PWHL Transaction Tracker: Teams trim rosters to 27 ahead of evaluation camp

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is officially one month away from hitting the ice for its first official regular-season game, and rosters continue to take shape in training camps across all six markets.

This week brought the first cuts as each team trims its roster to 27 players, with the league announcing Thursday a total of 25 players released from their respective camps.

Among the cuts are 11 waiver-eligible players. These individuals can be claimed by another franchise with the intent to offer them a contract. Teams have until Dec. 2 (when this first waiver window closes) to claim a waiver-eligible player.

Also included on Thursday’s list of players released are 14 waiver-ineligible players. Per the CBA, a player is ineligible for the waiver period if they "receive and decline a Standard Player Agreement offer while attending a team’s Training Camp"; Players drafted by a team who leave camp without getting cut or those who do not show up at their team's training camp are also not eligible for waivers.

As of Friday, 95 players are under contract league-wide.

KEY LEAGUE DATES MOVING FORWARD

Dec. 2: End of first waiver window. Teams have until the end of the day to extend contracts to waiver-eligible players cut from other organizations.

Dec. 3-7: Pre-Season Evaluation Camp held for all six teams in Utica, New York. All six teams must bring and maintain a roster of 27 players.

Dec. 8-10: Second waiver window. Teams must trim rosters to 23 players. During this window, teams can extend contracts to waiver-eligible players cut from other organizations ahead of final rosters being announced.

Dec. 11: Final roster deadline. Teams must submit 23-player rosters, with all players under contract at this time. Additionally, teams must announce two players signed to reserve player contracts. Any drafted players unsigned or unclaimed as of Dec. 11 will revert to their original team's protected list.

Jan. 1, 2024: PWHL officially hits the ice for the first-ever regular-season game. (See the full schedule here.)

Here’s an overview of all six teams, including lists of all players signed, waived, and still vying for a roster spot.

TORONTO | No. of players signed: 15

Forwards under contract (10)

Sarah Nurse (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Blayre Turnbull, (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Maggie Connors (Two years) | Previous: NCAA Princeton

Rebecca Leslie (One year) | Previous: PWHPA

Emma Maltais (Three years) | Previous: NCAA Ohio State University

Jesse Compher (Two years) | Previous: Previous: PWHPA

Brittany Howard (One year) | Previous: PHF Toronto Six

Natalie Spooner (Two years) | Previous: PWHPA

Hannah Miller (One year) | Previous: ShenZhen Kunlun Red Stars

Alexa Vasko (One year) | Previous: PWHPA

Defenders under contract (4)

Renata Fast (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Jocelyne Larocque (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Allie Munro (One year) | Previous: PHF Connecticut Whale

Kali Flanagan (Two years) | Previous: PHF Boston Pride

Goaltenders under contract (2)

Kristen Campbell (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Erica Howe (One year) | Previous: PWHPA

Nov. 30 roster cuts (2): Morgan Wabick (F), Taylor Wabick (D)

Unsigned players on camp roster (11): Victoria Bach (F), Samantha Cogan (F), Jess Jones (F), Kaitlin Willougby (F), Mellissa Channell (D), Emma Keenan (D), Olivia Knowles (D), Jessica Kondas (D), Lauriane Rougeau (D), Carly Jackson (G), Amanda Mäkelä (G).

MONTREAL | No. of players signed: 15

Forwards under contract (9)

Marie-Philip Poulin (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Laura Stacey (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Kristin O’Neill (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Kennedy Marchment (Two years) | Previous: PHF Connecticut Whale

Jillian Dempsey (One year) | Previous: PHF Boston Pride

Claire Dalton (One year) | Previous: NCAA Yale

Ann-Sophie Bettez (One year) | Previous: PHF Montreal Force

Sarah Bujold (One year) | Previous: PHF Metropolitan Riveters

Maureen Murphy (Three years) | Previous: NCAA Northeastern

Defenders under contract (4)

