Sign in Subscribe
International

Söderberg, Peslarová and Neubaurová Sign in Europe

Three European stars from the PWHL will head back to Europe next season.

Söderberg, Peslarová and Neubaurová Sign in Europe
Klára Peslarová squares up to a shot | Credit: PWHL

Three of the PWHL's European stars will head back to Europe, the players announced this past week.

Emma Söderberg will return to Sweden after two years with the Boston Fleet. She'll join SDE HF to play in the SDHL for at least one season, with the option to extend for a second season. As the backup goaltender to Aerin Frankel, Söderberg didn't get much playing time while in the PWHL, playing just 14 games across two seasons. The Swedish native's numbers weren't much to write home about, finishing with a 2.80 goals-against-average and 0.893 save percentage during her time with the Fleet.

"We are very happy that one of the world's best goalkeepers, Emma Söderberg, chose SDE as the next stop in her already fantastic career," Helene Åström, Sporting Director at SDE Dam said. "Emma has proven to be the leading goalscorer in the Damkronorna in recent seasons and we hope that Emma can help us succeed in the same way that we help Emma continue to be an anchor in the Damkronorna."

Söderberg trained with SDE as preparation for her two seasons in the PWHL, and said she looks forward to returning to Sweden.

"I'm looking forward to coming home to Sweden and being close to family and friends," She said, "I think it feels great to represent SDE this season, they have made an impressive journey. I'm looking forward to being a part of it and contributing to the development."

The Swedish goaltender has been a star in the NCAA, the SDHL, and at the International level. She was the Swedish Player of the Year in 2022 and made the World Championship All-Star team that same season. With the Olympics on the horizon, she'll look to regain her confidence and help the Swedes have a strong showing.

Subscribe to The Ice Garden

And one of the players she'll be facing in both the SDHL and at the Olympics? Her former teammate with the Boston Fleet, Klára Peslarová.

Peslarová heads back to Sweden to join her former team, Brynäs IF. Prior to joining the Boston Fleet, Peslarová played eight seasons in the SDHL for both MoDo and Brynäs. She's put up impressive numbers in Sweden and took home the SDHL Goaltender of the Year award in 2021.

"It feels incredibly good to return to Brynäs after a year elsewhere. This jersey and community mean a lot to me. I'm so grateful that my hockey journey is taking me here again," Peslarová said.

The Czech goaltender only got to play four games in the PWHL, but her stats were incredibly strong. She finished with three wins and one shutout, winning a lot of respect from the Fleet fans and ownership. But it was too little, too late. The Fleet missed the playoffs and saw both backup goaltenders exit the league.

Like Söderberg, Peslarová is an ace for her national team, backstopping Czechia to their World Championship Bronze medal in 2022. We should see her on the Olympic stage this winter.

Another Czech-born player, Noemi Neubauerová, will head to Switzerland to join her former team, EV Zug (EVZ), in the SWHL. Prior to joining the Toronto Sceptres, Neubauerová played nine games with the team, putting up nearly a point per game.

"We are very pleased that Noemi will be joining our team next season," Head Coach Daniela Diaz said, "Both our young and experienced players can benefit from her invaluable experience."

In her twenty games with the Sceptres in the PWHL, Neubauerová was kept off the scoreboard, and eventually was moved to a reserve member of the team. She wasn't able to find the same kind of success that she had in other series, where she was a two-time NCAA ECAC Champion and won two Bronze medals with Czechia at the World Championships.

So, why are these players heading back overseas?

When asked why she chose to head back to Europe, Klara Peslarová told The Ice Garden, "It's simple. I am a goalie which wants to play. I choose to go back based on ice time which I cannot get in the PWHL. In Olympic year, it's a priority to me to play and not be benched.

I am looking forward to going back to Brynäs, [an] organization which means more than hockey to me."

All three players who left the league weren't able to showcase their true potential and likely chose to head somewhere where their talents would be recognized. It was pretty clear that the Fleet didn't have much confidence in Söderberg, and only just scratched the surface of being able to see what Peslarová could do once they actually let her have a shot. Neubauerová likely experienced the same kind of rookie slump that many other NCAA players do coming into the league, but in a team with a lot of forwards, it was difficult for her to earn a shot. All three players head to teams where they'll get a lot more playing time.

With no development options in North America for anyone not starting every game, players aren't given many options other than to head overseas to try and find a better fit.

With the Olympics looming and a new round of draft picks fighting for spots, we could definitely see more players heading to Europe for a better opportunity.

Read next

Comments ()