The league completes its third phase of expansion, in which each of the eight existing teams protects three additional players.
Phase 3 of the PWHL's Expansion Player Distribution Process is officially over, as the deadline has passed and all eight existing teams have finalized their last round of protections. Here's the breakdown:
Boston Fleet protects forwards Shay Maloney, Abby Newhook and Susanna Tapani. Newhook received a qualifying offer during Phase 3, and rights are protected, while Tapani re-signed on a two-year contract.
Minnesota Frost protected defenders Sidney Morin and Lee Stecklein, as well as forward Grace Zumwinkle, the latter two of whom received contract extensions earlier in the day.
Montréal Victoire protected defenders Maggie Flaherty and Kati Tabin, as well as forward Lina Ljungblom. Flaherty had also re-signed with the team earlier this week.
New York Sirens protected defenders Jaime Bourbonnais, Maja Nylén Persson and Micah Zandee-Hart.
Ottawa Charge protected forwards Gabbie Hughes, Fanuza Kadirova and Sarah Wozniewicz.
Seattle Torrent protected forward Julia Gosling, who received a two-year contract extension, as well as Mikyla Grant-Mentis and Danielle Serdachny
Toronto Sceptres protected defender Kali Flanagan, who re-signed earlier this week, as well as forwards Emma Gentry and Natalie Spooner.
Vancouver Goldeneyes protected forwards Izzy Daniel and Jenn Gardiner, who both received contract extensions, and Hannah Miller.
Nine players signed with expansion teams during Phase 3, including Sydney Bard and Taylor Girard with PWHL Detroit, Zoe Boyd with PWHL Hamilton, Megan Carter, Nicole Hensley and Maureen Murphy with PWHL Las Vegas and Maggie Connors, Hadley Hartmetz and Mariah Keopple with PWHL San Jose.
Next up in the expansion process is Phase 4, which begins on June 14 at 12:00 pm EST and runs until June 15 at 3:00 p.m. EST. This phase will see the expansion teams build rosters to a total of 10 players ahead of the PWHL Draft. PWHL Hamilton will need to add four players; PWHL Detroit must add three; and both PWHL Las Vegas and PWHL San Jose will add two additional players each, so that all expansion rosters reach a total of 10 players by the end of the phase.