Predicting Each PWHL Team's Captain

Each PWHL team is closing in on the 23 player roster required to open the inaugural 2024 PWHL season. With that, teams will also begin looking at leadership options on their teams to help guide those clubs forward, and to serve as faces for the franchises.

While the three original signings for each team might provide some insight, some teams may deviate away from that plan based on who steps forward in the preseason.

Here's a look at who could wear the captain's "C" and other possible captains for each PWHL team.

She captained Team USA to gold at the most recent World Championship, and it seems likely that Hilary Knight will captain PWHL Boston. Knight is one of the all-time greats in the game, and although she's in the twilight of her career, she's the likely choice on a three-year guaranteed contract to serve as Boston's first captain. Behind Knight will be a group of veterans and young stars capable of leading. Canada's Jamie Lee Rattray and USA's Megan Keller are logical assistant captains in Boston, but veteran forwards Shiann Darkangelo, who captained the Toronto Six to an Isobel Cup title last year could provide a good connection to the rest of the roster. She's one of the most respected leaders in professional women's hockey, and will be a cohesive presence in the locker room. The Pick: Hilary Knight

Before Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield was captain of Team USA, and as one of the PWHPA's leaders, she's likely to take the same role in Minnesota. Lee Stecklein and Kelly Pannek, who were the other two players Minnesota signed prior to the draft are likely assistants. Beyond this group, Minnesota could give a leadership role to their franchise future in Taylor Heise, or mix it up by leaning on the veteran presence of Susanna Tapani who will bring a different voice and approach to the mix. While there shouldn't be an issue with all captains coming from Team USA, offering a different perspective who has experienced another approach to the game in recent years would make sense via Tapani. The Pick: Kendall Coyne Schofield

Marie-Philip Poulin, end of discussion. Captain Canada will be captain Montreal as well, and there's no better leader in the game than Poulin, who can single handedly lift a team on her shoulders and is always pushing those around her to be better. Poulin is also one of the most respected people in the game, serving as a positive voice in women's hockey, who has never been part of the divisiveness. Perhaps no team has more options to support their captain than Montreal, as Erin Ambrose, Laura Stacey, Jillian Dempsey, Ann-Sophie Bettez, and Kristin O'Neill all jump to mind as potential leaders. Add in Kennedy Marchment for good measure, and this team should have no problem remaining motivated and calm under pressure. The Pick: Marie-Philip Poulin

From perhaps the most certain team in Montreal, to the most uncertain team in New York, leadership options are varied in New York, but there is no clear captain. Alex Carpenter, Abby Roque, and Ella Shelton are probably the three most likely candidates, followed closely by other national team members Jaime Bourbonnais and Micah Zandee-Hart. The most natural leader in New York's camp remains unsigned. That person, Madison Packer, would be an ideal assistant captain with years of experience captaining the Metropolitan Riveters and helping to build a positive culture on and off the ice. No player on the ice with New York is better suited to the role. Also in contention for leadership roles would be veterans Jill Saulnier and Jessie Eldridge. The Pick: Alex Carpenter

Ottawa has a lot of interesting candidates for this role. Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark will get the most consideration from a public standpoint, but it's not where Ottawa's leadership ends. In fact, as time progresses, this team has several candidates who could take on new roles. Among those players are defenders Savannah Harmon and Jincy Roese-Dunne, as well as Aneta Tejralova, who is the captain of Czechia's national team. Tejralova is a player that coach Carla MacLeod trusts. Other players who could find a letter on their shirts include Hayley Scamurra and Gabbie Hughes, a player the Ottawa organization is extremely high on. The Pick: Brianne Jenner.

There are many veteran presences in Toronto, but Blayre Turnbull is a likely leader due to her two-way contributions, and reputation as a positive player for the sport. Renata Fast, Sarah Nurse, Jocelyne Larocque, and Natalie Spooner fill out an impressive veteran core, while Toronto might also put into play a succession plan giving an "A" to someone like Emma Maltais or Jesse Compher. The Pick: Blayre Turnbull.