‘I didn't really sit down for 48 hours’: Sophie Jaques on trade to PWHL Minnesota

Sophie Jaques said her trade was "out of the blue" and she was "in shock." It started a whirlwind 48 hours heading to a fresh start for the star blueliner with PWHL Minnesota.

Just 11 months ago, Sophia Jaques was named the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipient. En route to earning the award, she beat out Grace Zumwinkle and Taylor Heise — who she lost to in 2022 — during voting to widdle the finalists down from ten to three.

Jaques joined Alina Müller and Danielle Serdachny as the three finalists before winning in March. Now, after she went 10th overall to Boston in the PWHL Draft, she joins Heise and Zumwinkle in the State of Hockey after being a part of the first trade in PWHL history.

"It was out of the blue," Jaques said. "I had no idea that it was coming."

Boston's general manager, Danielle Marmer, was the one to phone Jaques and notify her of the trade, which sent her into a rush to get ready ahead of her looming flight.

"I was kind of just in shock and had a bunch of questions about how it would work," she said. "Just coming to the realization that my flight was in less than 24 hours after that, so just trying to get everything sorted out — I feel like I didn't really sit down for 48 hours."

With how quickly everything happened, Jaques has yet to have a chance to explore St. Paul, MN. All she’s had the chance to do is practice with her new team, play a game, and, most importantly, secure a place to stay thanks to one of two familiar faces on Minnesota's roster. The former Ohio State Buckeye is joining Clair DeGeorge and Liz Schepers, former teammates during her NCAA days.

"I don't think this transition would have been possible without them," Jaques said. "Liz Schepers, I'm currently staying with her at her house, which has been great to help ease things and also to have Clair around at the rink."

"The familiar faces just helped me feel more comfortable, and it's helped me get used to everything here."

While Jaques becomes comfortable with her new surroundings, her on-ice play in her Minnesota debut was a promising sign for the future. She slotted on the top pair alongside veteran defender Lee Stecklein, and the duo helped guide Minnesota to a 2-1 victory in their return from the Rivalry Series break.

"She is just such a great person and leader and gave me so much guidance and support throughout the game," Jaques said on Stecklein. "[She] just had a lot of confidence in me, and it was just a lot of fun to play with her."

Going forward, Jaques will continue to cherish the memories and friendships made during her brief stint in Boston while she tries to find balance in Minnesota following the trade.

"I think definitely just missing my teammates," Jaques said on what she will miss from her time in Boston. "My roommates that I had in Boston were great. And just to kind of have to leave everybody without really getting the chance to say goodbye was kind of hard."

"Definitely gonna miss them, but [I'm] excited for the future here."

While Jaques continues to settle in with her new teammates, there's a certain date on the calendar she is anticipating. Her former team is coming to Xcel Energy Center on February 25, giving her a proper chance to say goodbye to those with whom she kickstarted her PWHL career with.

"I'm looking forward to seeing everybody, and yeah, getting to see them will be fun."