PWHPA releases 2020-21 regional rosters

Plus some general notes on the rosters

The PWHPA released the rosters for its five teams based around regional hubs.

The set rosters, rather than the rotating ones seen last season, are part of the PWHPA’s changes after their first season. Each team has 25 players on the roster and will play in the Secret Dream Gap Tour for the Secret Cup and cash prizes, a new addition thanks to a $1 million corporate commitment from Secret Deodorant. They are set to play six showcases, ideally starting in early 2021, but the exact details will depend on COVID-19, the PWHPA said in an email to The Ice Garden.

Through the offseason the PWHPA announced players who intended to try out for one of the 125 spots. As of Oct. 22, they had announced about 170 players. In an email to The Ice Garden, PWHPA Operations Consultant Jayna Hefford said, “Players who have not been named to final official rosters have been encouraged to reach out if they want to support the PWHPA in other ways.”

Hefford also stressed that the organization is about more than the players on the ice. “This is a movement, the belief that in addition to a living wage, professional women’s hockey needs an investment made that allows for the infrastructure and resources that the best players in the world need and deserve to train.”

Rosters

CalgaryMinnesotaMontrealNew HampshireToronto
Alexandra Poznikoff (f)Abby Roque (f)Alexandra Labelle (f)Alex Cavallini (g)Alexis Woloschuk (d)
Amanda Pelkey (f)Amy Menke (f)AnnRenee Desbiens (g)Alexa Gruschow (f)Amanda Makela (g)
Blayre Turnbull (f)Annie Pankowski (f)AnnSophie Bettez (f)Amanda Kessel (f)Brianne Jenner (f)
Brianna Decker (f)Dani Cameranesi (f)Catherine Daoust (d)Breanna Scarpaci (d)Brittany Howard (f)
Brigette Lacquette (d)Demi Crossman (d)Catherine Dubois (f)Brittany Ott (g)Carolyne Prevost (f)
Erica Kromm (f)Hannah Brandt (f)Emerance Maschmeyer (g)Cassidy Vinkle (f)Christina Ieradi (f)
Halli Krzyzaniak (d)Hilary Knight (f)Emily Clark (f)Chelsey Goldberg (f)Claire Thompson (d)
Hanna Bunton (f)Kelly Pannek (f)Erin Ambrose (d)Codie Cross (d)Ella Matteucci (d)
Iya Gavrilova (f)Kendall Coyne Schofield (f)Genevieve Lacasse (g)Courtney Turner (f)Ella Shelton (d)
Jordyn Zacharias (f)Lee Stecklein (d)Jaime Bourbonnais (d)Delaney Belinskas (f)Erica Howe (g)
Kacey Bellamy (d)Maddie Rooney (g)Jessie Eldridge (f)Emily Field (f)Jamie Lee Rattray (f)
Kaitlin Willoughby (f)Margo Lund (f)Jill Saulnier (f)Emily Matheson (d)Jocelyne Larocque (d)
Kassidy Sauvé (g)Nicole Anderson (d)Karell Emard (f)Gigi Marvin (f)Kayla Vespa (f)
Katelyn Gosling (d)Nicole Hensley (g)Kim Poirier (d)Haley Skarupa (f)Kristen Richards (f)
Kristen Campbell (g)Nicole Schammel (f)Kristin O'Neill (f)Hayley Scamurra (f)Laura Fortino (d)
Laura Dostaler (f)Noora Raty (g)Laura Stacey (f)Jacquie Greco (d)Loren Gabel (f)
MacKenzie Ebel (f)Olivia Zafuto (d)Lauriane Rougeau (d)Jincy Dunne (d)Madison Field (f)
Marlène Boissonnault (g)Reagan Haley (f)MariePhilip Poulin (f)Kali Flanagan (d)Natalie Spooner (f)
Meaghan Mikkelson (d)Ryleigh Houston (f)MarieSoleil Deschênes (g)Katie Burt (g)Nicole Kosta (f)
Megan Grenon (d)Sam Hanson (d)Maude Gelinas (f)Kimberly Sass (g)Renata Fast (d)
Micah ZandeeHart (d)Samantha Donovan (f)Melanie Desrochers (d)Lillian RibeirinhaBraga (d)Sarah Nurse (f)
Rebecca Johnston (f)Savannah Harmon (d)Melodie Daoust (f)Makenna Newkirk (f)Shannon Stewart (f)
Rhianna Kurio (f)Sophia Shaver (f)Rebecca Leslie (f)Megan Keller (d)Shea Tiley (g)
Samantha Cogan (f)Sydney Brodt (f)Samantha Isbell (d)Meghan Turner (f)Tess Bracken (d)
Sarah Potomak (f)Sydney Scobee (g)Sarah Lefort (f)Sara Earley (f)Victoria Bach (f)
Dean Seymoure (HC)Matt Leitner (HC)Bill Flanagan (HC)Laura McIntosh (HC)
Katie Greenway (AC)Mira Jalosuo (AC)Bill Weiand (AC)PJ MIchael (AC)
Adam Redmond (AC)
Kevin Stone (AC)

Notes

  • There are 37 new players.
  • Four different countries are represented. Canada leads the way with 72 players, the US has 48, three players are listed as dual citizens, while Finland and Russia each have one.
  • A fair amount of players moved in the offseason. A few big name American players who moved include Amanda Pelkey to Calgary; Hilary Knight to Minnesota; and Amanda Kessel, Alex Cavallini, and Emily Matheson to New Hampshire. Hayley Scamurra, Jacquie Greco, and Kimberly Sass are also in New Hampshire, most likely because their former training hubs closed.
  • Noora Räty is rostered for Minnesota, though she also plays for KRS Vanke Rays in the ZhHL. She is the only player who is currently on an active team and a PWHPA roster.
  • Montreal is the only hub without a staff, including a head coach, listed. Toronto has the only female head coach in Laura McIntosh.
  • Minnesota’s assistant coach is former Minnesota Golden Gopher and Finnish National Team member Mira Jalosuo. She’ll coach her former teammate Hannah Brandt./