIR means a player must miss a minimum of 21 days. For Desbiens, that minimum return date would bring her to April 8, the day prior to puck drop at the World Championships.
Canada could however, make a roster change leading up to the tournament if Desbiens expects to be out longer. Canada also named Toronto Sceptres goalie Kristen Campbell, and Minnesota-Duluth goaltender Eve Gascon to their crease.
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Minnesota Reclaims Final Playoff Spot With Win Over Toronto
The Minnesota Frost welcomed their largest crowd of the season with 9,536 in attendance to see the Frost defeat the Toronto Sceptres 5-2. The win saw Minnesota reclaim the final playoff spot leap frogging the Ottawa Charge into fourth.
Opening the scoring in the first period were Taylor Heise and Britta Curl-Salemme who scored a pair only 42 seconds apart. It was the fastest two goals to open a game in PWHL history coming in the first 1:43 of play.
Early in the second period, Sophie Jaques extended Minnesota's lead to 3-0, followed by a 4-0 goal from Liz Schepers late in the frame. It was enough to chase Kristen Campbell from the Toronto crease for the third period after she allowed four goals on 16 shots.
Toronto showed signs of life early in the third with Daryl Watts and Kali Flanagan cutting Minnesota's lead in half, but it was all the Sceptres could muster in the game. Nicole Hensley stood tall for Minnesota stopping 27 of 29 shots. Taylor Heise ended the comeback bid scoring her second of the game with under six minutes to go.
Toronto could have clinched a playoff berth with a single point. Both Toronto and Minnesota are now off until after the league returns from the IIHF World Championship break in late April. Toronto could still enter the international break with a playoff spot secured should the Boston Fleet beat the Ottawa Charge, or if the Charge win in a shootout in their upcoming meeting.
Frost Pleased With Their Result
"We had a lot of jumps and a lot of jams to our game. We were fast, we were first on pucks and when we do those things, and we’re simple with the puck, we’re a tough team to handle," said Minnesota head coach Ken Klee. "All four lines scored tonight which was great,
all four lines created lots of chances, and they were good in their own zone. When we play as a four-line deep team, and everyone is contributing we’re a tough team to handle."
For Minnesota, the team also hopes to avoid the position they were in last season losing five straight games to back into the playoffs. They rebounded in the postseason to win the first ever Walter Cup, but the team hopes to enter the playoffs on a high note this year.
"We don’t want to put ourselves in a spot like we did last year so I think getting a goal right away, making really good puck plays and then getting another goal after that, obviously you do better when you're up two goals
right away," said Taylor Heise. "We came out with a lot of speed and up and down the lineup I was impressed with the way we continued to pound them – and then you had Nic (Hensley) back there who made a bunch of crazy saves."
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Viivi Vainikka Not Coming To PWHL For 2025
The top available European player on the market, who most hoped would declare for the 2025 PWHL Draft is staying in Europe. Finland's Viivi Vainikka has signed a contract with Brynäs in the SDHL, without a PWHL opt-out clause.
The 23-year-old finished third in the SDHL this season with 44 points in 36 games for Luleå.
"After five years in Luleå, I felt that I wanted a new challenge in my career," said Vainikka in a translated press release. "When I came into contact with Brynäs and Erika (Grahm), it felt really interesting right away, the generational change they initiated last season and what is happening in the organization really shows that they are serious about their investment."
The investment is believed to include a financial commitment from Brynäs greater than contracts available to first year players in the PWHL.
"We are of course very pleased to have secured this," said Brynäs general manager Erika Grahm. "Viivi is a talented player and a humble person who will fit well into Brynäs IF and what we stand for. Despite her young age, she has built up experience and has been one of the league's best players for several years. She is an offensive forward who has the tools to help the team to the next level, exactly in line with what we want in the club."
Earlier this week, Brynäs pulled another Finnish national team member who was eligible to declare for the PWHL Draft off the market. They re-signed forward Jenniina Nylund through the 2025-26 SDHL season as well.
On the flip side, yesterday it was reported that Michelle Karvinen, a Finnish women's hockey legend, is likely going to declare for the 2025 PWHL Draft.
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Final Stop On PWHL Takeover Tour Highlights Attendance Growth, League Trails Only NHL
A year ago, people celebrated the 8,850 fans in attendance in Pittsburgh for one of two Takeover stops in the PWHL's inaugural season. This year, that number would be seen as a failure.
The continued success of nearly every stop on the PWHL's 2024-25 Takeover Tour highlights the continued attendance growth in the league.
Through eight stops on the PWHL Takeover Tour this season, the league has averaged 14,378 fans per game, helping to push the overall league average to 7,333. Those numbers included a pair of games topping 14,000 fans in Denver and Detroit, breaking and then re-breaking the American professional women's hockey single game attendance record.
The PWHL is firmly entrenched as the second most attended hockey league in North America. This season the American Hockey League, the top affiliate league for the NHL, is averaging just over 5,600 fans per game. The ECHL, the second level affiliates for the NHL, are at roughly 4,700 per game.
The league also far surpassed each of North America's prominent junior leagues.
