The PWHL season begins this Friday. Teams were required to reduce rosters to 23 players to start the third campaign for the league and we’re down to the wire on training camp cuts. How are the Canadian teams looking ahead of opening day?
Montreal Victoire
There were few surprises when new Hockey Hall of Famer Daniele Sauvageau, the team’s general manager, revealed the opening day roster. Foundational players Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey and Ann-Renee Desbiens all signed contract extensions this summer. Defender Erin Ambrose remains the anchor on the blue line which, although sustaining the loss of both Cayla Barnes and Anna Wilgren, will be sparked by the addition of first round draft pick Nicole Gosling.
Montreal acquired Hayley Scamurra and Shiann Darkangelo to help mold the team into a physical, grittier style of play that will work towards exorcising the team’s playoff demons.
Sauvageau and Poulin have claimed practically every title to be won in hockey, except for the Walter Cup.
Lina Ljungblgom will start the year on injured reserve.
2025-26 roster
Forwards: Shiann Darkangelo, Jade Downie-Landry, Catherine Dubois, Dara Greig, Skylar Irving, Alexandra Labelle, Natálie Mlýnková, Maureen Murphy, Marie-Philip Poulin, Abby Roque, Hayley Scamurra, Laura Stacey, Kaitlin Willoughby
Defenders: Erin Ambrose, Amanda Boulier, Maggie Flaherty, Jessica Digirolamo, Nicole Gosling, Kelly-Ann Nadeau, Kati Tabin
Goaltenders: Sandra Abstreiter, Ann-Renée Desbiens, Megan Warrenerå
Ottawa Charge
Amidst the disappointing Lansdowne 2.0 decision and talk of potential relocation, the Charge enter the season with lofty aspirations. Goaltender Gwyneth Philips took her team on her back in last year’s Walter Cup final, claiming playoff MVP honours in a losing effort. All four games versus Minnesota were decided in overtime.
The blue line looks solid, despite losing Ashton Bell in expansion to Vancouver. Jocelyne Larocque was given one of the alternate captaincies, and first-round draft pick Rory Guilday gives the back end a boost. Ronja Savolainen looks to have another strong campaign after being one of the team’s expansion-protected players.
Up front is where coach Carla MacLeod’s bench has its challenges. Captain Brianne Jenner will be looked upon to spark the offense, along with Emily Clark and Brianne Jenner. The team finished tied for last place with 71 regular season goals last year. And, as impressive as their playoff run was, scoring just 13 times in eight games is not a recipe for success.
A surprising cut was forward Elizabeth Giguere. The two-year PWHL veteran formerly with New York, and the 2020 Patty Kazmaier Award winner had a subpar showing in the pre-season.
2025-26 roster
Forwards: Emily Clark, Peyton Hemp, Taylor House, Gabbie Hughes, Brianne Jenner, Fanuza Kadirova, Rebecca Leslie, Mannon McMahon, Anna Meixner, Kateřina Mrázová, Anna Shokhina, Alexa Vasko, Sarah Wozniewicz
Defenders: Rory Guilday, Brooke Hobson, Sam Isbell, Jocelyne Larocque, Stephanie Markowski, Kathryn Reilly, Ronja Savolainen
Goaltenders: Sanni Ahola, Gwyneth Philips, Kendra Woodland
Toronto Sceptres
General manager Gina Kingsbury helped consummate one of the biggest splashes on draft day, obtaining defender Ella Shelton from New York in a blockbuster draft day trade. The Sceptres start the year with arguably the best defence unit in the PWHL, although secondary scoring could be a challenge.
More details are available at our Toronto Sceptres season preview
2025-26 roster
Forwards: Jesse Compher, Maggie Connors, Claire Dalton, Clair DeGeorge, Emma Gentry, Sara Hjalmarsson, Emma Maltais, Natalie Spooner, Blayre Turnbull, Clara Van Wieren, Daryl Watts, Emma Woods, Kiara Zanon
Defenders: Renata Fast, Kali Flanagan, Savannah Harmon, Anna Kjellbin, Jess Kondas, Allie Munroe, Ella Shelton
Goaltenders: Elaine Chuli, Raygan Kirk, Jessie McPherson
Vancouver Goldeneyes
The newest Canadian expansion team will host their U.S. counterparts on opening night. On Thursday the team announced that the game between the Goldeneyes and the Seattle Torrent at the 16,000 seat Pacific Coliseum is sold out.
Vancouver’s foundation is on the blue line, having signed Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques – both runners-up for Defender of the Year last season – during the expansion window. Ashton Bell and Mellissa Channel-Watkins round out a solid top four core. Up front, Sarah Nurse leads a dynamic forward unit that also includes Hannah Miller, Jenn Gardiner and Michelle Karvinen.
In net, Emerance Maschmeyer is looking to recover from a lower-body injury sustained last year with Ottawa, and Kristen Campbell gets a fresh start after two subpar playoff seasons in Toronto.
Also Thursday, Vancouver swapped depth forwards with Minnesota, sending Denisa Krizova to the Frost for Anna Segedi.
Forwards: Abby Boreen, Michela Cava, Katie Chan, Izzy Daniel, Jenn Gardiner, Michelle Karvinen, Darcie Lappan, Brooke McQuigge, Hannah Miller, Sarah Nurse, Gabby Rosenthal, Anna Segedi, Tereza Vanišová
Defenders: Sydney Bard, Ashton Bell, Mellissa Channell-Watkins, Emma Greco, Sophie Jaques, Madison Samoskevich, Claire Thompson
Goaltenders: Kristen Campbell, Emerance Maschmeyer, Kimberly Newell
For a preview of the U.S. based teams, Rachel Donner provides the info.
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