Latest news with #EmeranceMaschmeyer
National Post
29 minutes ago
- Sport
- National Post
PWHL expansion full of 'bittersweet feelings' for newly signed players
Jenn Gardiner is still in shock. Article content The former Montreal Victoire forward can't quite fathom that she'll soon be playing professional hockey in the city where she grew up. Article content Article content 'I really can't wrap my hand around the fact that there's actually a team at home and I get to be on it,' Gardiner said Friday, less than 24 hours after she signed with the Professional Women's Hockey League's new expansion team in Vancouver. Article content 'Honestly, I still can't believe that it's actually happening. I think there's just been so many little girls that I've heard from, that I work with, that I coach in the summer reach out. And that's just kind of just touching on the importance of this team in Vancouver.' Article content Gardiner is one of five players PWHL Vancouver inked to new deals during an exclusive expansion team signing window this week. Article content The club also picked up defender of the year candidates Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Minnesota Frost, former Ottawa Charge goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer and former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. Article content Nurse and Gardiner both experienced Vancouver's hunger for professional women's hockey when they played there during a 'Takeover Tour' stop in January. Article content More than 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for the game, and the crowd was dotted with signs crying for a permanent team in the city. Article content 'I've always been blown away by the amount of support and the real longing and wanting of professional women's hockey in the West Coast,' Nurse said. 'So I'm just excited that the time is now and we get to be the foundation of the future out west.' Article content Article content Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse.– was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. Article content Article content The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Article content 'It is such an honour to play in Toronto,' she said. 'To be able to see all the jerseys in the stands, to be able to see the signs and the messages that have been sent throughout my time in Toronto and also in the last few days has been bittersweet. … I just couldn't be more grateful for all of the support.' Article content Before the Sceptres released their list of the three players they wanted to protect during the expansion process, Nurse spoke with general manager Gina Kingsbury. Article content 'It was definitely a difficult and very emotional conversation,' Nurse said. 'The team in Toronto is deep. There's a lot of players that are worthy of being protected. All the power to their group moving forward because they do have a great group.'
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
PWHL Vancouver adds goaltender Maschmeyer, forward Nurse
Ottawa Charge goalie Emerance Maschmeyer (38) makes the save against the Toronto Sceptres during third period PWHL action in Edmonton, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Jason Franson / The Canadian Press) Vancouver's Professional Women's Hockey League team continued to add to its initial roster Thursday by signing goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer to a two-year contract and forward Sarah Nurse to a one-year deal. Maschmeyer spent the last two seasons with the Ottawa Charge. She was one of the franchise's three foundational signings in the PWHL's inaugural season, but she sustained a season-ending lower-body injury in March. Gwyneth Philips was excellent in relief as the Charge advanced to the Walter Cup final, and the 30-year-old Maschmeyer was left unprotected by Ottawa heading into the exclusive signing period and expansion draft to stock the rosters of the teams in Vancouver and Seattle that start play in 2026. Maschmeyer from Bruderheim, Alta., had 15 wins with two shutouts, a goals-against-average of 2.42 and save percentage of .914 over two seasons in Ottawa. Nurse was one of the Toronto Sceptres first three signings. She had six goals and eight assists in 21 games last season, despite missing nearly two months with injury. The 30-year-old from Hamilton added one assist in four playoff contests before the Sceptres were ousted from the semifinals by the Minnesota Frost, who went on to win the Walter Cup for the second year in a row. Nurse — cousin of WNBA star Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defender Darnell Nurse — is a two-time Olympian, winning gold for Canada at the 2022 Games in Beijing and bringing home silver from Pyeongchang in 2018. The moves were another splash by Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey, who opened the signing period Wednesday by luring defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques away from the Frost. Both players are finalists for the league's defender of the year award. 'Joining Vancouver is an incredible opportunity, and I'm thrilled to be a part of such an exciting chapter of the league's expansion,' Maschmeyer said in a release. 'Vancouver has proven to be a vibrant hockey city and I'm thrilled to play in front of such passionate fans. I'm aligned with Cara's vision and values and honoured to have the opportunity to help build this organization's culture from the ground up.' Both players were on Canada's Olympic championship team at the 2022 Beijing Games. Nurse has also represented Canada at six women's world championships, winning three gold medals, while Maschmeyer has played at three worlds. 