In some limited opportunities, the PWHL even surpassed the NHL. For example, the PWHL Takeover Tour stop in Vancouver drew 19.038 fans. It's more than the Vancouver Canucks have drawn at any single game this season. The same could be said for the NHL's preseason visit to the Videotron Centre in Quebec City compared to the PWHL's.
The league is set to announce expansion details and plans within the next few days. It's believed the new market(s) will be one's visited on the PWHL Takeover Tour this season.
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Understanding Ann-Renee Desbiens' Injury, Timeline For Return, And World Championships Outlook
On Monday, many wondered why Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens was placed on the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) despite skating at the morning practice.
Others wondered if her presence at the World Championship was in question and if so, who would replace her.In fact, the situation surrounding Ann-Renée Desbiens' injury is much less serious than it seems. In fact, her place on the LTIR is not only related to her injury.
But first, let’s recall the facts.
On March 18, during a game against Boston, the Victoire starting goalie fell backwards after a contact with an opposing player, injuring her left knee at the same time. She was taken out of the game and replaced by Elaine Chuli.
Three days later, after the team's practice, head coach Kori Cheverie mentioned that Tricia Deguire would soon sign a 10-day contract to compensate for Desbiens' absence. The team couldn't take the risk of going on the road and having one of the other two goalies gets hurt. But curiously, no official announcement had been made regarding this.
On the same day, Hockey Canada released its roster for the World Championship to be held in Czechia from April 9 to April 20 and, to the surprise of many, Desbiens' name was still on it.
On March 23, after the game against Toronto, Cheverie mentioned that it was unlikely that Desbiens would make the trip to Minnesota for Wednesday's game.
And after Desbiens missed her team's last two games, including the one in Minnesota, the Victoire confirmed Monday that she had been placed on the long-term injured reserve, retroactive to March 18. In addition, the team announced that Deguire had signed a standard contract with the team and not a 10-day one.
In a statement, general manager Danièle Sauvageau said she is confident that Desbiens will return in the near future. As for the goaltender's presence in Czechia, Sauvageau remained vague in a press conference, indicating that nothing in her progress indicates that she will not be able to be at the camp before the Worlds.
More fear than harm
Now that the retrospective of the events is done, let's talk about Ann-Renée's health.
The situation is not as dramatic as her place on the LTIR would suggest.
Desbiens was back on skates on Monday morning's practice. Dressed in all her goalie equipment, she took part in a short warm-up with the other goaltender, even making lateral moves, and then returned to the locker room when the rest of the team arrived.
It wasn't the first time she put on her skates. Danièle Sauvageau confirmed that Desbiens skated last Friday and Saturday. She was also present, without skates, on Saturday practice with season ticket holders. She walked in plain sight without crutches. Same thing on Monday after practice.
Without making a diagnosis here, considering all these elements, let's just say that it doesn't look like someone who is about to have surgery or who will miss the remainder of the season.
Desbiens will be at the Worlds
Although Hockey Canada informed the media on Monday that Julia Gosling will replace Hannah Miller at the World championships, an announcement released after the one Montreal did for Desbiens, the national team did not mention anything about the goaltender's status. It would have been an opportunity to do it, wouldn't it?
The reason is quite simple. My understanding of the situation is that Desbiens will travel to Czechia and will be ready to return when the tournament kicks off for Canada on April 10 against Finland. They don't bring her to Europe to watch the games from the stands.
That said, it’s not impossible that she won’t get the start against Finland in order to send her into the fray the next day against Switzerland. Or they could wait until the 13th for the game against the United States. It all depends on whether they want to give her a warm-up game before the confrontation with the Americans.
It also means that barring a disaster, she will be in the Victoire lineup on April 26 when the season resumes.
Why is she on the long-term injured reserve?
And that's when a question arises: why did Montreal place Desbiens on the LTIR if she's going to return in ten days?
The answer lies in the arrival of Tricia Deguire.
For a player to sign a 10-day contract, she must first be on the team's reserve list. According to PWHL regulations, each team is allowed a maximum of three reserve players. So, in order for Deguire to sign a 10-day contract, Montreal would first have to release a player from the reserve list.
Which wouldn't have been well received, given that Montreal has had the same three reserves – Gabrielle David, Kelly-Ann Nadeau and Catherine Daoust – since the beginning of the season.
It’s for this reason that there has never been an official announcement regarding a 10-day contract for Deguire. It would have been illegal for the team to do so.
The solution was to place Desbiens on the LTIR, retroactive to March 18, not because of the severity of her injury, but to free up a standard contract to replace her. That way, Deguire signed a more lucrative contract, paid in proportion to the minimum salary, with insurance and the monthly housing stipend, without having to change the status of another player on the team.
The 27-year-old Quebecer will take part in Montreal practices for the duration of the World Championship, given the absence of Desbiens and Sandra Abstreiter, who will play for Germany.
Montreal respects the rules
In addition, everything was done within the limits of the PWHL rules.
