The PWHL announced the three players voted finalists for the league's Defender of the Year award including Boston Fleet blueliners Megan Keller and Haley Winn, and Vancouver Goldeneyes defender Sophie Jaques.
The PWHL has announced Sophie Jaques of the Vancouver Goldeneyes, and Megan Keller and Haley Winn of the Boston Fleet as the three finalists for the 2026 PWHL Defender of the Year.
According to the league, "The PWHL Defender of the Year award is presented to the defender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season."
Keller, the frontrunner for the award, captained the Boston Fleet to a second place finish this season, and led all PWHL defenders in scoring with 22 points. The mark tied the league's single-season record by a defender, equalling Renata Fast's mark from last season when she was named Defender of the Year. Keller also finished second in the PWHL in time-on-ice this season, trailing only her rookie defensive partner, Haley Winn.
Winn topped all players in the PWHL in time-on-ice averaging 26:45 per game. She also scored 19 points, third among defenders and the top among rookie defenders in the PWHL.
Jaques was second in the PWHL in defensive scoring this season with 20 points, and becomes the first player to receive nominations as a top-three finalist for PHWL Defender of the Year in consecutive seasons after being nominated for the award last year while a member of the Minnesota Frost. Her nine goals and 110 shots on goal were both PWHL single-season defensive records.
PWHL awards are voted on by a selection committee of media and league staff. The three players that received the most voting points for Defender of the Year have been named finalists.
Previous winners of the award include Montreal's Erin Ambrose, and Toronto's Renata Fast.
The 2026 PWHL Awards will be handed out in Detroit on June 16.