Force add four players including two rookies, Whitecaps re-sign two sophomores
The early stages of roster building for the 2023-24 Premier Hockey Federation season is underway and both Minnesota and Montreal made their mark during the first week of May.
The Whitecaps inked forward Brittyn Fleming and defender Olivia Knowles to two-year contracts after the pair made their professional debuts during the 2022-23 campaign. The Force also announced the re-signing of two players to two-year deals along with the first two rookie signings of the free agency period. Forward Jade Downie-Landry and defender Brigitte Laganière return to the league’s newest club after impressive first seasons of their own, and U SPORTS graduates Rosalie Bégin-Cyr from Concordia University and Audrey-Anne Veillette from the University of Montreal have signed one-year contracts.
“Free agency has been good for Montreal,” said Kevin Raphaël, Team President. “We are excited to go face-to-face with our first real offseason and that we’re looking to upgrade everything from on the ice to off the ice. We have many surprises coming for our fans. Everyone is working hard to get better and raise the Force to a higher level. We can feel their passion and energy and know how much this means to all our players, which is inspiring for the season ahead.”
The Montréal Force have re-signed Jade Downie-Landry & Brigitte Laganière on two year deals.
They have also signed Audrey-Anne Veillette and Rosalie Bégin-Cyr from @Carabins and @Concordia_WH of @USPORTS_Hockey to one year deals. #PresentedByDiscoverpic.twitter.com/zyLjG6Rmyk
— PHF (@PHF) May 7, 2023
Downie-Landry made an immediate impact in her first pro season, leading all PHF rookies in scoring with 23 points in 24 games after earning U SPORTS Player of the Year honors with McGill University. The 27-year-old All-Star from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec led the expansion team in points, assists, shots on goal, faceoffs won, and scored the team’s first hat-trick as part of a five-point performance during their historic Nov. 26 home opener. Laganière logged big minutes in all situations for the Force, joining the PHF fresh off a U SPORTS national championship with Concordia. The 26-year-old Montreal native produced four points offensively for her hometown team, including a last-minute game-winning goal against Connecticut during the league’s neutral site game in Pittsburgh.
La Force de Montréal est fier d’accueillir deux joueuses élite issues des rangs universitaires 🇨🇦 , Audrey-Anne Veillette et Rosalie Bégin-Cyr.
Du même coup, la #ForceMTL est fier de rapatrier deux piliers du club en Jade Downie-Landry & Brigitte Laganière pour plusieurs années. pic.twitter.com/CsfktyTOLp
— La Force de Montréal (@LaForceMontreal) May 5, 2023
Bégin-Cyr reunites with Laganière after celebrating a 2022 title together on the Stingers. The 25-year-old forward from St-Georges-de-Beauce, Quebec had the best offensive season of her U SPORTS career in 2022-23 with 29 points including nine goals in 23 games. She also won a gold medal representing Canada at the 2023 Winter World University Games. That team also featured Veillette who joins the Force with elite offensive abilities that earned her recognition as RSEQ Conference MVP and a First Team U SPORTS All-Star with 35 points including 26 goals in 22 games for the Carabins. In addition to her Universiade success, the 22-year-old forward from Drummondville, Quebec has won two silver medals with Canada competing in the 2017 and 2018 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championships.
The Minnesota Whitecaps have re-signed forward Brittyn Fleming and defender Olivia Knowles both to two-year deals following impressive rookie campaigns! @brittyn_fleming | @oliviaknowles99 | #PresentedByDiscover
✍️ https://t.co/7RHY2cS0dL | https://t.co/VpZKGkLsZKpic.twitter.com/5Zikb6Xb27
— PHF (@PHF) May 4, 2023
Fleming’s first PHF season included three goals and six assists for nine points across 24 regular season games, then another two goals in three playoff appearances including one in the Isobel Cup Championship. The 23-year-old from Oregon, WI turned pro after an illustrious NCAA career with Minnesota State where she set the Mavericks all-time points record with 145 in a record 161 games. Knowles scored once with two helpers in 24 regular season contests, plus one assist in the club’s postseason. The 24-year-old from Campbell River, British Columbia spent her NCAA tenure at the University of Minnesota, serving as Gophers captain in her fifth year.
In the Isobel Cup Playoffs and Final, Brittyn Fleming played the best hockey of her rookie season. The @MinnStWHockey product scored twice in the Caps’ 3 postseason games.
Catch her goal highlights now 👇
📽️: https://t.co/eFwZroP4eYpic.twitter.com/jhr3WOw1nJ
— Minnesota Whitecaps (@WhitecapsHockey) May 3, 2023
“I am very excited to bring Brittyn and Olivia back for the next two years,” said Chi-Yin Tse, Whitecaps General Manager. “I believe Brittyn is a core player and expect her success to continue from the end of last season. She possesses the ability to control the puck to make crafty plays and has a scoring touch. Olivia is one of the most physically and mentally strong players I have ever met. Her durability and strength on the blue line will help stabilize us offensively and defensively.”
In her rookie season, Olivia Knowles was a force wherever she was on the ice. The @GopherWHockey product showcased her range in the postseason with an assist and five blocked shots.
Watch her offensive highlights now 👇
📽️: https://t.co/wHVUI4zbXQpic.twitter.com/fO9k5ChY0X
— Minnesota Whitecaps (@WhitecapsHockey) May 3, 2023
Minnesota now has seven players under contract for the upcoming season with Fleming and Knowles joining forwards Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Anna Klein, Ronja Mogren, and defenders Amanda Boulier and Sidney Morin who are all entering the second season of their two-year deals. The four Force players bring Montreal’s roster to five with holdover Kaity Howarth in the second year of her two-year contract.