Indeed, the rule stipulates that a player placed on the long-term injured reserve must be on it for a minimum of 21 days. But this rule only applies to the PWHL and is not recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The team therefore does not break any rules.
The Victoire management deserves praise here, because they could have chosen the easy solution, which was to temporarily release a reserve player and give Deguire a lower salary for showing up at practice.
In the end, this is good news for everyone involved.
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"Quebec City has proven itself," Officials Believe
Potential PWHL markets know that an announcement from the league is imminent regarding expansion. Jackie Smith, a councillor and mayoral candidate in Quebec City who has backed the push for another PWHL team in the province believes her city has proven itself to the league and women's hockey world.
"Quebec City has proven itself," said Smith in a release. "We have the best arena to host a team, we have a population that loves the sport, and a loyal fan base ready to attend games in droves. No one questions our city's hockey culture, and we are fortunate to have a strong pool of talented young players. During the Takeover Tour, Quebec City demonstrated that we are ready to have our team. A team in the magnificent Videotron Centre would put a spotlight on the league and its players and elevate women’s hockey in general."
The belief however, is that the PWHL plans to move West in their upcoming expansion with a focus on broadcasting and reaching new geographic regions.
"In the event the league prefers to expand west, I humbly suggest it consider the relevance of keeping teams in cities like Boston and New York, where attendances are meager. A move could be beneficial, given that the record crowds Boston and New York are attracting are comparable to average attendance of minor league hockey in Quebec City," continued Smith.
Quebec City drew 18,259 to their Takeover Tour game at the Videotron Centre.
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Three Question Marks Heading Into The PWHL's World Championship Shutdown
The PWHL is set to shutdown for more than three weeks as the IIHF World Championships get underway. The PWHL will not play another game after Ottawa and Boston face-off April 2 until all six teams return to action April 26.
While the league is off the ice, it does not mean it will be out of mind. Here's a look at five question marks to follow during the PWHL's international break.
1. Whose playoff hopes will be derailed by an injury?
The World Championships will serve as rehab for several injured players expected to return in time to represent their country including Katerina Mrazova, Dominika Laskova, and Ann-Renee Desbiens. It may also give others, like Ottawa Charge netminder Emerance Maschmeyer, time to heal. What's more likely however, is that one of the PWHL's key players could miss time returning from the World Championships due to an injury suffered in international play. It's already happened this year during the Rivalry Series, and it would be a miracle to escape the tournament without issue. The PWHL's scheduling was awful this season with huge gaps in home games, constant breaks, and most of all, the fact that teams will return from the World Championships with only one week until playoffs. After a month apart, some teams will have to play win-to-get-in games for playoff spots. One key injury at Worlds could end those hopes without another chance to get back. It could also impact a team's hopes of getting out of round one of the Walter Cup playoffs. All eyes on the injury bug, and fingers crossed for none.
2. Expansion here, expansion there, expansion where?
The PWHL stated they'd provide an expansion update in 4-6 weeks on February 20. The six week mark is April 3, the first day of the PWHL's shutdown. It's very likely the league makes their announcement, if there's one to be made, between the final puck being dropped on April 2, and the start of Worlds on April 9. It's a way to carry excitement over the month, and to spark international interest at Worlds. An expansion announcement, whether it's in the West, two American teams, or to the joy of packed rinks in Quebec City, Edmonton, Vancouver, or any neighbourhood rink in Canada, any expansion announcement will be met with weeks of excitement. An expansion announcement will also spark dozens of new questions from team names to venues, expansion draft and more. It will also help answer question mark #3....
3. Can we catch the PWHL draft dodgers?
Worlds was a major moment last year in deciphering who would be declaring for the 2024 PWHL Draft, and who would not. Expect a few more players who have been dodging draft questions to answer to those at the World Championships. We already know the top European player who was eligible, Viivi Vainikka, will not be declaring. We've also heard it's likely Finnish legend and future Hall of Famer Michelle Karvinen declares. Sweden's Sara Hjalmarsson is expected to declare as well, but there are several European players where the question just hasn't been answered, and remains completely unknown. Andrea Brandli is one. She wants to play in the PWHL, but doesn't want to be a third goalie. So until expansion is known, her question mark will hang like a Question Block in Mario. From Team USA, Abbey Murphy and Lacey Eden are also waiting on an expansion announcement. If they PWHL gives that expansion news prior to Worlds, we might get some exciting news regarding PWHL Draft eligible players.
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Angela James' Story To Be Told In A Fresh Way While Celebrating LGBTQ+ Athletes
Hockey Hall-of-Famer Angela James is contributing a story to a comics anthology about LGBTQ+ people and their experiences in athletics.
The book is to be titled Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project, published by award-winning imprint Stacked Deck Press. James’s story, “Offside” is based on a true story: her cross-country road trip after being cut from the first Canadian Olympic women’s hockey team. The short story is cowritten by her son Michael James-Mcdonald and illustrated by cartoonist Diana Kresge. “Offside” draws on James’s formative struggles as an out lesbian, her historic career in sports, and her inspirational activism. She received the Order of Canada for her contributions to athletics, and now she is adding comics writing to her list of impressive accomplishments.
Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project is edited by Megan Praz and Megan Kemp-Gee, the creators of the ultimate frisbee graphic novel One More Year. This book features the work of over 30 all-LGBTQ+ comics creators, including Marvel and DC writer Josh Trujillo, pioneering trans cartoonist Sophie Labelle, and former NFL player RK Russell.
James is one of several notable figures from the world of sports who will be trying their hands at making comics for the first time specially for this anthology.
Come Out and Play: The Queer Sports Project will be the first ever comics anthology devoted to the theme of LGBTQ+ people in sports. It will be a full-color paperback graphic collection of over 200 pages. Praz and Kemp-Gee describe it as a “queer sports mixtape” and a “love letter” to “sports, expression, and motion.”
Praz and Kemp-Gee say they are “honoured” by the opportunity to work with James and Kresge, and feel a special responsibility.
“Angela is called ‘the Wayne Gretzky of women’s hockey,’ and she’s a major figure in Canadian sports, LGBTQ+ sports, and Black sports history, but she’s not a household name. We really want her to have the legacy and recognition she deserves as a player, coach, mother, role model, and now as a comics co-author as well!”
Angela James is the first and only Black woman to captain Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team. Described as “the first superstar of modern women’s hockey,” she is a four-time World Hockey Champion, former co-owner and general manager of the PHF's Toronto Six, a recipient of the Order of Canada, and proud mother of three children. Her many accomplishments include induction into the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame, the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
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Finnish Legend Jenni Hiirikoski To Miss World Championships Due to Mysterious Illness
When Finland recently released its roster for the upcoming IIHF Women’s World Championships, fans immediately noticed the omission of defender Jenni Hiirikoski. The 37-year-old has participated in 16 Women’s Worlds, dating back to 2003, and won 9 medals (one silver and eight bronze). She has captained the national team for fourteen straight seasons, leading by example and with carefully chosen words. She is respected by teammates and opponents alike, known for her work ethic, strength and intelligence on and off the ice.
In her nine seasons and 303 games with Luleå of the SDHL, Hiirikoski has tallied 388 points (103 goals, 285 assists), and is an astonishing +367. Over the course of her entire career, at both the club and international levels, she has consistently been the hardest worker in the room. Now, the seemingly invincible defender has been hobbled by an unknown illness.
As reported by Swedish media outlet NSD.se last week, the trouble began in January when Hiirikoski was diagnosed with a seemingly standard infection. She took all recommended precautions in an effort to heal, and even sat out the final seven games of the regular season, but nothing seemed to help. She returned to the ice during the playoffs, and appeared in four games, but never felt quite like herself. “It has been one of the biggest disappointments of my whole career. I have always been able to excel physically, but now I just can’t. Not being able to be the Jenni that I want to be has been difficult mentally. No one knows exactly what infection I contracted, but my problems began soon after that initial illness. I haven’t been able to fully recover, and my body needs more rest.” Hiirikoski missed the entire SDHL final, where reigning champions Luleå were swept by Frölunda in three straight games.
“Throughout the entire process, I held on to the hope that I would be able to play in the finals, but then I contracted a new infection. It was tough to cope with, and it still is. With any luck, my recovery is headed in the right direction now. It will take as long as it needs to take.”
While fans will not see Hiirikoski at the Women’s World Championships in April, they can anticipate her return to the ice with Luleå in September. The diminutive D has a year remaining on her contract and is looking forward to returning stronger than ever. “I’ve always learned the most from the toughest losses. I’ll use this disappointment as the fuel that motivates me to come back stronger.”
If anyone can make good on those words, it’s Jenni Hiirikoski.
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SDHL Off Season Moves In Full Swing As Player Shuffle Begins
Frölunda won the SDHL championship only days ago, but the league’s general managers are already hard at work building their 2025-26 squads. News and notes from each team, beginning with Brynäs, Djurgården and Frölunda:
Brynäs
GM Erika Grahm has made a splash early, signing two highly touted Finns. First, Grahm re-signed the team’s reigning top scorer, Jennina Nylund, to a one-year extension. Nylund had 32 points in 34 regular season games with the club in 2024-25, good for eighth overall in league scoring. Next, Grahm sent shockwaves through the league by signing star forward Viivi Vainikka away from Luleå. Many expected the electric Vainikka to be taken early in the upcoming PWHL draft, but North American fans will have to wait at least another year to see her hit the ice on the other side of the pond. Brynäs still has a number of roster holes that need to be filled: forward Sanni Vanhanen, who played brilliantly during the playoffs, will depart for Ohio State of the NCAA; former PWHL defenders Taylor Baker and Maude Poulin-Labelle are rumoured to be leaving; playoff performer Celine Tedenby has yet to re-sign, and fans are speculating about the hockey future of Hungarian star Fanni Garát-Gasparics. Neither of the team’s goaltenders are currently signed, though Norwegian Ena Nystrøm was fourth in the league in wins behind only Luleå’s Frida Axell (departing to Rögle of the NDHL), MoDo’s Andrea Brändli (rumoured to be holding out until the PWHL draft) and Stephanie Neatby of champions Frölunda, who became a free agent when the team declined to re-sign her earlier this week. The addition of Vainikka should complement Nylund and Hanna Thuvik well. If Grahm can shore up the team’s scoring depth and defense, Brynäs might make another deep playoff run.
