With the retirement of 37-year-old Gigi Marvin, the PWHL now has a new elder stateswoman. Marvin was the oldest player in the PWHL last season, and would have been again this season had she not announced her retirement.
That honor now moves to Toronto Sceptres’ defender Jocelyne Larocque. Larocque, 36, will pass Marvin as the oldest player to compete in the PWHL next year on the final season of her three-year contract.
Larocque is also one of only two players in the PWHL remaining who were born in the 1980s. The other player from that decade is Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight.
Knight, who turned 35 this offseason, was born in 1989.
Related: Gigi Marvin Formally Announces Her Retirement From Hockey
At the other end of the spectrum, Boston Fleet defender Daniela Pejsova is the youngest player currently signed to a PWHL contract, followed by Montreal Victoire forward Lina Ljungblom who are both 22. Pejsova is the only player born in 2002 in the league, while Ljungblom was born in 2001. Should Boston Fleet draft pick Ilona Markova crack the league, she would join Pejsova as another 22-year-old, 2002 born player.
Marvin and Knight both made their USA national team debut at the 2007 World Championships. Larocque didn’t crack Team Canada for four more years until the 2011 tournament.
Beyond this trio, Natalie Spooner is the only player in the PWHL born in 1990. She will turn 34 in October 2024.
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