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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
PWHL expansion signings: Seattle adds Barnes and Serdachny, Vancouver brings in Nurse and Maschmeyer
Hilary Knight has company in Seattle, with the new PWHL team adding two 2024 first-round draft picks — Ottawa Charge forward Danielle Serdachny and Montreal Victoire defenseman Cayla Barnes — on Thursday during the league's expansion signing period. The league announced Serdachny agreed to sign a two-year contract and Barnes reached a three-year deal to join Knight as the yet-to-be-named franchise's first three players. The other expansion team, Vancouver, continued stocking up on Canadian national team stars with the additions of Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse and Ottawa goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. Nurse agreed to sign for one year and Maschmeyer for two. They join a Vancouver team that on Wednesday opened the five-day signing period by reaching agreements with defensemen Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, Canada teammates who played together for the Minnesota Frost. Both teams can add up to five players during the signing period, which ends Sunday. The expansion draft is Monday, after which Seattle and Vancouver will have 12-woman rosters. All eight teams will then take part in the PWHL draft on June 24. After losing two players, the Charge added forward Gabbie Hughes to their protected list, which already included forward Emily Clark, goalie Gwyneth Philips and defenseman Ronja Savolainen. The 24-year-old Serdachny was the second pick in last year's draft, while Barnes went fifth overall. The 26-year-old Barnes, from Southern California, led PWHL rookie defensemen with 13 points last season. She is a two-time U.S. Olympian who won a gold medal in 2018 and silver in 2022. Barnes also won an NCAA title with Ohio State last year. "She's a dynamic defender who moves the puck well and consistently contributes offensively,' Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said. 'Even as a rookie last season, she played with the poise and presence of a veteran, and we see her playing a key role on our blue line.' Serdachny finished with two goals and six assists in 30 regular-season games. She had two assists to help the Charge reach the Walter Cup Finals, which they lost in four games to defending champion Minnesota. Serdachny is from Edmonton, Alberta, and played collegiately at Colgate. She scored the 2024 world championships gold-medal clinching goal in Canada's 6-5 overtime win over the United States. 'She's strong, plays through contact, and she's only beginning to tap into her full potential,' Turner said. Nurse is a two-time Olympian and finished tied for second with 23 points in 24 games during the PWHL's inaugural season last year. This season, she had six goals and eight assists in 21 games while battling injuries. From Burlington, Ontario, the 30-year-old Nurse led the high-scoring and gold-medal-winning Canadians with an Olympic women's tournament record 18 points at the 2022 Beijing Games. The following summer, she became the first woman to be included on the cover of EA Sports' NHL video game. Nurse, who is biracial and the cousin of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, has also advocated for inclusivity in hockey. 'Sarah is one of the sport's biggest stars, both on and off the ice, and she will play a significant role in growing professional women's hockey in Vancouver,' said Cara Gardner Morey, the expansion team's general manager. '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 favorite everywhere she goes.' Maschmeyer is from Edmonton, and joins Vancouver after two seasons as Ottawa's starter. This year, she became the league's first goalie to register 1,000 career saves. He season was cut short when she suffered a lower-body injury in March. Philips took over as the Charge's starter through the playoffs, and that contributed to the team's decision to make Maschmeyer available in the expansion process. In 2024, Maschmeyer led PWHL goalies in games played and finished second in wins with a 9-9-4 record. The 30-year-old has been mostly a backup while representing Canada. She won an Olympic gold medal in 2022 and has medaled in eight world championships. women's hockey: /hub/womens-hockey
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
PWHL expansion signings: Seattle lands Barnes and Serdachny, Vancouver adds goalie Maschmeyer
