Seven re-signings and eight free agents including one newcomer and three rookies
Another 15 players have entered the mix as Premier Hockey Federation teams continued their roster building during the third week of May. The latest transactions ahead of the 2023-24 season consist of seven re-signings, four free agents on the move, and four incoming first-year players including three collegiate graduates and one seasoned veteran.
The Boston Pride re-signed forward Taylor Wenczkowski, defender Aneta Tejralová, and welcomed rookie forward Gabrielle David from Clarkson University. The Connecticut Whale announced their first new acquisition of the free agency period by signing forward Kendall Cornine. Her former team, the Metropolitan Riveters, were also active by introducing goaltender Noora Räty, signing free agents McKenna Brand, Kaleigh Fratkin, and Olivia Zafuto from Boston, and re-signing All-Star forwards Sarah Bujold and Fanni Gasparics. The Montreal Force re-signed defenders Taylor Baker and Christine Deaudelin, and signed rookie forward Marika Labrecque from McGill University. The Toronto Six re-signed goaltender Elaine Chuli and signed rookie forward Claire Dalton from Yale University.
🚨OFFICIAL
The Metropolitan Riveters have signed former Finnish national team goaltender and four-time Olympian Noora Räty to a one-year contract with the club through the 2023-24 Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) season @PHF#hockeypic.twitter.com/HlkUIOnyJz— Metropolitan Riveters (@Riveters) May 16, 2023
Räty is one of the most prolific players to ever join the PHF. The former Finnish national team goaltender is a four-time Olympian and two-time bronze medalist with wins in 2010 and 2018 where she was named a Tournament All-Star. She’s also a five-time medalist in IIHF Women’s World Championship competition, compiling four bronze medals and one silver, and has been named the tournament’s Best Goaltender five times. The 33-year-old from Espoo, Finland was a NCAA star at the University of Minnesota where she won two national championships, was a two-time All-American, and three-time Patty Kazmaier Award finalist. She has signed a one-year contract with the Riveters after spending last season with HPK of the Naisten Liiga where she posted a 1.56 goals-against-average and a .943 save percentage with two shutouts.
“After casually connecting with Venla Hovi on other things, we quickly found ourselves talking about me potentially playing for her and the Rivs with some of my good friends, such as Minttu Tuominen,” Räty said. “I’m at the end of my career and knowing how rare and limited these true professional opportunities are for goalies, I decided to make a safe personal business decision and take the offer that will secure my finances. As a woman, having an opportunity to play pro hockey is not something to take for granted so I’m super thankful to have been given this opportunity to live my dream.”
Noora Raty has signed with the PHF’s Metropolitan Riveters🏅🔥 @HighlightHER
– 4-time Olympian (2 bronze medals)
– 9 World Championship appearances (1 silver, 4 bronze medals)
– 5-time World Championships Best Goaltender
– 2-time NCAA Champion pic.twitter.com/BTw6ybrzmM— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 16, 2023
The Riveters continued their free agency surge by signing a trio of Pride players to one-year deals. Zafuto, a 26-year-old from Niagara Falls, NY, has a new contract valued at $63,000 after producing 10 points in 22 games and earning All-Star honors during her first PHF campaign. The 27-year-old Brand hails from Park Rapids, MN but has spent the entirety of her five-year PHF career in Boston where she became a two-time Isobel Cup champion and the fifth leading scorer in PHF history with 87 points in 91 career games. Fratkin is one of the original members of the league in 2015-16. The 31-year-old from Burnaby, British Columbia is also a two-time Isobel Cup champion with the Pride in 2021 and 2022 and earned back-to-back Defender of the Year honors in 2020 and 2021. Through eight seasons, which includes the 2016-17 campaign as a Riveter, the recent All-Star captain ranks second in all-time games played among PHF skaters with 138 and is the highest scoring defender in league history with 86 career points.
“I’m very happy to be coming back to the Riveters after all these seasons,” said Fratkin. “The Rivs have always had a special place in my heart because it reminds me of where this league started to where it is now. Ultimately, what influenced my decision to come here, is this organization made me feel valued as a person and player and welcomed me with open arms. I still want to accomplish things in this league, and I feel the Rivs are my home to do that. The Rivs are doing everything right to build a championship winning team with their entire organization and that’s something I want to be a part of again.”
Riveters Sign Brand, Fratkin & Zafuto to One-Year Dealshttps://t.co/EoY9v4Pez1https://t.co/RUxg19y50v
— The Ice Garden (@TheIceGarden) May 18, 2023
Departing the metro area is Cornine who has signed a two-year contract in Connecticut. The 26-year-old Kinnelon, NJ native accumulated 48 points across 71 games through four seasons with the Riveters.
“I’m really excited to be joining the Whale organization for the next two years,” Cornine said. “The Whale have made a huge climb in the league over the past few years and have become known for their work, culture, and skill on and off the ice. I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates and putting in the work this summer. My goal for the year is to bring my experience in the league, scoring ability, and work ethic to the team next season. Thank you to my past teammates and coaches for their support, I can’t wait for this next chapter.”
Score-nine is swimming with the Pod! 🎉
We are excited to announce that we have signed Kendall Cornine to a two-year deal.
📰 https://t.co/JAPDrOX1qdpic.twitter.com/G5KMEApOfD— Connecticut Whale (@CTWhaleHockey) May 18, 2023
Also changing sweaters next season are the incoming rookies, including David who signed a one-year contract in Boston. The 23-year-old from Drummondville, Québec spent the past four collegiate seasons as a Golden Knight and totaled 149 points with 58 goals and 91 assists in 135 games played. The four-time ECAC All-Academic team member also racked up international experience with Canada’s U18 team, where she won a silver medal at the 2017 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.