Erin Ambrose (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Kati Tabin (Two years) | Previous: PHF Toronto Six

Dominika Lásková (Two years) | Previous: PHF Toronto Six

Mariah Keopple (One year) | Previous: NCAA Princeton

Goaltenders under contract (2)

Ann-Renee Desbiens (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Elaine Chuli (One year) | Previous: PHF Toronto Six

Nov. 30 roster cuts (5): Hanna Bunton* (F),Lina Ljungblom* (F), Brooke Stacey* (F), Marie-Soleil Deschênes (G), Blanka Škodová (G)

*Denotes player ineligible for waivers

Unsigned players on camp roster (12): Mélodie Daoust (F), Gabrielle David (F), Catherine Dubois (F), Sarah Lefort (F), Leah Lum (F), Alexandra Poznikoff (F), Tereza Vanišová (F), Madison Bizal (D), Catherine Daoust (D), Brigitte Laganière (D), Maude Poulin-Labelle (D), Marlène Boissonneault (G)

OTTAWA | No. of players signed: 17

Forwards under contract (9)

Emily Clark (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Brianne Jenner (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Lexie Adzija (One year) | Previous: NCAA Quinnipiac

Gabbie Hughes (Three years) | Previous: NCAA Minnesota-Duluth

Hayley Scamurra (Two years) | Previous: PWHPA

Daryl Watts (One year) | Previous: PHF Toronto Six

Kristin Della Rovere (One year) | Previous: NCAA Harvard

Becca Gilmore (One year) | Previous: PHF Boston Pride

Katerina Mrázová (One year) | Previous: PHF Connecticut Whale/SHL Färjestad BK

Defenders under contract (6)

Jincy Roese (Two years) | Previous: PWHPA

Zoe Boyd (One year) | Previous: NCAA Quinnipiac

Ashton Bell (Three years) | Previous: NCAA Minnesota-Duluth

Amanda Boulier (One year) | Previous: PHF Minnesota Whitecaps

Aneta Tejralová (One year) | Previous: PHF Boston Pride

Savannah Harmon (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Goaltenders under contract (2)

Emerance Maschmeyer (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Sandra Abstreiter (One year) | Previous: NCAA Providence

Nov. 30 roster cuts (6): Audrey-Anne Veillette (F), Caitrin Lonergan* (F), Cassidy Herman* (D), Saroya Tinker** (D), Kyra Willoughby* (D), Samantha Ridgewell (G)

*Denotes player ineligible for waivers

** Tinker announced her retirement from professional hockey prior to PWHL’s training camps opening.

Unsigned players on camp roster (10): Rosalie Demers (F), Fanni Garát-Gasparics (F), Mikyla Grant-Mentis (F), Liliane Perrault (F), Malia Schneider (F), Akane Shiga (F), Natalie Snodgrass (F), Taylor Davidson (D), Victoria Howran (D), Rachel McQuigge (G)

MINNESOTA | No. of players signed: 13

Forwards under contract (9)

Kendall Coyne Schofield (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Kelly Pannek (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Taylor Heise (Three years) | Previous: NCAA Minnesota

Grace Zumwinkle (Three years) | Previous: NCAA Minnesota

Brooke Bryant (One year) | Previous: NCAA Minnesota State

Sydney Brodt (One year) | Previous: PHF Minnesota Whitecaps

Susanna Tapani (Two years) | Previous: KRS Vanke Rays

Claire Butorac (Two years) | Previous: NCAA Minnesota State University-Mankato

Liz Schepers (One year) | Previous: PHF Minnesota Whitecaps

Defenders under contract (3)

Lee Stecklein (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Maggie Flaherty (Two years) | Previous: NCAA Minnesota-Duluth

Natalie Buchbinder (Two years) | Previous: NCAA Wisconsin

Goaltenders under contract (1)

