“If there’s no spot available, I’ll make one" - Veillette, Isbell Continue Quest For Contracts

Audrey-Ann Veillette and Sam Isbell know they're fighting uphill battles against the odds and numbers, but both are committed to doing everything they can to make a roster spot with Ottawa, even if one doesn't currently exist.

Two players linked to Montreal for many years now, who were signed to Ottawa last season, Audrey-Ann Veillette and Samantha Isbell, were invited back to Ottawa’s training camp for the upcoming season. And according to GM Michael Hirshfeld, both will get the opportunity to make the team.

Audrey-Ann Veillette was selected by Ottawa in the 15th round of the 2023 PWHL draft, even though the team knew she was injured. She was let go at the end of the camp because she was not able to play. Then, during the last few months of the season, she was signed as a reserve player.

“When she started skating in March or April, we really wanted her back,” said Hirshfeld, in Verdun this week for the PWHL minicamp. “We really liked her when we drafted her, we really liked what she brought to the club house, we like her as a person, so we wanted to give her the opportunity to rehab with us.”

Veillette, 23, worked hard ever since. And she feels stronger and better than ever.

“I was lucky because we had a long off-season, so it gave me a lot of time to practise,” said Veillette. “And at the 21.02 Centre, we had a lot of players and we were able to play five-on-five, game situations that I don’t usually do during an off-season. It allowed me to come back to game shape.”

Among Veillette’s skills when she played with the Montreal Carabins in the RSEQ was her shot and her speed. She’s a prototypical power forward. Because of her knee injury, getting her speed back could have been an issue for her, but it doesn’t seem to be the case.

“Everyone is fast here, so it’s always a matter of what you do with and without the puck,” she said. “But I don’t feel like I’m behind. I worked hard in rehab and in my preparation for the camp, so to be honest, I feel good!”

Veillette got the green light to play to the fullest of her capacity from her medical team at the end of September, right on time for the training camp.

“We are excited to see her at full speed, which she is now,” said Hirshfeld. “Her skill set is great, her speed out there is great, so we think there’s a player there who can play in this league.”

Although the team has 12 forwards signed to a contract, four of them are non-guaranteed, something that Michael Hirshfeld is making sure his team understands.

“Even though players have a contract, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be on the team. And we were really clear about that from the beginning. You have to come and earn a spot on the team and compete out there. We are open-minded, there are no decisions made. Just because you have a one-year non-guaranteed contract doesn’t mean you’ll be on the team. And these two preseason games will give us an indication of who’s going to be on the team. We wanted a competitive camp and that’s what we have.”

That’s all noise for Veillette though, who doesn’t mind how many players are signed or how many players are at the training camp.

“If there’s no spot available, I’ll make one. That’s my mentality right now. I’m coming to camp to make the team.”

Samantha Isbell might have been born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, but her home away from home is definitely Montreal. After graduating from Mercyhurst University, the 26-year-old played for Montreal when the PWHPA organized a league during the pandemic. Then, she played for the Montreal Force in the PHF, as well as training in Montreal during the summer.

Last season, she signed a reserve player contract with Boston, playing three games there before being signed by Ottawa in March, where she ended up adding seven more games to her record.

Usually a forward, she’s now used as a defence player with the Charge, a situation that can be explained by the number of D-players available.

“We really feel that there’s a shortage of defenders in the league,” said GM Hirshfeld. “We really like what Sam brought to the club house last year. She could be a jack-of-all trades for us. She may play a bit of forward, she may play a bit of D, and that’s how she’s going to make the team, being able to play at both ends. She could be an ace out of our sleeves.”

Isbell has played at the blueline before, but it was some time ago.

“I played a bit of D growing up and then I played there in my senior year of college. And going into pro, my first year, I was kind of back and forth a bit. But yeah, it's been a few years.”

Transitioning from forward to full-time defence player could be nerve-wracking, especially when you try to earn a contract. But Isbell doesn’t seem to be too stressed about it.

“I mean, I can pretty much adapt to anything. And as a forward transitioning into defence kind of gives you an advantage too. Like you don't always have to be skating backwards as a defence, right? So, I think I do have a little bit of an edge going into this because I can use my forward knowledge to my advantage. I know I've been feeling pretty good about that and it has not been too big of an adjustment so far.”

And like her teammate, there’s nothing she can do about the number of spots available on the team, other than work hard and do her best.

“I mean, obviously it's not an easy thing, but it's kind of what I signed up for. I had a meeting with Mike back when he invited me to camp and he said it's not going to be easy and I said I was up for the challenge. So, I knew what I was getting into coming in here. It hasn't been anything less than that and I'm still happy to be here and grateful for the opportunity. I’m just making sure that I work hard, show up every day ready to go and that's what I've been doing.”

Ottawa plays this afternoon against Boston and tomorrow, against Montreal.