Sandra Abstreiter has spent the first three seasons of PWHL playoff in a support role. The German netminder however, is eyeing the opportunities that will come with expansion as she's "open to anything" if it means getting more time in the crease.
Sandra Absteiter has been patiently biding her time, waiting for the right opportunity in the PWHL.
She spent the inaugural PWHL season in Ottawa. She appeared in three games that season, but started only one, a 43-save shootout loss.
In year two, Abstreiter signed in Montreal, but served as the team's third goalie buried behind Ann-Renee Desbiens and Elaine Chuli.
During her most recent season, that culminated in a Walter Cup title with the Montreal Victoire, Abstreiter started a career-high five games, earning her first career win, and first shutout while posting a 2.62 GAA and .905 save percentage. She also appeared in five games representing Germany at the 2026 Olympics.
Now, the long time German national team member is hoping for more, and open to anything if it means more playing time in the PWHL. She enters the expansion team as a free agent.
"It's not entirely clear yet what everything will look like, but my goal is definitely to stay in the PWHL. I'm very positive about it," Abstreiter said in a translated interview with the German Ice Hockey Federation. "Of course, I also hope to get more playing time personally. Plus, four new teams are joining the league, which is definitely a great opportunity for me. Talks will start in early to mid-June. I'm a free agent, which means I can talk to all the teams and I'm open to anything. Then we'll see what happens and where I end up. That's exactly what makes the coming period incredibly exciting."
The PWHL rapidly expanded this offseason with four new teams in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose. It will open 12 new goaltending positions as each team in the PWHL is required to carry three goalies.
Abstreiter will certainly be in the running for a bigger role. She was 13th among PWHL goaltenders this season, in what will now be a 12-team league, in terms of minutes played. There will be competition, including from other international netminders like Switzerland's Andrea Brändli and Saskia Maurer, and Russia's Daria Gredzen, as well as NCAA goalies like Tia Chan, who will all enter the league via the 2026 Draft.
With Walter Cup celebrations ongoing in Montreal, Abstreiter isn't looking too far ahead, although the PWHL expansion process will begin on June 2. After she figures out where she will be next season, whether it's back in Montreal or in a new PWHL market, Abstreiter is looking forward to a summer off and the season ahead.
"Now it's time for a well-deserved summer break. I'm really looking forward to it. At the same time, I'm also extremely excited for the upcoming season."