Player movement is well underway across the PWHL with formal signings being announced. But with training camps quickly approaching, there is still a lot on the table.
There's a lot happening this week across the PWHL. In major news, six potential team names were discovered, and met with an interesting response from fans.
Camps are now just over two weeks away, and teams continue to build toward bringing their players together for the first time ever.
Here's what we're hearing from across the PWHL and women's hockey world this week.
Signings About To Come Fast And Furious
PWHL teams began announcing signings with Taylor Heise (Minnesota), Lexie Adzija (Ottawa), Sophie Jaques (Boston), and Jincy Roese-Dunne all inking contracts to add to the original 18 players signed by teams leading up to the draft.
According to sources within the league, there are dozens of players who have already signed across the league, although the PWHL's has decided to slowly release the signings one at a time.
There are other teams in the league however, who are primarily waiting until training camp opens to sign players.
Ottawa's Forward Group Continues To Evolve
It's believed Becca Gilmore will enter her first ever PWHL training camp under contract with Ottawa. Ottawa was aggressive in free agency knowing heading into the draft that Audrey-Anne Veillette would not be ready for camp, and potentially the season. They brought in the strongest group of free agent invites, a group that included Gilmore and many of the top undrafted players available. With three forward spots open exiting the draft, Ottawa might have a few more spots to fill, as there is at least one other forward currently considering their future in the league. One drafted player is weighing her options as she'd be forced to leave a better paying job away from the PWHL.
More Pre-Camp Signings In Boston?
In an earlier edition of PWHL Rumblings, we reported that Kaleigh Fratkin had been offered a contract as a free agent invite to Boston's camp. With the loss of Tatum Skaggs for the season due to personal reasons, Boston's forward situation also had room to add. Boston had an incredibly strong group of invites including several former Boston Pride forwards. If recent rumors hold true, it appears there will be one less forward spot open in Boston as sources state Boston has offered a contract to another free agent camp invite, Nicole Kosta. The 30-year-old Quinnipiac alumni spent the past four seasons playing with the PWHPA, last season recording eight points in 20 games for Team Scotiabank.
More News From China
Last week in PWHL Rumblings we reported that several players including Minttu Tuominen and Anna Kilponen were headed to China to play with Kunlun. Kilponen, however, has not been able to find an out from her contract, and will remain in Switzerland for the remainder of this season.
Joining Tuominen in Kunlun, however, will be Ryleigh Houston and Kaitlyn Tougas, who played for KRS Shenzhen last year. The list of North American and European players headed to China will almost certainly continue to grow as China's league is actively pursuing international talent and is offering contracts ranging from $60,000 to $100,000 USD, figures that are completely take home. Two other names from North American circles that have recently been tied to China's league are Kiana Wilkinson who played in Shenzhen last year, and USports and NCAA alumni Danielle Fox who played for Toronto Metropolitan University last season.
A big part of that future recruitment could come from former Metropolitan Riveters coach Ivo Mocek, who earlier this month announced his bid to join the PWHL had come to an end after interviewing for general manager and coaching roles with the league. It's rumored Mocek is the leading candidate to coach Kunlun, which if hired, he'd undoubtedly have pull in bringing more players to the league.
The new Chinese league will feature six teams, each allowing five import players. It's expected Chinese national team members, who recently earned promotion to the top division of the World Championships, will be scattered across the six teams.
The league could receive a further talent boost next season as four members of China's senior national team are currently NCAA seniors - Anna Segedi (St. Lawrence), Kasundra Betinol (Colgate), Anna Fairman (LIU), and Tia Chan (Connecticut). Depending how Leah Lum's tryout with PWHL Montreal turns out, if she does not earn a roster spot, the league may be another option for the Chinese national team standout, as she would not count as an import.
Camp Details Are Sparse, But Coming
The details of PWHL training camps are beginning to trickle out with some scheduled to start on November 14, while others won't start until November 15.
Most camps will open with medical testing, followed by multiple days of off-ice fitness testing and training before on-ice daily practices and scrimmages get underway.
The first training camp cut will need to occur prior to take place by November 29, when all PWHL teams are required to reduce their roster size to 27 players. Most teams, that will require only a minor cut, while teams like New York, who is bringing 15 free agent invites to camp will have a deeper cut occur. Final rosters will be due December 11.
While full camp rosters were released earlier this month, it's expected some names have changed, including players that have decided to not pursue a spot in the league.