Latest news with #MikeHirshfeld
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Ottawa's Emily Clark becomes highest-paid PWHL player with two-year extension
While the PWHL's collective bargaining agreement features a minimum salary of $35,000, there is no maximum under what will be the league's $1.3 million salary cap this season. The only requirement is that at least six players per team make at least $80,000 per season. Advertisement For context, one of the people said Clark will be among nine players making $100,000 or more with Clark declined to reveal the value of her contract by saying she'd prefer placing the focus on the growth of the women's game rather than herself. It's part of Clark's modest background, growing up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and reflects her style of play in being one of the game's top two-way centers. 'I'm really proud to play the way that I do, but it might not be always the most attractive role or the stat lines don't always show maybe some of the intangibles that I do,' Clark said, before crediting Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld. 'But for Mike and the organization to see that complete game that I try to bring every night and value it, I think it's a testament to our organization.' Advertisement Clark is a two-time Olympian and was one of the first three players signed by the Charge entering the league's inaugural season in 2024. She's relied upon to kill penalties, face opposing team's top offensive lines, and contribute on offense. Clark's do-it-all ability was on full display during Ottawa's playoff run in which the Charge went 3-1 to eliminate Montreal in the semifinals before In the regular season, Clark finished second on the Charge with nine goals and 19 points while leading team forwards in averaging 19:22 of ice time per outing. 'We know what she brings. She's really the heart and soul of our organization,' Hirshfeld said. 'Our organization is an offense by committee type of approach, and so she fits in the toughness, the competitiveness, the defensive side of it. She fits exactly what we're trying to do as an organization.' The contract is humbling for Clark, who recalled being in a room with her Team Canada teammates at the 2019 world championships in Finland when they were informed of the Canadian Women's Hockey League folding. 'I'm in a room with all the women that built that league and feeling the emotion for them. Advertisement 'But then also that realization of what does this mean for me?' Clark said, noting she was counting on competing in the CWHL fresh off winning a Frozen Four title during her senior season at Wisconsin. 'No, I couldn't have imagined to be in this position,' Clark said, reflecting back. 'I'm very grateful.'
Reuters
6 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Charge extend playoff star Emily Clark through 2027-28
August 7 - The Ottawa Charge extended forward Emily Clark's contract through the 2027-28 season on Thursday. The 29-year-old Canadian has been an alternate captain for the club since the inaugural PWHL season in 2023-24. Clark has appeared in every game in Ottawa history, tallying 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 54 regular season contests and five points (three goals, two assists) in eight playoff appearances. Two of Clark's three goals during the 2025 playoffs were game-winners, helping Ottawa reach the Walter Cup Finals for the first time. "This is a very exciting day for our organization. Emily was one of our inaugural signings and she has been everything we could have hoped for and more," general manager Mike Hirshfeld said. "She has been one of the best forwards in the PWHL over that time, and perhaps, even more importantly, she has become a pillar in our community through her engagement and charitable work with both adults and children." Clark won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and a silver at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. She also has three gold medals, five silver and one bronze from the IIHF Women's World Championships. --Field Level Media
Reuters
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Ottawa G Gwyneth Philips, playoff MVP, signs 2-year deal
July 28 - The Ottawa Charge signed goaltender and playoff heroine Gwyneth Philips to a two-year contract extension. The deal announced Sunday keeps the 24-year-old Ohio native in the Canadian capital through 2027-28. Philips went 8-5-1 with two shutouts, a 2.11 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage as a rookie in 2024-25. She was a finalist for PWHL Rookie of the Year and Goaltender of the Year honors. In the postseason, the third-round pick from Northeastern went 4-0-4 with a 1.23 GAA and .952 save percentage to earn the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award. Ottawa fell to the Minnesota Frost in four games in the Walter Cup finals. "This is a very exciting day for our organization," Charge general manager Mike Hirshfeld said. "Anyone who watched the PWHL Playoffs last year saw what an incredible player Gwyneth is and how she can impact a game. When we drafted her, we believed that she had the ability to be one of the top goaltenders in the world, and after her performances last year, we are even more convinced." --Field Level Media