Hilary Knight has company in Seattle, with the new PWHL team adding two 2024 first-round draft picks — Ottawa forward Danielle Serdachny and Montreal defenseman Cayla Barnes — on Thursday during the league's expansion signing period. The league announced Serdachny agreed to sign a two-year contract and Barnes reached a three-year deal to join Knight as the yet-to-be-named franchise's first three players. The PWHL's other expansion team, Vancouver, agreed Thursday to a two-year contract with Ottawa Charge goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. A day earlier, Vancouver opened the five-day signing period by reaching agreements with Minnesota defensemen Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques. Both teams can add up to five players during the signing period , which ends Sunday. The expansion draft is Monday, after which Seattle and Vancouver will have 12-woman rosters. All eight teams will then take part in the PWHL draft on June 24. After losing two players, the Charge added forward Gabbie Hughes to their protected list, which already included forward Emily Clark, goalie Gwyneth Philips and defenseman Ronja Savolainen. The 24-year-old Serdachny was the second pick in last year's draft, while Barnes went fifth overall. The 26-year-old Barnes, from Southern California, led PWHL rookie defensemen with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) last season. She is a two-time U.S. Olympian who won a gold medal in 2018 and ssilver in 2022. Barnes also won an NCAA title with Ohio State last year. 'She's a dynamic defender who moves the puck well and consistently contributes offensively,' Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said. 'Even as a rookie last season, she played with the poise and presence of a veteran, and we see her playing a key role on our blue line.' Serdachny finished with two goals and six assists in 30 regular-season games. She had two assists to help the Charge reach the Walter Cup Finals , which they lost in four games to Minnesota. Serdachny is from Edmonton, Alberta, and played collegiately at Colgate. She scored the 2024 world championships gold-medal clinching goal in Canada's 6-5 overtime win over the United States . 'She's strong, plays through contact, and she's only beginning to tap into her full potential,' Turner said. Maschmeyer is from Edmonton, and joins Vancouver after two seasons as Ottawa's starter. This year, she became the league's first goalie to register 1,000 career saves. He season was cut short when she suffered a lower-body injury in March. Philips took over as the Charge's starter through the playoffs, and that contributed to the team's decision to make Maschmeyer available in the expansion process. In 2024, Maschmeyer led PWHL goalies in games played (23) and finished second in wins with a 9-9-4 record. The 30-year-old has been mostly a backup while representing Canada. She won an Olympic gold medal in 2022 and has medaled in eight world championships. '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,' Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey said of the former Harvard player. ___ AP women's hockey:
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
PWHL expansion signings: Seattle lands Barnes and Serdachny, Vancouver adds goalie Maschmeyer
Hilary Knight has company in Seattle, with the new PWHL team adding two 2024 first-round draft picks — Ottawa forward Danielle Serdachny and Montreal defenseman Cayla Barnes — on Thursday during the league's expansion signing period. The league announced Serdachny agreed to sign a two-year contract and Barnes reached a three-year deal to join Knight as the yet-to-be-named franchise's first three players. The PWHL's other expansion team, Vancouver, agreed Thursday to a two-year contract with Ottawa Charge goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. A day earlier, Vancouver opened the five-day signing period by reaching agreements with Minnesota defensemen Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques. Both teams can add up to five players during the signing period, which ends Sunday. The expansion draft is Monday, after which Seattle and Vancouver will have 12-woman rosters. All eight teams will then take part in the PWHL draft on June 24. After losing two players, the Charge added forward Gabbie Hughes to their protected list, which already included forward Emily Clark, goalie Gwyneth Philips and defenseman Ronja Savolainen. The 24-year-old Serdachny was the second pick in last year's draft, while Barnes went fifth overall. The 26-year-old Barnes, from Southern California, led PWHL rookie defensemen with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) last season. She is a two-time U.S. Olympian who won a gold medal in 2018 and ssilver in 2022. Barnes also won an NCAA title with Ohio State last year. "She's a dynamic defender who moves the puck well and consistently contributes offensively,' Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said. 'Even as a rookie last season, she played with the poise and presence of a veteran, and we see her playing a key role on our blue line.' Serdachny finished with two goals and six assists in 30 regular-season games. She had two assists to help the Charge reach the Walter Cup Finals, which they lost in four games to Minnesota. Serdachny is from Edmonton, Alberta, and played collegiately at Colgate. She scored the 2024 world championships gold-medal clinching goal in Canada's 6-5 overtime win over the United States. 