The women's hockey world has gained a lot this offseason, but it's also lost dozens of players permanently. Here's a look at the top 10 players who will not be returning to the ice for 2023-2024.
The women's hockey world has gained a lot this offseason, but it's also lost dozens of players permanently. Here's a look at the top 10 players who will not be returning to the ice for 2023-2024.
With the shift in women's hockey this year from the PHF and PWHPA, to the singular PWHL, many players have moved on from the game. Some intended to do so regardless of what league or league's were planning to operate, others saw the writing on the wall, and still others took the changes as an opportunity to shift into coaching or another off-ice career.
Here's a countdown of some of the top women's hockey players not returning to the ice in 2023-2024:
1. Amanda Kessel - Whether this is permanent or temporary is yet to be seen, but Kessel will not play this season as she turns her focus to her new job as special assistant to president of hockey operations and general manager with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. Kessel has stated she will continue training for the PWHL, but will not play for USA this season. It's a year off ice, which could turn into more.
2. Rebecca Johnston - Johnston's departure is not surprising as she took a year away from the PWHPA in 2021-2022 and contemplated retirement at that point, but returned for another go around last season. She was impactful at the pro level, but was not herself with Canada at Worlds. Johnston has won gold at three Olympics and two World Championships, and was a CWHL MVP. She moves into her role within the NHL's Calgary Flames organization as one of Canada's top players over the last 15 years.
3. Jennifer Wakefield - We almost...finally saw Jennifer Wakefield's return to North America this year as it was rumored she'd be signing with the PHF's Toronto Six. When the PHF was acquired however, that plan went out the window, and Wakefield pivoted to coaching with the University of Ottawa GeeGees women's hockey program at the USports level. Wakefield's list of medals representing Canada, including gold at both the Olympics and World Championships, along with her other accolades is long, and she deserves recognition for her storied career.
4. Geneviève Lacasse - Many anticipated Lacasse, a former Team Canada netminder would grab one of the 12 roster spots available to goaltenders in the new PWHL, but instead, she chose to walk away from her playing career. Lacasse played in the PWHPA last season winning the Secret Cup with Team Harvey's. She has Olympic and World gold with Canada, and is a former CWHL Goaltender of the Year.
5. Meghan Mikkelson - If you miss Mikkelson, you can find her commentating on Calgary Flames games this season for Sportsnet. The defender played in the PWHPA last season and has multiple Olympic and World championship gold medals, won a pair of NCAA titles, and was twice named a World Championship All-Star.
6. Jonna Albers - Albers retires from the game as the third all-time leading scorer in PHF / NWHL history, and the fastest player to ever hit 100 points in the league. The 29-year-old did it all in a Minnesota Whitecaps uniform, outscoring teammates like Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein along the way. She was the NWHL Newcomer of the Year when she broke into the league, and finished her career as a PHF all-star last season.
7. Allie Thunstrom - Similar to Albers, Thunstrom was one of the top players ever to lace them up in the NWHL, spending five seasons with the Minnesota Whitecaps before joining the Boston Pride last year. Thunstrom was Minnesota's Ms. Hockey, won an NWHL MVP award and Foundation Award, and finished last season as a PHF all-star.
8. Brigette Lacquette - Another former Team Canada member, Lacquette spent her professional career with the Calgary Inferno and PWHPA. She won Olympic and World silver in a Team Canada uniform and was named Best Defender at the U-18 Worlds. Lacquette was also a role model for the Indigenous community throughout her career.
9. Katie Burt - Seeing any player leave the sport at age 26 is not ideal, especially one making the impact Burt has. Burt was signed to return to the PHF's Boston Pride for next season after backstopping the team to a 2022 Isobel Cup. She also won gold as Team USA's starter at the U-18 World Championships, and silver the year prior. Burt will serve as an assistant coach for Providence College this year.
10. Melissa Samoskevich - Samoskevich won gold at the World Championships with USA, and gold and silver at the U-18 Worlds representing her country. Since then she's played in Europe, the PWHPA, and for the past two seasons with the PHF's Connecticut Whale. Last season she also served as the Director of Hockey Operations for her alma mater Quinnipiac, and this year will serve as an assistant coach with Princeton.