Nicole Hensley (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Nov. 30 roster cuts (3): Catie Skaja* (F), Patti Marshall* (D), Minttu Tuominen* (D)

*Denotes player ineligible for waivers

Unsigned players on camp roster (14): Abigail Boreen (F), Michela Cava (F), Clair DeGeorge (F), Brittyn Fleming (F), Denisa Križová (F), Sophia Kunin (F), Abby Cook (D), Emma Greco (D), Dominique Kremer (D), Sidney Morin (D), Nikki Nightengale (D), Lauren Bench (G), Amanda Leveille (G), Maddie Rooney (G)

BOSTON | No. of players signed: 19

Forwards under contract (10)

Hilary Knight (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Alina Müller (Three years) | Previous: NCAA Northeastern University

Jamie Lee Rattray (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Theresa Schafzahl (Two years) | Previous: NCAA Vermont

Sophie Shirley (One year) | Previous: NCAA Wisconsin

Hannah Brandt (One year) | Previous: PWHPA

Taylor Girard (Two years) | Previous: PHF Connecticut Whale

Shiann Darkangelo (One year) | Previous: PHF Toronto Six

Loren Gabel (Two years) | Previous: PHF Boston Pride

Nicole Kosta (One year) | Previous: PHF Connecticut Whale

Defenders under contract (7)

Megan Keller (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Sophie Jaques (Three years) | Previous: NCAA Ohio State

Emma Buckles (One year) | Previous: PWHPA

Jess Healey (One year) | Previous: PHF Buffalo Beauts

Emily Brown (One year) | Previous: PWHPA

Kaleigh Fratkin (One year) | Previous: PHF Boston Pride

Jessica Digirolamo (Two years) | Previous: PWHPA

Goaltenders under contract (2)

Aerin Frankel (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Emma Söderberg (Two years) | Previous: NCAA Minnesota-Duluth

Nov. 30 roster cuts (2): Tatum Skaggs* (F), Lindsay Browning (G)

*Denotes player ineligible for waivers

Unsigned players on camp roster (8): McKenna Brand (F), Sammy Davis (F), Samantha Isbell (F), Gigi Marvin (F), Amanda Pelkey (F), Taylor Wenczkowski (F), Lauren MacInnis (D), Cami Kronish (G)

NEW YORK | No. of players signed: 16

Forwards under contract (10)

Abby Roque (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Alex Carpenter (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Jade Downie-Landry (One year) | Previous: PHF Montreal Force

Élizabeth Giguère (One year) | Previous: PHF Boston Pride

Kayla Vespa (One year) | Previous: PWHPA

Jessie Eldridge (Two years) | Previous: PWHPA

Emma Woods (One year) | Previous: PHF Toronto Six

Paetyn Levis (One year) | Previous: NCAA Ohio State

Alexandra Labelle (One year) | Previous: PHF Montreal Force

Chloé Aurard (Two years) | Previous: NCAA Northeastern

Defenders under contract (5)

Micah Zandee-Hart (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Ella Shelton (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Brooke Hobson (One year) | Previous: SDHL MoDo

Olivia Zafuto (One year) | Previous: PHF Boston Pride

Jaime Bourbonnais (Three years) | Previous: PWHPA

Goaltenders under contract (1)

Abbey Levy (One year) | Previous: NCAA Boston College

Nov. 30 roster cuts (7): Kelly Babstock (F), Kendall Cornine* (F), Bailey Larson* (F), Hayley Lunny* (F), Christine Deaudelin (D), Megan Eady (D), Kassidy Sauvé (G)

*Denotes player ineligible for waivers

Unsigned players on camp roster (11): Alexa Gruschow (F), Savannah Norcross (F), Madison Packer (F), Jill Saulnier (F), Taylor Baker (D), Emily Curlett (D), Johanna Fällman (D), Carley Olivier (D), Claire Thompson (D), Lindsey Post (G), Corinne Schroeder (G)