'I am so honoured to be joining PWHL Vancouver, finally bringing professional women's hockey to the West Coast,' Nurse said in a release. 'I already got a taste of the passion last year during the Takeover Tour and can't wait to experience that daily.' The Charge also lost forward Danielle Serdachny to Seattle. As a result, they were able to add American forward Gabbie Hughes as a fourth protected player. The Montreal Victoire also lost their first player to the expansion process, with Seattle signing defender Cayla Barnes to a three-year deal. Barnes, from Eastvale, Calif., tied for the Victoire lead in scoring among defenders and ranked fifth among all PWHL rookies with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 30 games. Expansion teams have an exclusive window to sign a maximum of five players up until 5 p.m. ET Sunday. The expansion draft is Monday. Seattle and Vancouver will select a minimum of seven players until each has reached a 12-player roster. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
PWHL stars Hilary Knight, Sarah Nurse sign with expansion teams
Social Sharing A little over 24 hours after the window opened for the general managers of the PWHL Vancouver and Seattle to start building their rosters, a clear picture has started to emerge of what the league's first two expansion teams will look like. Vancouver already has a starting goaltender in Emerance Maschmeyer, formerly of the Ottawa Charge, and two of the best young puck-moving defenders in the league. Both Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson won the Walter Cup with the Minnesota Frost only a few days ago, and will now take their talents west. They also added forward Sarah Nurse on Thursday from the Toronto Sceptres, bringing in one of the biggest stars in women's hockey. "Her outstanding on-ice abilities will help establish our foundation at forward, and her unwavering commitment to building an inclusive hockey community makes her a fan favourite everywhere she goes," Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey said when Nurse's one-year contract was announced. Seattle, meanwhile, likely has its first captain in Hilary Knight, an MVP nominee who's been the face of hockey in the United States for more than a decade. She signed a one-year deal with the team on Wednesday, becoming the first player under contract for Seattle. "She's the heartbeat of any team she joins," said PWHL Seattle GM Meghan Turner, who spent the last two seasons as the assistant GM with the Boston Fleet, where Knight was the captain. "Her proven leadership and drive, the way she elevates everyone around her, those are qualities you can't teach. Hilary's not just a game-changer on the ice, she's the kind of person who defines a culture, and we're incredibly proud to have her as the first-ever player to join PWHL Seattle." The team also added defender Cayla Barnes and forward Danielle Serdachny, two first-round draft picks from last year's draft, and two of the brightest young talents in the league. Vancouver and Seattle can each sign up to five players ahead of Monday's expansion draft. Any player who is unprotected or a pending free agent is fair game to speak with the new expansion teams. By the end of the expansion draft, both Vancouver and Seattle should each have 12 players. The six existing teams will each lose four players throughout the process. The expansion losses on those teams are already apparent, only two days into the process. Boston will need a new captain with the departure of Knight. The two-time champion Frost are now missing two of the team's top three defenders, after the blue line played a huge role in winning back-to-back championships. The Montreal Victoire have lost a key power play quarterback in Barnes, and could still lose defender Erin Ambrose, too. That would require the Victoire to build from scratch on the blue line. WATCH | Montreal defender Ambrose 'going through scenarios' as PWHL expansion draft looms: Montreal Victoire defender Erin Ambrose 'going through scenarios' as PWHL expansion draft looms 2 days ago Duration 8:19 Ambrose is not one of the Victoire's three initial protected players, which means she's available to the new PWHL expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver. She spoke to Jay Turnbull and Sean Henry on CBC Radio's Daybreak. The Sceptres have lost a key part of their locker room and top-ranked power play, and the list goes on. Here's how the new expansion teams look, two days into the exclusive signing window. Vancouver takes shape Vancouver's roster started with a player the team's general manager, Gardner Morey, is very familiar with: Thompson. Gardner Morey was Thompson's head coach at Princeton University, and now they'll be reunited on the west coast. Thompson returned to professional hockey this season after taking time away to attend medical school. You wouldn't know she took any time away from the game. Her vision and playmaking quickly stood out on the Frost, where she finished with 18 points in 30 games — behind only her teammate, Jaques, and Toronto's Renata Fast. She's a nominee for defender of the year, and already has a Walter Cup to her name. She's also an Olympic gold medallist with the Canadian team in 2022, when she set an Olympic record for points by a defender in one tournament (13 points). "Claire is one of the best defenders in the world and a phenomenal leader who will help create a culture of excellence in Vancouver," Gardner Morey said on Wednesday. "Having had the privilege of coaching Claire at Princeton, I know how exceptional she is as a player and as a person and couldn't be prouder to build our foundation with her contributions both on and off the ice." Thompson signed for one year, while her teammate, Jaques, is