Djurgården
DIF will look like a very different team when the first puck drops for the 2025-26 season. Earlier this week, the club bid adieu to a handful of players including young Czechs Hana Haasová, Tereza Plosová and Tereza Pisteková, as well as defender Linnea Natt Och Dag and forward Sara Säkkinen. Plosová and Natt Och Dag will compete against each other in the NCAA next season, playing for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth respectively. 21-year-old Swedish national team netminder Ida Boman, who seemed to will DIF into the playoffs this year, remains unsigned despite posting impressive numbers throughout the campaign, including a 1.55 GAA, .936 save percentage and 7 shutouts in 29 starts. Captain Brette Pettet is also without a contract after notching a career best 26 points in 35 regular season games. Isabelle Leijonhielm and Emma Forsgren are too currently on the outside looking in, as their contracts expired at the end of this season. All in all, DIF Sports Director Rickard Hårdstam has his work cut out for him, with many holes to fill and few resources to throw at the problem.
Frölunda
Newly crowned champs Frölunda and GM Kim Martin-Hasson already have their sights set on next season. Just this week, the shock departures of two key players were announced, as the club declined to re-sign starting goaltender Steph Neatby, and legendary forward Michelle Karvinen is rumoured to be declaring for the upcoming PWHL draft. While 18-year-old backup goalie Maja Helge has one year left on her current contract, few believe that Martin-Hasson expects the young tender to step into Neatby’s vacated spot. Social media is rife with rumours that Swedish national team starter Emma Söderberg, who has struggled for the PWHL’s Boston Fleet this season, will return home to fill the void. Hanna Olsson, recently named to the Swedish squad for the upcoming World Championships, is locked in until 2027, and regular season scoring leader Elisa Holopainen until 2026. The team announced that American Sydney Brodt, who joined the squad for 12 regular season games and the playoffs will depart. A number of key members of the championship group have yet to re-sign, including Andrea Dalen, who was the SDHL’s top playoff scorer with 13 points in 11 games. Defender Paula Bergström, also without a contract for 2025/26 will be in high demand all over the league after her stellar play on the back end earned her a fourth straight World Championship invitation with Sweden. One thing is for certain: Martin-Hasson moves as well as a GM as she did when she was an Olympic Silver Medal-winning goalie. Expect her to once again build a team capable of winning the SDHL championship.
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PWHL Race Heats Up, Here's The Tie Breakers That Could Factor In
The PWHL playoff race is tightening game by game. Last year the PWHL's tiebreakers came into play at the Boston Fleet and Minnesota Frost finished the year with 35 points each.
This year, with the playoff race looking like it will come down to the final games of the season, tie breakers could come into play yet again. Last season, the tie breaker went to the fifth scenario with Boston finishing ahead of Minnesota after the teams tied with 35 points, regulation wins (8), and overtime wins (4).
According to the PWHL, here are the tie breaking scenarios based on the regular season standings for playoff seeding:
1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage - only applicable during season if teams have played different number of games). 2. The greater number of games won, excluding games won in Overtime or by Shootout (i.e., 'Regulation Wins'). This figure is reflected by the 'W' column. 3. The greater number of games won, excluding games won by Shootout (i.e., 'Regulation and Overtime Wins'). 4. The greater number of games won by the Club in any manner (i.e., 'Total Wins'). This figure is obtained by adding the values from the 'W' and 'OTW' columns. 5. The greater number of points earned in games against each other among two or more tied clubs. For the purpose of determining standing for two or more Clubs that have not played an even number of games with one or more of the other tied Clubs, the first game played in the city that has the extra game (the 'odd game') shall not be included. When more than two Clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any 'odd games') shall be used to determine standing. 6. The greater differential between goals for and against (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. 7.. The greater number of goals scored (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the GF column.
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Germany Names Roster For 2025 World Championships
Germany surprised some at the 2024 World Championships in Utica, New York, and they'll look to impress even more this year in Czechia. Germany named their 25 player roster for the upcoming 2025 World Championships set to take place from April 9-20.
Recently, Germany qualified for the 2026 Olympic Games with a finish for the ages. Now the roster is bringing a mix of experience and young talent to Czechia.
"We have closely monitored and supported our players to ensure we have a strong team ready for the Olympic qualification," said head coach Jeff MacLeod. "We performed very well on the ice and also appreciate the chemistry in our locker room. We work effectively and happily as a unit with players and staff, and we want to continue that at the World Cup. Even though the gap to February is not long, our national team players have been back with their respective teams and pursuing their season goals. Therefore, we are pleased to now be coming together again as a national team and to set our goals for the World Cup as a team. Furthermore, there are only ten months until the Olympic Games. This makes it all the more important to focus on the challenges ahead and take advantage of them. As a team, we will continue to take things one game at a time."
