PWHL Seattle and PWHL Vancouver have built impressive rosters through free agency, the expansion draft, and the 2025 PWHL Entry Draft.
Both teams stockpiled veteran stars from across the league building out rosters loaded with experience, both in the PWHL and internationally, coupled with budding prospects.
While both teams have players, there's still work to be done in developing chemistry, piecing together line combinations, and selecting their leadership groups.
Neither team has a shortage of candidates to wear the captain's "C" and as assistant captains. Here's a look at who PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle could select to lead their new rosters as team captain.
PWHL Seattle Has An Obvious Pick
Only one team captain was grabbed in the expansion process. That player was Boston Fleet captain and Team USA captain Hilary Knight. Knight is one of the most respected leaders in the game coupling a calm off-ice demeanour, fiercely competitive on-ice presence, and decades of elite experience.
It's hard to imagine PWHL Seattle not leaning on Knight to be their captain. The focus then, shifts to PWHL Seattle's selections to serve as assistant captains.
The decision for assistant captains is not as obvious. The team picked up several rookies like Danielle Serdachny, Julia Gosling Hannah Bilka, and Cayla Barnes who all have served leadership roles at the NCAA level, but not professionally. If there's one member of that group likely to get a letter on her jersey, it's Barnes. Another defender, Aneta Tejralova is a leading candidate as well. Tejralova is Czechia's national team captain and is one of the most respected players in the league on and off the ice.
Up front, veterans like Jessie Eldridge and Alex Carpenter could also get consideration.
Seattle could set a course for their future picking younger voices, or they could lean on the veterans in their lineup. After Knight, there's no right or wrong picks.
PWHL Vancouver Has An Abundance Of Options
While Seattle's pick looks obvious not only on the strength of Knight as a candidate, but also because of the lack of proven off-ice veteran leaders in their lineup, Vancouver sits at the other end of the spectrum.
Vancouver's roster is overflowing with veteran leaders, experience, and talent. Up front, players like Sarah Nurse, Hannah Miller, Michela Cava, and Michelle Karvinen all seem like appropriate picks to wear a letter on their shirt. On the blueline, the same could be said for Claire Thompson, Ashton Bell, or Sophie Jaques. There are more subtle selections on the roster like Mellissa Channell-Watkins and Denisa Krizova who would not be surprises as the team looks to build leadership from all corners of their roster.
The captains "C" seems more likely to go to Nurse, Miller, Cava, or Karvinen. All have an abundance of leadership, skill, and experience to bring to the table. If a defender gets a letter, Claire Thompson is the likely candidate to be an assistant.