locked in with Vancouver for three seasons. Jaques' pro career started slowly with the Boston Fleet in 2024, but took off after a trade to the Frost. She's one of the smartest and most offensively-gifted defenders in the game, and like Thompson, could be heading to the Olympics as part of the Canadian team in February. She is also nominated for defender of the year. "Vancouver fans are going to quickly fall in love with everything that Sophie brings to her game," said Gardner Morey said. "Sophie is a proven winner, and that experience will be instrumental in shaping our foundation from the blue line. She is a dynamic defender with world-class speed and skill, and a player I believe is only scratching the surface of her potential." Maschmeyer, meanwhile, was one of Ottawa's foundational signings in 2023. She was the Charge's most valuable player at the beginning of this season, before an injury ended her season in March. Gwyneth Philips took over the net from there, and the Charge opted to use one of three protection slots on the playoff MVP. A healthy Maschmeyer will give Vancouver a solid base in net. Gardner Morey described her as "simply one of the best in the world at her position." WATCH | Breaking down how PWHL expansion teams can build their rosters: The PWHL expansion draft: Explained 14 days ago Duration 0:55 CBC Sports' Karissa Donkin runs through the rules of the PWHL's expansion draft, explaining how new clubs in Seattle and Vancouver will fill their roster. "Her veteran leadership, relentless compete, and poise under pressure are contagious qualities that our team will feed off of and will give us a chance to win every game," the GM said. Like Maschmeyer, Nurse's season was impacted by an injury. She was hurt playing with Team Canada at the Rivalry Series in February. When she's healthy, Nurse is a star who can put the puck in the net. She tied for second in the league in both points and goals in the league's inaugural season. Knight to lead Seattle A few months ago, ahead of a neutral-site PWHL game between Montreal and Boston in Seattle, Knight raved to reporters about playing at Climate Pledge Arena. The arena, which is also home to the NHL's Seattle Kraken, hosted a Canada-USA Rivalry Series game in 2022 in front of more than 14,500 fans. Knight had two goals and an assist that night. Now, Knight will get to lead a team playing out of the state-of-the-art arena, and will help grow hockey in the western U.S. along the way. It could be the final act for a player who's done so much for the sport in her country. "I'm incredibly proud to be part of bringing professional women's hockey to the Pacific Northwest," Knight said on Wednesday. "Seattle holds a special place in my heart, and I'm beyond excited to join PWHL Seattle in such a storied sports city." Barnes has only played one season of professional hockey, but she's been playing with the best of the best for years, having won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. national team in 2018. Like Jaques and Thompson, Barnes is a smart defender who can move the puck and lead a team's top power play group. Her three-year deal with Seattle brings her closer to her home state of California. Serdachny, who Ottawa selected with the second pick in last year's draft, had a more difficult rookie season in the PWHL. The forward from Edmonton found herself playing in Ottawa's bottom six more than many imagined. But her size and skill make her a player worth betting on. Serdachny showed glimpses of being that player in the Charge's playoff run, including in the final game, when she set up the game-tying goal. When Turner talked about how she wanted to build her team in Seattle, she emphasized physicality. Not just throwing hits, but being able to play under pressure. That may just be the player Turner gets in Serdachny, who signed with Seattle for two seasons. "She's strong, plays through contact, and she's only beginning to tap into her full potential," Turner said when Serdachny's Her ability to possess the puck and make plays under pressure will be a big asset for us as we build the identity of PWHL Seattle." Vancouver and Seattle have an exclusive signing window until Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. Each existing team could only protect three players from expansion to start. After a team loses two players, they can protect a fourth player from expansion.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa's Maschmeyer signed by PWHL Vancouver expansion team, Serdachny to Seattle
One of the first players signed to the Ottawa Charge in the inaugural season of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is moving across the country. The PWHL has announced that goalie Emerance Maschmeyer has agreed to a two-year deal with the PWHL Vancouver expansion team, locking her in through the 2026-27 season. Maschmeyer is an Olympic goal medallist and was among the first three players signed to the Ottawa team in 2023 when the league was forming. In her two seasons with Ottawa, she's won 15 games, with two shutouts. She led all goaltenders with 23 appearances and 548 saves during the inaugural season and played in 18 of the Charge's first 22 games in 2024-25 before suffering a season-ending injury. She is the first goalie in the league to surpass 1,000 career saves in the regular season. 'Joining Vancouver is an incredible opportunity, and I'm thrilled to be a part of such an exciting chapter of the league's expansion,' Maschmeyer said in a news release. Vancouver has also signed defenders Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson, both from the Minnesota Frost. 