2025–26 PWHL season

2025–26 PWHL season
LeagueProfessional Women's Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of games30
Number of teams8
TV partner(s)CBC, TSN, Sportsnet
Draft
Top draft pickKristýna Kaltounková
Picked byNew York Sirens

The 2025–26 PWHL season is the upcoming third season of operation of the Professional Women's Hockey League. Eight teams will compete during the season. The inaugural six teams are located in Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. They will be joined this season by expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver.

League business

Front office changes

Front office changes
Off–season
Team Previous general manager New general manager Notes
PWHL Seattle — Meghan Turner On May 21, 2025 the PWHL named Meghan Turner as general manager for the Seattle team. She was previously an assistant general manager for the Boston Fleet.[2][3]
PWHL Vancouver — Cara Gardner Morey On May 23, 2025 PWHL Vancouver announced that Cara Gardner Morey would be appointed as the club's first general manager.[4]

Coaching changes

Coaching changes
Off–season
Team Previous coach New coach Notes
PWHL Seattle — Steve O'Rourke On June 20, 2025 PWHL Seattle named O'Rourke their first head coach. He most recently served as the head coach for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League.[5]
PWHL Vancouver — Brian Idalski On June 23, 2025 PWHL Vancouver named Idalski as their first head coach. He most recently served as head coach for the St. Cloud State Huskies women's ice hockey program in the NCAA, and coached the China women's national ice hockey team at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[6]
Boston Fleet Courtney Kessel TBA On June 23, 2025 Kessel was named head coach of the NCAA's Princeton Tigers women's ice hockey program, stepping away from the Fleet. She previously served as an assistant coach for the Tigers under Cara Gardner Morey, who relinquished her role to become the inaugural general manager of PWHL Vancouver.[7]


Transactions

Draft

Main article: 2025 PWHL Draft

The 2025 PWHL Draft was held on June 24, 2025.[1] Colgate University forward Kristýna Kaltounková was selected first overall by the New York Sirens, becoming the highest drafted player from the Czech Republic and the first European to be granted the top pick.[8]

Due to the additions of the Vancouver and Seattle teams, an expansion draft was held on June 9, 2025.[9]

Free agency

Free agent signings
Date Player New team Previous team Ref
June 4, 2025 Claire Thompson[a] Vancouver Minnesota Frost [10]
Sophie Jaques[a] Vancouver Minnesota Frost [11]
June 5, 2025 Hilary Knight[a] Seattle Boston Fleet [12]
Emerance Maschmeyer[a] Vancouver Ottawa Charge [13]
Danielle Serdachny[a] Seattle Ottawa Charge [14]
Cayla Barnes[a] Seattle Montreal Victoire [15]
Sarah Nurse[a] Vancouver Toronto Sceptres [16]
Jennifer Gardiner[a] Vancouver Montreal Victoire [17]
June 6, 2025 Alex Carpenter[a] Seattle New York Sirens [18]
Corinne Schroeder[a] Seattle New York Sirens [19]
June 16, 2025 Hannah Miller Vancouver Toronto Sceptres [20]
June 17, 2025 Michela Cava Vancouver Minnesota Frost [21]
Tereza Vanišová Vancouver Ottawa Charge [21]
Elaine Chuli Toronto Sceptres Montreal Victoire [22]
Claire Dalton Toronto Sceptres Montreal Victoire [22]
Shiann Darkangelo Montreal Victoire Ottawa Charge [23]
Mariah Keopple Seattle Montreal Victoire [24]
Mellissa Channell-Watkins Vancouver Minnesota Frost [25]
Emma Greco Vancouver Boston Fleet [25]
Hayley Scamurra Montreal Victoire Toronto Sceptres [26]
Lexie Adzija Seattle Boston Fleet [27]
June 18, 2025 Natalie Snodgrass Seattle Ottawa Charge [28]
Jincy Roese New York Sirens Ottawa Charge [29]
Chloé Aurard Boston Fleet New York Sirens [30]
Liz Schepers Boston Fleet Minnesota Frost [30]
June 19, 2025 Élizabeth Giguère Ottawa Charge New York Sirens [31]
Jessica DiGirolamo Montreal Victoire Boston Fleet [32]
June 20, 2025 Mikyla Grant-Mentis Seattle Montreal Victoire [33]
Maggie Flaherty Montreal Victoire Minnesota Frost [34]
Zoe Boyd Boston Fleet Ottawa Charge [35]
Rylind MacKinnon Boston Fleet Toronto Sceptres [35]
Abbey Levy Boston Fleet New York Sirens [35]
Sidney Morin Minnesota Frost Boston Fleet [36]
Jade Downie-Landry Montreal Victoire New York Sirens [37]
Gabby Rosenthal Vancouver New York Sirens [38]
Brooke Hobson Ottawa Charge New York Sirens [39]
Laura Kluge Boston Fleet Toronto Sceptres [40]
June 21, 2025 Savannah Norcross New York Sirens Luleå HF (SDHL) [41]
Emma Bergesen Ottawa Charge SDE Hockey (SDHL) [42]
June 23, 2025 Clair DeGeorge Toronto Sceptres Montreal Victoire [43]