Among the players headlining Germany's roster are Toronto Sceptres forward Laura Kluge, Montreal Victoire goalie Sandra Abstreiter, and defender Nina Jobst-Smith, who is considered a top prospect for the 2025 PWHL Draft.
Lisa Hemmerle and Chiara Schultes will join Abstreiter in the crease.
On the blueline alongside Jobst-Smith are Ronja Hark, Carina Strobel, Daria Gleissner, Tabea Botthof, Charlott Schaffrath, Tara Schmitz, and Hanna Weichenhain.
Up front, joining Kluge is SDHL standout Emma Nix and a group of NCAA players including Lilli Welcke, Luisa Welcke, Svenja Voight, and Nina Christof. Rounding out the forward group are Anne Bartsch, Alexandra Boico, Franziska Feldmeier, Nicola Hadraschek, Celina Haider, Charleen Poindl, Anna Rose, and Jule Schiefer.
Germany will play in Group B alongside Japan, Hungary, Norway, and Sweden.
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Vanišová Steals The Show In Final Takeover Tour Stop, Ottawa Moves Into A Playoff Spot
In the final Takeover Tour game of the season, the Ottawa Charge faced a crucial test following a crushing home loss to New York on Tuesday. The team needed a win to reenter the playoff race, and they found a way to grind out a 2-1 victory against the Boston Fleet in St. Louis. Tereza Vanišová was the hero, scoring two clutch goals just 32 seconds apart in the third period to seal the win. Those back-to-back goals set a new PWHL record, breaking Susanna Tapani's previous mark of 49 seconds. With the win, Ottawa leapfrogged the Minnesota Frost into fourth place, edging them out by a single point.
The victory didn’t come easy, as Ottawa faced relentless pressure from Boston, which was also eager to bounce back from a tough loss. Ottawa struggled to find offensive rhythm throughout much of the game, with their best chances coming late in the third period. Boston’s goaltender Aerin Frankel kept Ottawa at bay, seeing the puck clearly and limiting scoring opportunities, which played a big part in helping her team hold onto the lead until late.
“We found our game in the second period, and you saw it in the third," said Ottawa defender Jincy Roese. "I’m just grateful for the group we have and for the opportunity to play in St. Louis.”
Discipline remains a concern for Ottawa as they took three penalties in the first period and five overall. However, their penalty kill, which had been a weak point all season, stood strong. Ottawa successfully killed off all five of Boston’s power plays, providing a promising sign of improvement in this area. On the other side, Ottawa’s power play came through when it mattered most, with Vanišová scoring the game-winning goal during a key power play.
“They’ve been great the whole season,” Boston Fleet forward Susanna Tapani said. “They go wherever we go and it’s obviously nice to have our fans here as the home team. It actually felt like we were at home today.”
A standout performer for Ottawa was Gwyneth Philips, who has truly risen to the occasion in her rookie season. Her remarkable 27-save performance in net was vital in keeping Ottawa in the game, particularly as Boston surged for an equalizer in the closing minutes. Philips' poise and composure under pressure were key factors in securing the victory.
With this win, Ottawa finishes their Takeover Tour campaign with a 1-0-1-2 record. Next, they’ll face Boston again on Wednesday in a rematch, with the Fleet sure to be hungry for revenge.
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Czechia Announces 2025 World Championship Roster
Host Czechia announced their roster for the upcoming 2025 IIHF women's World Championships. The tournament gets underway April 9 in Czechia.
Last year Czechia lost the bronze medal game to Finland in a shootout, while Canada went on to beat USA in overtime for gold. Czechia was the final member of Group A to unveil their official roster after hosting a training camp last week to begin preparations for the tournament.
Czechia's roster will have an even larger contingent of PWHL players this season. Katerina Mrazova will reportedly be ready in time for the World Championships after missing much of her PWHL season with injuries. It's believed Mrazova will use the World Championships as a springboard back into action with the Ottawa Charge following the tournament. She's joined up front by Ottawa Charge leading scorer Tereza Vanišová, who currently sits second in the PWHL in goals. Minnesota Frost forwards Klára Hymlárová and Denisa Křížová were named to the roster, as was Toronto Sceptres forward Noemi Neubauerová.
They'll be joined by two potential first round PWHL Draft picks in Kristýna Kaltounková (Colgate) and Natálie Mlýnková (Minnesota) who recently completed their final seasons of NCAA women's hockey. Also up front is Michaela Pejzlová who played in Switzerland this season, Adéla Šapovalivová who will join Wisconsin and Tereza Plosová who will play for Minnesota in the NCAA next season. Rounding out the forward group is Barbora Juříčková, Tereza Pištěková, Hana Haasová, and Vendula Přibylová.
On the back end, PWHL defenders Daniela Pejšová (Boston Fleet), Aneta Tejralová (Ottawa Charge), and Dominika Lásková (Montréal Victoire) will make up the core of Czechia's blueline alongside Andrea Trnková (RPI), Sára Čajanová (Brynäs IF), and Tereza Radová (Leksand IF). They're joined by Klára Seroiszková (HV71) and Karolína Kosinová (HC Baník Příbram).
