12 PWHL players formally retired this offseason. Here's a look at their playing careers as we send them off into the next chapter, some in hockey, some not.

The inaugural season of the PWHL was the last for several notable players who retired after playing just one stint in the new league. Here’s a look at the 12 players who have announced their retirement from professional hockey.

Lauriane Rougeau, Toronto

It was expected that Rougeau would join the Sceptres for training camp in a tryout role, but instead, she announced her retirement to join the team in the role of Manager of Hockey Operations. The defensive defender played for Canada at the U18 and senior levels, and won gold with the national team in the 2012 World Championships as well as an Olympic gold in 2014 in Sochi. She starred at Cornell University, and then played five years in the CWHL. Her shining moment with the PWHL was no doubt the winning goal she scored in Montreal in the league’s first-ever shootout.

Gigi Marvin, Boston

A fan favorite for many years, Marvin was a bit of a surprise participant in the PWHL since she was 36 years old and had been semi-retired when the season began. She played her college hockey at Minnesota, and was part of the U.S. national team for 12 years–five world championships, Olympic silver medals in 2010 and 2014, and gold in 2018. When Marvin retired from USA Hockey in 2021, she finished her 13-year career having played 126 games, scoring 24 goals and 50 assists. Marvin played professionally with the CWHL’s Boston Blades, the NWHL’s Boston Pride and in the PWHPA. A Boston fixture, she spent 13 years with New England-based women’s pro hockey teams,

Sophia Kunin, Minnesota

It’s a bit of a surprise to see Kunin retire at the age of 27, when it appeared that she was a good fit with Minnesota. A native of the state, she moved to Wisconsin to play her college hockey, and won a national title in 2019 with the Badgers as senior captain of the team. Kunin also played in the PWHPA with Team Harvey’s winning the championship there in 2023. She was then drafted in the 10th round, 60th overall, by Minnesota, and had three points in 24 games.

Brittany Howard, Toronto

Among the first players to announce her retirement (in fact, stating her intent before the season ended), Howard moves on to a coaching position in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite girls’ organization with the U16 and U19 programs. She was a member of the Isobel Cup-winning Toronto Six before being drafted in the 8th round of the PWHL’s inaugural draft. She was named an all-star and led the Six in scoring in 2022-23.

Mélodie Daoust, Montreal

Probably the most-decorated player to play only one season in the PWHL, Daoust had starred with Team Canada, winning Olympic gold in 2014 and 2022, and silver in 2018. With the U18 team, Daoust tallied 10 goals and 23 points in 13 games. Her offensive prowess made her an important player not only with the national team, but with McGill University, the CWHL and the PWHPA. However, she signed as a reserve player for Montreal this past season due to her desire to be close to her son and to continue her coaching career at Collège Bourget (where she will now remain), and only played nine games.

Brigitte Laganière, Montreal

Laganière was signed by Montreal after trying out, and was able to stay in her hometown after a stellar career at Concordia University. There, she helped the team win a bronze and a gold medal at the USports National Championships. After graduation, she played with La Force de Montréal in the PHF. Laganière scored 58 points in 95 total games as a Stinger. Her role with the PWHL team increased when they suffered significant injuries on defense, and she ended up playing 17 games and all three playoff contests. Laganière will also joined Melodie Daoust at Collège Bourget.

Amanda Leveille, Minnesota

Leveille starred at the University of Minnesota, backing up the legendary Noora Räty in her first season, then backstopping the team to a national championship three times and finishing fifth in NCAA history for wins and sixth for shutouts. In 2015, she was drafted 12th overall by the Buffalo Beauts in the 2015 NWHL draft. There, she won the Isobel Cup in 2017, and was part of the championship Minnesota Whitecaps two years later. Leveille was drafted in the 11th round by the Minnesota Frost but didn’t see any game action.

Erica Howe, Toronto

Part of the trio of goalies that backstopped the league-leading Toronto Sceptres (along with Kristen Campbell and Carly Jackson), Howe only played three games but was lauded by teammates for her supportive role and positive presence during the season. Howe took a year off from her career as a firefighter to sign a one-year contract with Toronto. Fittingly, her first start was against Ottawa (she is from nearby Orléans). Her college career with Clarkson was stellar, including a win over the University of Minnesota 5–4 in the national championship game in 2014, as was her time with the Brampton Thunder in the CWHL.

Jess Jones, Toronto

Toronto’s reserve signee Jess Jones filled the role that was asked of her, and now wraps up her career after a solid run in the NCAA and CWHL. She also played in Belarus (the only Canadian on the roster) in the Elite Women's Hockey League after graduating from Mercyhurst. With the Brampton Thunder of the CWHL, Jones was a first-team all-star, and in 2016-17 tied for first in the league scoring race with 37 points and shared the Angela James Bowl with Marie-Philip Poulin.

Jess Healey, Boston

Edmonton native Healey retires after a solid career that saw her compete in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, three seasons in the SDHL with HV71, and one season with the PHF’s Buffalo Beauts. Healey brought a feisty competitive edge to every game she played and was an important role player on the team that went to the PWHL finals.

Brittyn Fleming, Minnesota

One season was enough for Fleming, who retires as a Walter Cup champion. She is a Minnesota success story, finishing as the career points and assists leader for the Minnesota State Mavericks, as well as having played the most games in school history. She signed with the PHF’s Minnesota Whitecaps after graduating in 2022, and after one season with the dissolution of that league, she joined Minnesota in the PWHL, signing as a free agent.

Becca Gilmore, Ottawa

Gilmore played with Team USA at one Women's World Championship, winning gold in 2023. She also played in three U18 tournaments, capturing silver in 2014 and gold in 2015 and 2016. Originally from Wayland, Massachusetts, she played at Harvard for four seasons (in her senior year, she had 45 points in 32 games), and then joined the Boston Pride of the PHF.