Contract extensions/terminations

Player contract extensions
Date Player Team Duration Ref
June 16, 2025 Kati Tabin Montreal Victoire Two years [44]
Natalie Buchbinder Minnesota Frost Two years [45]
June 17, 2025 Susanna Tapani Boston Fleet One year [46]
Natalie Spooner Toronto Sceptres Two years [47]
Jesse Compher Toronto Sceptres Two years [47]
Maddie Rooney Minnesota Frost Three years [48]
Jill Saulnier Boston Fleet One year [49]
Theresa Schafzahl Boston Fleet One year [49]
June 18, 2025 Taylor Girard New York Sirens One year [50]
Maggie Connors Toronto Sceptres One year [51]
Rebecca Leslie Ottawa Charge Two years [52]
Taylor House Ottawa Charge One year [52]
June 19, 2025 Sandra Abstreiter Montreal Victoire One year [53]
Kali Flanagan Toronto Sceptres One year [54]
Catherine Dubois Montreal Victoire One year [55]
June 20, 2025 Jessica Kondas Toronto Sceptres One year [56]
Lauren Bernard New York Sirens One year [57]
Kayla Vespa New York Sirens One year [57]
June 22, 2025 Mae Batherson Minnesota Frost Two years [58]
Claire Butorac Minnesota Frost One year [58]
June 27, 2025 Katy Knoll Minnesota Frost One year [59]
Hadley Hartmetz Boston Fleet One year [60]
July 8, 2025 Kaitlin Willoughby Montreal Victoire One year [61]

Trades

June 24, 2025 To New York Sirens
1st round pick – 2025 PWHL Draft
(#3 – Casey O'Brien)
4th round pick – 2025 PWHL Draft
(#27 – Maddi Wheeler) 		To Toronto Sceptres
Ella Shelton 		[62]
To PWHL Vancouver
Kristen Campbell
3rd round pick – 2025 PWHL Draft
(#19 – Nina Jobst-Smith) 		To Toronto Sceptres
2nd round pick – 2025 PWHL Draft
(#16 – Kiara Zanon)
3rd round pick – 2025 PWHL Draft
(#23 – Clara Van Wieren) 		[63]
To New York Sirens
Kristin O'Neill
4th round pick – 2025 PWHL Draft
(#28 – Callie Shanahan) 		To Montreal Victoire
Abby Roque 		[64]


Retirements

Player retirements
Date Player Team Ref
June 1, 2025 Victoria Bach Ottawa Charge [65]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Signed with expansion team during June 4–8 exclusive signing window.