In net, veteran Klára Peslarová (Boston Fleet) will be counted upon yet again to backstop Czechia. She'll be backed up by Viktorie Švejdová and Michaela Hesová.
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OWHL Championships: Four Teams Remain After Wild Weekend
The OWHL Championship weekend has delivered 36 thrilling games, leading to Sunday's final matchups. The Etobicoke Dolphins and Barrie Sharks will battle for bronze, while the Stoney Creek Sabres and Durham West Lightning face off for gold.
Adding to the excitement, the OHA Mavericks take on the Central York Panthers, and the Burlington Barracudas will meet the Toronto Leaside Wildcats in the afternoon’s consolation games. Let’s take a closer look at the medal-round matchups and what to expect as the final four teams compete for ultimate bragging rights.
Bronze Medal Game: Etobicoke Dolphins vs Barrie Sharks
The Dolphins and Sharks both finished the round-robin stage 2-1, setting up a highly competitive matchup. Etobicoke boasts a high-powered offense, outscoring opponents 10-6. Adrianna Milani (3G, 3A), Sofia Ismael (2G, 2A), and Rachel Piggott (1G, 3A) lead their attack.
Barrie counters with a strong defensive presence and timely scoring. Kate Stuart (2G, 1A) and Ella Lloyd (2G) have been key contributors, while the Sharks have kept games tight with a 6-4 goal differential.
This game will be a battle between Etobicoke’s offensive firepower and Barrie’s balanced approach.
Prediction: 4-2 Etobicoke
Gold Medal Game: Stoney Creek Sabres vs Durham West Lightning
Stoney Creek enters the final undefeated (3-0) with a stingy defense, allowing just three goals. Madison Burr (2G, 2A) and Sophia Chard (2A) lead the charge for the Sabres.
Durham West, at 2-1, has been an offensive force, outscoring opponents 8-5. Dorothy Copetti (3G, 1A), Madison Bryk (2G, 1A), and Martina Accardi (3A) have been difference-makers.
With Stoney Creek’s defensive dominance and Durham West’s offensive depth, expect a tight battle for the championship.
Prediction: 4-3 (OT) Stoney Creek
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Tereza Vanisova Has Earned Consideration For PWHL MVP
Tereza Vanisova has played her way into a prestigious conversation. The Ottawa Charge forward should be considered a leading candidate for the PWHL's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
There are players with more points, but there are few in the PWHL with more impact.
Looking at the PWHL's top three goal scorers this season, Marie-Philip Poulin leads the way with 17, followed by Vanisova and Hilary Knight, who are tied with 15.
When you break it down further, Vanisova leads that trio in goals/60 minutes. She sits at 2.15 G/60. Poulin follows at 2.01 G/60, and Knight at 1.57 G/60.
When Vanisova is on the ice, no player is as threatening.
Big Moments Cause Vanisova To Rise
From before Tereza Vansiova joined the PWHL, she was a big game player. On the Czech national team, Vanisova has been there for the team rising to promotion, and eventually winning bronze at the top division of the World Championships.
Professionally, she scored the overtime winner for the Toronto Six in the PHF final. It was the final goal ever in league history, and gave her team an Isobel Cup title.
This season, Vanisova has risen time and again when her team needed it. With the playoffs seemingly slipping away in recent weeks, Vanisova has been at her best. On March 22, she scored a hat trick to lift the Ottawa Charge to a 5-2 win over New York. It was a crucial regulation win in the Charge's push for playoffs.
It was her second hat trick of the season. The first came back in February in an 8-3 win over the Minnesota Frost.
Then, following a devastating loss earlier this week that could have derailed even the most focused team, Vanisova stepped up yet again scoring twice in a crucial 2-1 win over the Boston Fleet. Vanisova scored twice late in the third period in a 32 second span to flip the script from trailing 1-0, to leading and winning 2-1.
Unique Physicality
It's not typically the stat you want to lead the league in, but Tereza Vanisova plays with an edge, and she doesn't hold back. It's resulted in Vanisova being penalized more than any player in the PWHL with 38 minutes. Directly behind her in the stat are Sarah Fillier (33) and Renata Fast (30). Playing with a physical edge in the PWHL is no an exception, it's become nearly a necessity for success.
When the league was formed, it was unclear what level of body contact would be permitted, but with year two quickly coming to a close, it's clear that the more physical players in the league, are often more successful.
Vanisova drives play not only through her hands, skating, and scoring, but by being a physical presence on the ice.
While the PWHL may choose the more "obvious" names to promote the league like Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin, or Sarah Fillier, Tereza Vanisova belongs in the conversation for the PHWL's Top Forward and MVP.
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SDHL Offseason Shuffle Continues: Some Teams Facing Challenges
The SDHL offseason is underway. Färjestad, HV71 and Luleå each face different challenges in securing their top players, and building toward next season.
