PWHL Vancouver Signs Sophie Jaques

PWHL Vancouver has signed defender Sophie Jaques to a three-year contract, marking the team's second player signing during the exclusive window.

PWHL Vancouver Signs Sophie Jaques
Photo: PWHL

Consider PWHL Vancouver's defense core solid already, as the team has announced the signing of Sophie Jaques to a three-year contract. The news comes shortly after Vancouver announced the signing of Claire Thompson. Both players came from the Minnesota Frost.

Like Thompson, Jaques is also a finalist for PWHL Defender of the Year. She is also a two-time Walter Cup champion, having won the title in each of the last two seasons.

“Sophie is a proven winner, and that experience will be instrumental in shaping our foundation from the blueline," said GM Cara Gardner Morey in the team's media release. "She is a dynamic defender with world-class speed and skill, and a player I believe is only scratching the surface of her potential.”

Jaques, 24, is now headed to her third PWHL team. She joined the league in its inaugural season after being drafted 10th overall by then-PWHL Boston. After seven games, she was part of the first-ever trade in league history, acquired by Minnesota in exchange for Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook.

Since joining the Frost organization, she's registered 32 points in 40 regular season games, including 23 assists. She was second among Frost skaters in ice time during the regular season (22:26) and recorded seven points (2-5) in eight playoff games this year.

Both Jaques and Thompson, two of Minnesota's top defenders, were eligible for protection but were left exposed. Because Minnesota has now relinquished two players, the Frost were eligible to protect one additional player. The team has chosen to protect forward Britta Curl-Salemme with their fourth slot.

Curl-Salemme is the PWHL's most-suspended player after being charged with numerous infractions in her rookie year. She's also been under fire for her historical interactions with transphobic, homophobic and other bigoted posts on social media.

The exclusive signing window for PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle continues until 5 p.m. EST on June 8. Each team can sign up to five players during that time.