References

  1. ^ a b "2025 PWHL Draft To Be Held June 24 In Ottawa". Professional Women's Hockey League. April 15, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will be Official Host
  2. ^ "Meghan Turner Named General Manager of PWHL Seattle". Professional Women's Hockey League. May 21, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  3. ^ "Meghan Turner named GM of PWHL Seattle expansion franchise". ESPN. Associated Press. May 21, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  4. ^ "PWHL Vancouver Names Cara Gardner Morey as General Manager". Professional Women's Hockey League. May 23, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Ian (June 20, 2025). "PWHL Seattle Names Steve O'Rourke First Head Coach In Franchise History". TheHockeyNews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  6. ^ "PWHL Vancouver names Brian Idalski as first ever head coach". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  7. ^ "Courtney Kessel leaves PWHL's Boston Fleet to coach Princeton". ESPN. Associated Press. June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  8. ^ Donkin, Karissa (June 24, 2025). "New York Sirens pick Czech forward Kristýna Kaltounková 1st overall in PWHL draft". CBC Sports. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  9. ^ Kennedy, Ian (May 19, 2025). "PWHL Unveils Expansion Draft Rules". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "PWHL Vancouver signs Claire Thompson to one-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  11. ^ "PWHL Vancouver signs Sophie Jaques to three-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  12. ^ "PWHL Seattle signs Hilary Knight to one-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  13. ^ "PWHL Vancouver signs Emerance Maschmeyer to two-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  14. ^ "PWHL Seattle signs Danielle Serdachny to two-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  15. ^ "PWHL Seattle signs Cayla Barnes to three-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  16. ^ "PWHL Vancouver signs Sarah Nurse to one-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  17. ^ "Jenn Gardiner signs with hometown PWHL Vancouver". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "PWHL Seattle signs Alex Carpenter to one-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  19. ^ "PWHL Seattle signs Corinne Schroeder to two-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  20. ^ "Hannah Miller signs three-year deal with hometown PWHL Vancouver". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  21. ^ a b "PWHL Vancouver signs forwards Michela Cava and Tereza Vanišová". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Elaine Chuli and Claire Dalton join Toronto Sceptres on one-year deals". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  23. ^ "Montréal signs forward Shiann Darkangelo". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  24. ^ Kennedy, Ian (June 17, 2025). "Mariah Keopple next to head west, signs with Seattle". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  25. ^ a b "PWHL Vancouver signs defenders Mellissa Channell-Watkins and Emma Greco". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  26. ^ "Montréal signs forward Hayley Scamurra". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  27. ^ "Lexie Adzija signs two-year deal with PWHL Seattle". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  28. ^ "Natalie Snodgrass signs one-year deal with PWHL Seattle". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  29. ^ "New York Sirens sign defender Jincy Roese to one-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Fleet continue adding offense, signing Chloé Aurard and Liz Schepers". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  31. ^ "Ottawa Charge sign former Patty Kazmaier Award winner Élizabeth Giguère". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  32. ^ "Montréal adds Jessica DiGirolamo to blue line". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  33. ^ "Mikyla Grant-Mentis signs two-year deal with PWHL Seattle". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  34. ^ "Montréal adds two-time Walter Cup champion Maggie Flaherty to roster". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  35. ^ a b c "Fleet sign Zoe Boyd, Rylind MacKinnon and Abbey Levy". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  36. ^ "Minnesota Frost sign defender Sidney Morin to a two-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  37. ^ "Forward Jade Downie-Landry returns home to Montréal". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  38. ^ "PWHL Vancouver signs forward Gabby Rosenthal". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  39. ^ "Ottawa Charge sign veteran defender Brooke Hobson". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  40. ^ "Fleet sign forward Laura Kluge". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  41. ^ "Savannah Norcross returns to New York signing one-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  42. ^ "Ottawa Charge sign Norwegian defender Emma Bergesen". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 21, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  43. ^ "Toronto Sceptres and Clair DeGeorge agree to one-year deal". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  44. ^ "Montréal Victoire re-sign defender Kati Tabin to a two-year deal". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  45. ^ "Minnesota Frost re-sign defender Natalie Buchbinder to a two-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  46. ^ "Fleet announce contract extension for Susanna Tapani". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  47. ^ a b "Toronto Sceptres reach contract extension with Natalie Spooner and Jesse Compher". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  48. ^ "Minnesota Frost sign goaltender Maddie Rooney to a three-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  49. ^ a b "Fleet reach contract extentions with Saulnier and Schafzahl". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  50. ^ "New York Sirens re-sign forward Taylor Girard to a one-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  51. ^ "Toronto Sceptres and Maggie Connors reach contract extension". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  52. ^ a b "Ottawa Charge re-sign forwards Rebecca Leslie and Taylor House". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  53. ^ "Sandra Abstreiter to remain in Montréal". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  54. ^ "Toronto Sceptres and Kali Flanagan reach contract extension". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  55. ^ "Catherine Dubois returns to Montréal Victoire for season three". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  56. ^ "Toronto Sceptres sign Jess Kondas to one-year deal". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  57. ^ a b "New York re-signs Lauren Bernard and Kayla Vespa to one-year contracts". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  58. ^ a b "Minnesota Frost re-sign Mae Batherson and Claire Butorac". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 22, 2025. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  59. ^ "Minnesota Frost re-sign forward Katy Knoll to one-year contract". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 27, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  60. ^ "Fleet reach contract extension with Hadley Hartmetz". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 27, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  61. ^ "Montréal Victoire Bring Back Forward Kaitlin Willoughby For 2025–26 Season". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  62. ^ "Toronto Sceptres and New York Sirens complete trade at PWHL Draft". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  63. ^ "PWHL Vancouver and Toronto Sceptres complete trade at PWHL Draft". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  64. ^ "New York Sirens trade Abby Roque to Montréal - Receive forward Kristin O'Neill". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  65. ^ Kennedy, Ian (June 1, 2025). "Victoria Bach Announces Her Retirement From Hockey". The Hockey News. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.