From UBC to the Boston Fleet: Rylind MacKinnon’s Journey to the PWHL
As she heads to Boston, Rylind MacKinnon joins a growing group of U SPORTS talent breaking through to the PWHL.
Not every path to the PWHL is a straight line. For Rylind MacKinnon, it’s been a steady, determined climb, from standout university captain to camp invite, to now signing a one-year contract with the Boston Fleet as a free agent.
MacKinnon heads to Boston after completing her first PWHL season with the Toronto Sceptres, where she appeared in 22 regular season games and one playoff matchup. Used in a depth role, she recorded two assists and logged solid minutes. Her play was steady enough to earn continued interest around the league and a new opportunity on a retooling Boston roster.
Before going pro, MacKinnon built one of the most decorated university careers in U SPORTS hockey. She played six seasons (2018–24) with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, serving as captain for three years and became the program’s all-time leading scorer among defenders with 81 points, a record she broke in Feb. 2024. A two-time All-Canadian, MacKinnon helped lead UBC to three consecutive Canada West championships and a U SPORTS bronze medal. In 2022, she was named Canada West Defender of the Year and earned UBC’s Female Athlete of the Year honours.
Her game has always been defined by consistency and leadership. She’s not flashy, but she’s dependable, good on retrievals, smart with the puck, and positionally sound. After going undrafted in the PWHL’s inaugural draft, MacKinnon earned a camp invite with the Sceptres before signing a one-year deal out of training camp.
Now, Boston is betting on her ability to do more.
The one-year contract is a low-risk, high-upside move for a team looking to rebuild its defensive depth. With veteran departures and roster turnover this offseason due to expansion, the Fleet have space for players like MacKinnon to earn a larger role, and potentially take a big step forward in year two.
She also continues a quiet but meaningful trend: PWHL teams turning to U SPORTS talent. MacKinnon joins a small but growing group of players making the leap from Canadian university hockey to the professional level. Among them is Catherine Dubois, a former standout at the Université de Montréal, who signed with the Montréal Victoire and went on to score a historic quadruple-overtime winner in the 2025 PWHL semifinals. Like Dubois, MacKinnon’s path proves that U SPORTS players can not only break into the league but make an impact once they’re there.
From Northern Alberta Xtreme to UBC to the PWHL, MacKinnon’s journey has never been about the spotlight, it’s been about showing up, putting in the work, and earning every step. Now with a fresh start in Boston and a year of pro experience behind her, she’s in position to take the next step. Her story is proof that there’s no single path to the PWHL, just persistence, patience, and the right opportunity.
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