“Gabrielle is an elite player in every aspect of the game,” said Paul Mara, Pride Head Coach. “Her skating skills, scoring prowess, and ability to make plays will be a tremendous asset for the Pride next season. She has been a prominent top player in the NCAA, and we expect nothing more for her than to continue that way and get even better at the professional level.”
🚨SIGNING NEWS 🚨
After four seasons at Clarkson University, forward Gabrielle David signs with the Pride! The forward led the @ClarksonWHockey in assists this past season.Full story: https://t.co/y3WCh2Not5#PridePHF | @gabdavid18pic.twitter.com/8MhkSsKyu2
— Boston Pride (@TheBostonPride) May 19, 2023
Dalton will have the opportunity to make her professional debut in her hometown with the defending champions, signing a one-year contract with the Six valued at $65,000. The 23-year-old graduates as Yale’s all-time leader with 133 points in 130 games, registering 44 goals while adding 89 assists. The 2022-23 captain was also named a recipient of Yale Athletics’ prestigious Molly Meyer Humanitarian Award, which is given to the student-athlete whose character exemplifies selfless devotion along with compassion and concern for their team and the community at Yale and beyond. She too has Team Canada experience, securing a bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.
“Claire is a tenacious hockey player that resembles just the type of player that we need here on the T6,” said Angela James, Six General Manager. “She is fast, aggressive, a playmaker with a big, heavy shot who can score goals and is a big presence on the ice. Claire is a young leader and someone who puts her team first, and I think she is going to be an asset to our core lineup and a great fit in the locker room.”
Claire Dalton is the newest member of @TheTorontoSix. The @YaleWHockey talks about signing her first pro contract, Yale hockey, her goals, and introduces herself to @PHF.
Have a watch and listen @TheHockeyNewshttps://t.co/jn3dVBgc9e
— The Hockey News – Women’s (@TheHockeyNewsW) May 20, 2023
Labrecque is a 25-year-old from Lac-Etchemin, Quebec who will make her pro debut in her home province after six years with the Martlets where she helped the team earn silver at the U SPORTS national championship in 2018-19 and a RSEQ championship in 2019-20. Her best offensive season was in 2021-22 when she finished second on the team in scoring behind Force star Jade Downie-Landry with 23 points in 15 games.
“We saw Marika grow in this game for the past five years,” said Kevin Raphaël, Force President. “Yes, it was not her best season last year, but I believe that she could be a surprise in this league. She can play every position and she’s coming in with the right mindset and attitude. This is her opportunity to show us that she can play with the top women in the world. Talent wise, she is right there. The rest will come.”
McGill grad Labrecque signs pro pact with PHF’S Montreal Force https://t.co/VSBfYAm3VA
— McGill Athletics (@McGillAthletics) May 17, 2023
Of the re-signings, Wenczkowski and Chuli are the most experienced with three PHF seasons under their belts and have both inked contracts for two more years with their respective clubs. The 25-year-old Wenczkowski is a Rochester, NH native who was selected by Boston in the third round of the 2020 draft. She’s amassed 25 points in 51 career games and notably scored the game-winning goals in both the 2021 and 2022 Isobel Cup finals and earned 2022 Playoff MVP honors. The 29-year-old Chuli from Waterford, Ontario won Goaltender of the Year honors in 2022 then backstopped Toronto to its first Isobel Cup title in 2023. She carries an all-time record of 32-7-2 across 41 games, with a 2.16 goals-against-average and a .924 save percentage.
“Being here since the team started back in 2020, I feel really tied to the organization and the city, and I’m super excited to keep building what we’ve already started here the last three seasons,” Chuli said. “I’m looking forward to bringing another championship back to Toronto. The only thing I’m worried about is wins and winning a championship. That remains my goal, and everything I do everyday is in pursuit of that goal.”
CHULI IS STAYING HOME 🎉 🎉 🎉
We’ve signed goaltender @ElaineChuli to a two-year contract through 2025!
📰:https://t.co/SGFOm3ziNj#GotYourSix | @PHFpic.twitter.com/FkhDdMseWe
— Toronto Six 🏆 (@TheTorontoSix) May 16, 2023
The other five recent re-signings are all players returning for their second PHF seasons, each on one-year contracts. In Boston, the 27-year-old Tejralová recorded 10 points and represented PHF Team World at the All-Star Game, then helped Czechia win a second straight bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Two of her Team World teammates are also back after competing for Hungary during April’s World Championship. The 28-year-old Gasparics turned heads with her four-goal performance at the All-Star Game and produced 14 points in 24 games with the Riveters. Baker, a 25-year-old from Toronto picked up nine points in her first 24 games on Montreal’s blue line. Bujold was also an All-Star for the Riveters as the 27-year-old former U SPORTS Player of the Year from Riverview, New Brunswick collected 20 points including 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 games. Deaudelin tied Baker with nine points in 23 games for the expansion Force. The 25-year-old from Beloeil, Quebec was a first-year pro after five U SPORTS seasons with the University of Ottawa.
The Riveters have re-signed All-Star forwards Sarah Bujold & Fanni Gasparics to 1-year contracts. Bujold was third in team scoring with 20 points, & Gasparics notably scored four goals for PHF Team World in All-Star competition!#PresentedByDiscover
✍️ https://t.co/U0CqvvGUfcpic.twitter.com/EpEupr2Fan
— PHF (@PHF) May 19, 2023