'Your dedication to the team on and off the ice, the energy you brought to the rink every day, your commitment to being an active member of the community, and your leadership are just a few of many things about you that will be missed,' the Ottawa Charge said, of Maschmeyer, in a post on social media. 'From the game saving stops to your kindness to everyone you crossed paths with, we can't thank you enough. All the best in Vancouver.' Serdachny to Seattle PWHL Seattle announced Thursday's Ottawa forward Danielle Serdachny has signed a two-year contract. Serdachny was chosen second overall by Ottawa in the 2024 PWHL Draft. She scored two goals and six assists in the 2024-25 regular season and had two assists in the 2025 playoffs. Serdachny has represented Team Canada at three Women's World Championships, capturing gold in 2024 and silver in 2023 and 2025. 'I am eager to contribute to building a remarkable legacy for this incredible city. I'm excited for what's ahead and grateful for the opportunity to be one of the team's first signees,' Serdachny said in a news release. Danielle Serdachny Ottawa Charge's Danielle Serdachny (92) tries to get a shot past Montreal Victoire's Amanda Boulier (44) during first period PWHL playoff hockey action in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) Hughes protected The Ottawa Charge have protected forward Emily Clark, goalie Gwyneth Philips, and defender Ronja Savolainen from the expansion draft. Any other player on the team could become a member of either the Vancouver or Seattle expansion teams by next week. The league allows teams to protect a fourth player after their initial three once two members of the team have been signed through the expansion process. On Thursday, the Charge announced that forward Gabbie Hughes has also been protected, following Maschmeyer's and Serdachny's signings. Hughes has played two seasons with the Charge, and has a total of 14 goals and 14 asissts in 53 regular season games. She had three asissts in the 2025 playoffs. Expansion teams have been granted an exclusive window to sign a maximum of five players up until Sunday, June 8 at 5 p.m. The 2025 Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck will take place on Monday, June 9 at 8:30 p.m., where Seattle and Vancouver will select a minimum of seven players each until each has reached a 12-player roster. Seattle and Vancouver will acquire a combined total of four players from each of the six inaugural teams as they build their rosters ahead of their 2025–26 season debuts.
National Post
a day ago
- Sport
- National Post
Ottawa Charge loses Emerance Maschmeyer, Danielle Serdachny in PWHL expansion signing window
On the first day of an exclusive free-agent signing window for the PWHL's two newest franchises in Seattle and Vancouver, the Ottawa Charge lost their first two pieces of the expansion process. Article content Goaltender and foundational signing Emerance Maschmeyer signed a two-year deal with PWHL Vancouver, while forward and 2024 second-overall pick Danielle Serdachny signed a two-year pact with PWHL Seattle. Article content Article content Article content Maschmeyer, 30, becomes the first goalie to commit to one of the expansion teams and the third player to sign with Vancouver. Serdachny, 24, becomes Seattle's second signing in franchise history after Hilary Knight. Article content According to the league's expansion rules, once a team loses two players to expansion, it can protect a fourth player in addition to the three players protected on Tuesday. Article content Shortly after the signings of Maschmeyer and Serdachny were made official, Ottawa announced forward Gabbie Hughes as its fourth protected player. She joins forward Emily Clark, defender Ronja Savolainen and goaltender Gwyneth Philips as the club's only untouchables through the expansion process. Article content Seattle and Vancouver's exclusive signing window closes on June 8 at 5 p.m. Each team is allowed a maximum of five signings during this period, with Seattle currently at three and Vancouver at four. Article content Ever since the league announced it was expanding in April, Maschmeyer was one of the first players assumed to be joining one of the two new clubs. After an injury in March cut her season short, 24-year-old Gwyneth Philips stepped into the starter's role and dominated en route to a PWHL final appearance, making Maschmeyer even more expendable. Article content Still, she was undoubtedly Ottawa's MVP in the first half of the season, posting a 2.58 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 18 appearances. Article content Article content 'Emerance is quite simply one of the best in the world at her position and Vancouver is fortunate to have a goaltender and Olympian of her calibre between the pipes to launch our inaugural season,' Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey said in a statement. 'Her veteran leadership, relentless compete and poise under pressure are contagious qualities that our team will feed off of and will give us a chance to win every game.' Article content On a team already loaded with stars, including defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jacques from the Minnesota Frost's championship team, and forward Sarah Nurse from the Toronto Sceptres, Maschmeyer will likely have more defensive and offensive support than she ever had with Ottawa. Article content 'Joining Vancouver is an incredible opportunity and I'm thrilled to be a part of such an exciting chapter of the league's expansion,' Maschmeyer said in the league's press release. 'Vancouver has proven to be a vibrant hockey city and I'm thrilled to play in front of such passionate fans. I'm aligned with Cara's vision and values and honoured to have the opportunity to help build this organization's culture from the ground up.'