Färjestad
Having qualified for the SDHL in a thrilling playoff series against incumbents Leksand, FBK’s management now have a monumental task ahead of them: building a team that can remain in the top league long term. Tough decisions will certainly need to be made, as at least some of the players who helped the team win promotion simply do not have SDHL speed and will need to be replaced. The team’s GM, Emma Murén, was also their top scorer in 2024/25, and tallied 60 points in 25 games. The 27-year-old represented Sweden at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, and obviously has gas left in her tank, but will she elect to play again? Färjestad’s biggest challenge may be complying with the SDHL’s import rules. 16 foreign-born players suited up for FBK last season, and though some may qualify as “Swedish homegrown” due to having played junior hockey in the country, the top league is rumoured to be reducing the number of permitted rostered imports to nine (from the previous 12). Re-signing star Canadians Amanda Rampado and Alli Borrow should be Murén’s top priority in the weeks ahead.
HV71
HV71 had an interesting season, one punctuated by the loss of key players for extended periods, a total lack of secondary scoring, and defensive challenges that would grey the hair of even the most experienced coach. There were some bright spots, of course: young captain Elin Svensson had a career-best season, and notched 31 points in 35 games. American power forward Julia Nearis stood out with her hard-nosed play, and registered the team’s best plus/minus. Defenders Teghan Inglis and Jenna Raunio played the lion’s share of HV’s toughest minutes and generated offense from an otherwise anaemic back end. But Raunio and forward Hilda Svensson, the squad’s second-leading scorer, are leaving for Ohio State next season. Elin Svensson, Nearis, Inglis, spark plug Kennedy Bobyck and assistant captain Kajsa Armborg have yet to re-sign. Canadian Rachel Weiss is unlikely to be offered a new contract after a disappointing season that saw her register only 8 points and a minus 20 in 35 games. HV’s management needs to address both its top end and its depth if this team is to remain in the SDHL long term. Rumoured financial struggles will not make things easy.
Luleå
After an astonishing run of six straight championships, Luleå were finally toppled by Frölunda, and now appear to be a team in flux. Only days after their Game 3 loss, the team announced the departures of goaltender Frida Axell (to Rögle of the NDHL), forward Reece Hunt, and star winger Viivi Vainikka who immediately signed with Brynäs. Starting goaltender Sara Grahn has a year left on her current contract, but at 36 has begun to show some wear and tear. She will potentially be backed up by youngster Lovisa Lundström, who has put together a series of strong seasons in the NDHL and won silver with Team Sweden at the 2024 U-18 World Championships. Stars Jenni Hiirikoski, Petra Nieminen and Sarah Bujold are locked in for the coming season, and Jaycee Magwood signed a two-year extension in January. Questions remain for other big names: Emma Nordin, Linnéa Johansson, Nadia Mattivi, Akane Shiga and Johanna Fällman are all reportedly speaking to the club but have yet to re-sign. Whether LHF will attempt to extend imports Camryn Wong and Savannah Norcross remains to be seen. Luleå’s reliance on imports this season might be concerning: 10 of the team’s top 12 scorers were not Swedish, and only two Swedes tallied more than 7 points across the entire 2024-25 campaign. It will be interesting to see if the club places more emphasis on promoting from within next season.
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Desperation Kicks In As Sirens Shutout Victoire
With the season on the line, the New York Sirens entered Place Bell Tuesday night knowing they could stave off elimination with a win against the top-seeded Montreal Victoire. Fortune favoured the visiting team, as they triumphed 1-0.
It was a goal from Sirens forward, and former McGill University Martlet, Jade Downie-Landry that proved to be the difference maker for New York. It started with a hit to the head executed by Victoire defender Kati Tabin on the Sirens’ Jessie Eldridge. Tabin was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct, cueing up an opportunity for the visiting team to pounce. With mere seconds remaining in the first period, Downie-Landry collected the puck off the draw and wired home the games’ sole goal over Elaine Chuli’s shoulder.
“It was one of those goals where the faceoff was perfect,” explained Downie-Landry in French postgame. “I have to give credit to my centre Gabby [Rosenthal].”
The Sirens headed into the game leading the league with 29.19 shots per game, and mustered another 31 toward Chuli on Tuesday. On the other end of the ice, Corinne Schroeder stopped all 16 shots faced, merriting a shutout and third star of the game honours.
The win helps New York stay alive. The New York Sirens remain at the bottom of the PWHL standings and the odds of making the PWHL playoffs is not on their side. The win, however, was all the motivation the team needed to accomplish a feisty victory against Montreal.
“You can’t replicate desperation,” said Victoire forward Kristin O’Neill after the game. “But we also have confidence in us. We are at the top of the standings, and we try to use that every game.”
With the loss, Montreal has dropped four of their last five games. They remain the only team to clinch a playoff spot, and the focus after the game was on the positives rather than the negatives.
“Chuli was amazing, our penalty kill was great, our power play had good looks,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie before pointing out what she felt was the weakest aspect from her team’s performace. “I thought we gave away the second period, so we basically wasted 20 minutes of the game.”
Montreal will now have a lengthy pause until the next game on April 26 with players leaving for the World Championships. When the Victoire do return, it will be in Ottawa against the Charge.
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