'She's strong, plays through contact, and she's only beginning to tap into her full potential,' Turner said. Maschmeyer is from Edmonton, and joins Vancouver after two seasons as Ottawa's starter. This year, she became the league's first goalie to register 1,000 career saves. He season was cut short when she suffered a lower-body injury in March. Philips took over as the Charge's starter through the playoffs, and that contributed to the team's decision to make Maschmeyer available in the expansion process. In 2024, Maschmeyer led PWHL goalies in games played (23) and finished second in wins with a 9-9-4 record. The 30-year-old has been mostly a backup while representing Canada. She won an Olympic gold medal in 2022 and has medaled in eight world championships. '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,' Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey said of the former Harvard player.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
PWHL expansion signings: Seattle lands Barnes and Serdachny, Vancouver adds goalie Maschmeyer
Hilary Knight has company in Seattle, with the new PWHL team adding two 2024 first-round draft picks — Ottawa forward Danielle Serdachny and Montreal defenseman Cayla Barnes — on Thursday during the league's expansion signing period. The league announced Serdachny agreed to sign a two-year contract and Barnes reached a three-year deal to join Knight as the yet-to-be-named franchise's first three players. The PWHL's other expansion team, Vancouver, agreed Thursday to a two-year contract with Ottawa Charge goalie Emerance Maschmeyer. A day earlier, Vancouver opened the five-day signing period by reaching agreements with Minnesota defensemen Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques. Both teams can add up to five players during the signing period, which ends Sunday. The expansion draft is Monday, after which Seattle and Vancouver will have 12-woman rosters. All eight teams will then take part in the PWHL draft on June 24. After losing two players, the Charge added forward Gabbie Hughes to their protected list, which already included forward Emily Clark, goalie Gwyneth Philips and defenseman Ronja Savolainen. The 24-year-old Serdachny was the second pick in last year's draft, while Barnes went fifth overall. The 26-year-old Barnes, from Southern California, led PWHL rookie defensemen with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) last season. She is a two-time U.S. Olympian who won a gold medal in 2018 and ssilver in 2022. Barnes also won an NCAA title with Ohio State last year. 'She's a dynamic defender who moves the puck well and consistently contributes offensively,' Seattle general manager Meghan Turner said. 'Even as a rookie last season, she played with the poise and presence of a veteran, and we see her playing a key role on our blue line.' Serdachny finished with two goals and six assists in 30 regular-season games. She had two assists to help the Charge reach the Walter Cup Finals, which they lost in four games to Minnesota. Serdachny is from Edmonton, Alberta, and played collegiately at Colgate. She scored the 2024 world championships gold-medal clinching goal in Canada's 6-5 overtime win over the United States. 'She's strong, plays through contact, and she's only beginning to tap into her full potential,' Turner said. Maschmeyer is from Edmonton, and joins Vancouver after two seasons as Ottawa's starter. This year, she became the league's first goalie to register 1,000 career saves. He season was cut short when she suffered a lower-body injury in March. Philips took over as the Charge's starter through the playoffs, and that contributed to the team's decision to make Maschmeyer available in the expansion process. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. In 2024, Maschmeyer led PWHL goalies in games played (23) and finished second in wins with a 9-9-4 record. The 30-year-old has been mostly a backup while representing Canada. She won an Olympic gold medal in 2022 and has medaled in eight world championships. '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,' Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey said of the former Harvard player. ___ AP women's hockey:
24-05-2025
- Sport
Frost forward Curl-Salemme finds solace among the boos she's attracting in PWHL role as 'villain'