CTV News
28-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Ottawa Charge sign PWHL playoff MVP Gwyneth Philips to 2-year contract extension
Gwyneth Philips will be staying in Ottawa for the next three seasons. After helping the Ottawa Charge advance to the PWHL Finals and winning the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award, Philips has signed a two-year contract extension with the Charge. 'I'm so excited,' Phillips said on CTV Morning Live while announcing the contract extension. 'I can't be more happy to be here and be with this program. I'm really excited for another three years.' Phillips had one more year on her rookie contract with the Charge, and the extension will keep her at TD Place until 2027-28. The 24-year-old from Athens, Ohio was drafted by the Charge in the third round of the 2024 draft. She had an 8-5-1 record in the regular season, with two shutouts. Phillips appeared in all eight playoff games for the Charge as they advanced to the finals, posting a 1.23 goals against average and a .952 save percentage. Phillips was named a finalist for both the PWHL Rookie of the Year and PWHL Goaltender of the Year awards last season. 'This is a very exciting day for our organization,' Charge General Manager Mike Hirshfeld said in a statement. 'Anyone who watched the PWHL Playoffs last year saw what an incredible player Gwyneth is and how she can impact a game. When we drafted her, we believed that she had the ability to be one of the top goaltenders in the world, and after her performances last year, we are even more convinced.' 'Gwyneth told me that she loved playing in Ottawa and this was a perfect fit for her. We are delighted to bring her back for three more seasons.' Last week, the Charge announced first round pick Rory Guilday signed a three-year contract agreement through the 2027-28 season.
CBC
27-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
An Olympic year and a contract for Fillier: 4 PWHL storylines to watch this summer
When the Minnesota Frost lifted the Walter Cup just one month ago, players across the league knew things were about to change. With the dust now settled from the PWHL's expansion draft, free-agent signing window and entry draft, it's clear that there's been a massive, league-wide roster reset. Seattle and Vancouver accumulated a wealth of talent through the expansion draft, and GMs of the existing six teams have been working to fill the gaps. With further expansion on the horizon, and lots of big contracts across the league expiring after next season, it feels like teams have to prioritize the immediate future. Long-term planning is next to impossible. "I think if you ask most of the general managers in this league, this league has transitioned a little bit now," Ottawa Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld, who prioritized draft-eligible players with previous pro experience, said on draft night. "It's really focused on winning now and players who can step in right away." All of that led to an action-packed draft day in Ottawa, where three blockbuster trades were announced. WATCH | Biggest takeaways from the PWHL Draft on Hockey North: Biggest takeaways from the PWHL Draft 2 hours ago Duration 14:28 Defender Ella Shelton is a massive addition to Toronto's defensive core, and gives the Sceptres two of the best defenders in the world. Abby Roque, meanwhile, will make Montreal harder to play against, as the Victoire look to translate regular-season success to a Walter Cup. The PWHL's signing window is now closed until July 8 at 9 a.m. With the off-season in full swing, here are four storylines to watch as we look ahead to the PWHL's third season next fall. Talent on paper There's no question that Seattle and Vancouver look like two of the strongest teams in the league. Both stockpiled young talent. Vancouver has the deepest blue line in the league, and two reliable goaltenders. Seattle, meanwhile, has a top six with skill and size in spades. But how will that translate on the ice? It's a problem Seattle GM Meghan Turner knows well, having been the assistant GM in Boston before heading west. "You can look at something on paper and then as soon as you put it on the ice, you're like, oh, we kind of need to change something," Turner said. "A lot of what I take away from my time in Boston is not everything goes as planned all the time. Injuries happen, things go differently in the season than how you might have planned." In the first season of the PWHL, it took every team time to adjust to a brand new league with a physical playing style. There are plenty of veterans on Seattle and Vancouver, but it could still take some time for everything to gel. How will Ottawa fill out its team? Ottawa lost a lot of talent in free agency and the expansion draft. Tereza Vanišová and Shiann Darkangelo, in particular, were important adds by Hirshfeld at the 2024 trade deadline, and helped the team clinch its first playoff berth. But despite the Charge's run to the PWHL Finals, both left. Vanišová signed with Vancouver and Darkangelo picked Montreal. Hirshfeld said the Charge made "compelling" offers to both players. Ultimately Vanišová wanted a new opportunity in Vancouver and Darkangelo was attracted to the idea of getting to play and compete each day with Marie-Philip Poulin in Montreal. "People want to play in Ottawa," Hirshfeld said. "People believe in this city. They love the fans in this marketplace. Again, it just came down to personal situations and personal decisions. Again, unfortunately for us, we were second a couple different times in free agency." Asked if that could be contagious, that players pick other markets over Ottawa, Hirshfeld admitted it's prompted "a lot of looking in the mirror" about what team could have done differently. "We've talked to agents," he said. "We've talked to other players around the league. We've talked to players on our team. There's some tweaks we're going to make internally to help us enhance our reputation among players around the league." Ottawa has only 12 of 23 players signed heading into the off-season break, and how he fills out the rest of the roster will be something to watch heading into next season. Hirshfeld also drafted two players out of Russia, which hasn't competed on the international stage since 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless, Anna Shokhina and Fanuza Kadirova came highly recommended by women's hockey legend Mel Davidson, who recently joined the Charge as a consultant. Will Sarah Fillier sign long term in New York? The New York Sirens look dramatically different from the team that 2024 first-overall pick, Sarah Fillier, signed a one-year contract with last year. The Sirens lost top-six forwards Alex Carpenter and Jessie Eldridge to expansion, as well as starting goaltender, Corinne Schroeder. Then, Daoust flipped Shelton to Toronto on draft night. This team is clearly built around Fillier now. But as of this writing, she doesn't have a contract for next season. Teams hold draft picks' rights for two seasons, which means Fillier can't sign with another team unless New York trades her rights. Given all the moves during the last month, there should be plenty of cap space to make a big offer to Fillier. Daoust also did a good job of rebuilding his forward group at the draft. Thanks to the Shelton trade, he was able to draft the top two forwards available: sharp-shooting Kristýna Kaltounková and Casey O'Brien, who had one of the best offensive seasons of all time at Wisconsin. WATCH | Sirens select Kaltounková with 1st pick in the 2025 Draft: New York Sirens select Kristýna Kaltounková as 1st overall pick in PHWL draft 3 days ago Duration 1:56 "Definitely when you get these players joining Sarah Fillier, we feel that we're going to have some great players on the power play, but also to create more at five-on-five," Daoust said. Whether it will be enough to convince Fillier to stay in New York long term remains to be seen. Just as GMs are thinking short term, players are doing the same. A lot of big contracts around the league are set to expire after next season, and more expansion could be on the horizon. Several players who signed with Seattle and Vancouver opted for shorter contracts, just not knowing what the future holds. An Olympic year For the first time, the PWHL will have to navigate an Olympic break in the middle of the season. The best players in the world will head to Italy to compete for Olympic gold, and it's going to be unlike no other Olympic tournament for women's hockey. For one, Team Canada hopefuls won't be moving to Calgary for months for centralization, the grueling process of trying out for and training for the Olympic team. Instead, Canadian GM Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan will be relying more on PWHL performance as they select the team looking to defend Canada's gold medal from 2022. With many likely returnees from 2022, that may not affect team chemistry as much this time around. But it could be a game changer in the future. Another factor: So many big-name players switched teams this off-season. How will that impact their ability to make an Olympic team? Will some players get more opportunity to shine? Could others get left behind? Already, you can see how an Olympic break, combined with the additional travel that comes with having teams on the west coast, is affecting roster decisions. Several teams are leaning toward having a goaltending tandem instead of relying on one goaltender to play big minutes during a busy year. Vancouver, where Team Canada goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer is the starter, is one example. The team acquired Kristen Campbell from Toronto in a trade on draft night. "We know that [Maschmeyer] would love a good partner that can take some minutes, especially during an Olympic year," Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey said. "It's a long season, so we want someone that's tested and ready, and Kristen Campbell is certainly that goalie." The thinking was similar in Seattle, where the team drafted goaltender Hannah Murphy in the second round to team up with Schroeder. "Having two really solid goaltenders is very important in this league," Turner said. "I think we've seen it throughout the last two years that it's important to have goalies that can really step in and jump into the game."