Amid the choruses of boos, crosschecks and on-line social media attacks directed at Britta Curl-Salemme for what's seemed like most of her rookie PWHL season, the Minnesota Frost forward was able to experience a few moments of clarity and joy in the playoffs. They came Thursday night, when Curl-Salemme forced overtime by converting a rebound with 16 seconds left in regulation and then scored 16:24 into the extra period of a 2-1 victory in Ottawa to even the best-of-five Walter Cup Finals series at 1. If the two clutch goals placed an even bigger target on the 25-year-old's back, then so be it, Curl-Salemme said during a Zoom conference call Friday when asked if she considered herself being the PWHL's first 'villain.' 'I'm sure some people think that. I try not to get too involved with the outside noise or perspectives. I don't think that's helpful to me,' she said, in preparing for Game 3 at Minnesota on Saturday. 'If that's the way it shakes out and I'm doing my job and doing what I am proud of, and the things I'm supposed to be doing, then that may be it. But, yeah, I'm not too worried about it.' Curl-Salemme's transition from winning three NCAA titles at Wisconsin to the professional ranks hasn't gone smoothly. She's gained a polarizing reputation for her physical style, which has drawn three suspensions this season, and for her on-line support of transphobic messaging, for which she apologized in a video post days after being drafted in the second round in June. As much as Curl-Salemme, from Bismarck, North Dakota, has hoped to move forward, the booing crowd in Ottawa — she was loudly heckled while conducting a TV interview between periods coming off the ice — was a stark reminder. 'I can't really speak to the reasons behind it or anything,' Curl-Salemme said. 'I'm sure it's annoying as hell being an opponent or being an opposing fan, the style that I play. I kind of try to embrace that, obviously, to a certain point,' she added. 'I want to be a nuisance. I want to make it hard to play against me.' While relishing her role as an on-ice pest, Curl-Salemme acknowledged being challenged adapting her style to stay within the rules. 'I'm never going out on the ice trying to hurt somebody or do something stupid. That's never my intention,' she said. 'But I think it's going to take a little bit of maturity in my game and just figuring out how to play that way.' The comments were among Curl-Salemme's first since posting her apology nearly a year ago. 'I specifically recognize that my social media activity has resulted in hurt being felt across communities, including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals, and I just want to apologize and take ownership of that,' she said. 'I've learned so much through this, and I'm seeing it as an opportunity to grow in humility and grow in love,' she added. 'To those of you who may still have reservations, I hope you can extend me the grace to prove to you who I really am.' Curl-Salemme's social media activity and getting drafted by Minnesota reignited criticism of the franchise at a time the inaugural Walter Cup champions were dealing with questions over why the PWHL abruptly removed Natalie Darwitz as general manager. Without getting into specifics, league vice president Jayna Hefford explained an internal investigation determined a change was necessary because 'there wasn't a path forward with the current personnel in place.' The attention then turned to coach Ken Klee for overseeing the draft and selecting Curl-Salemme in light of her posts. Klee defended the decision in drafting the two-year Wisconsin captain by saying the team did its homework in consulting her coaches and teammates. The shadow of controversy, however, has followed her since in PWHL circles, even as Curl-Salemme has maintained her role playing for the U.S. national team and won gold at the world championships last month. She finished the regular season tied for sixth on the Frost with 15 points (nine goals, six assists), while also ranking second on the team with 24 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, she's tied for the team lead with three goals. And she leads the league with 15 penalty minutes, all stemming from her drawing a one-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Toronto defenseman Renata Fast in Game 1 of Minnesota's semifinal series. Klee on Friday credited Curl-Salemme for keeping her cool and holding her ground in front of the net while being cross-checked before scoring the tying goal. 'It's not easy to do, especially in hostile environments that we play in,' Klee said. 'But it's a huge credit to her and how focused she can remain, and stay calm in that moment and be able to finish.' Curl-Salemme was rewarded in the locker room afterward in being presented with a Frost belt in honor of being the game MVP. She responded by saying: 'I just have one message: Minnesota Frost versus the world.' Nothing personal, Curl-Salemme said regarding her message. 'It feels like all that matters is what's in the locker room and our staff and our organization,' she said. 'It's going to take the people in the room. So I think that was the main message is there's people trying to stop us, and we're going to try to push through.'
