TORONTO, ON (September 8, 2023) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced the first three players to sign free agent contracts with the league’s New York franchise are forwards Alex Carpenter, Abby Roque, and defender Micah Zandee-Hart. The decorated trio of Olympians and World Champions from the U.S. and Canadian National Women’s Team have all agreed to terms on three-year deals for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 PWHL seasons. Salary terms will not be disclosed, as per the PWHL Players’ Association.
“When you’re building a championship-caliber team, you look for your cornerstone players,” said Pascal Daoust, General Manager of PWHL New York.
“Signing Abby Roque, Micah Zandee-Hart, and Alex Carpenter isn’t just about roster building, it’s about setting the tone in the locker room and on the ice. They represent the heart of our foundation, the compete every player and coach respects, and the spirit our fans will rally behind.
With them lacing up for us, every play and every moment will be a step closer to the culture of excellence we’re crafting.”
Pascal Daoust GM PWHL New York
Alex Carpenter
One of the most skilled forwards in women’s hockey.
The 29-year-old debuted with Team USA in 2009 and had a three-year run with the U18 program. Among her most notable achievements at the senior level, she is a two-time Olympic silver medalist (2014, 2022) and eight-time medalist at the IIHF Women’s World Championship (6 Gold, 2 Silver).
Carpenter hails from North Reading, MA and attended Boston College, where she won the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Award as a junior in 2015 to go along with being a finalist in 2013 and 2016. As a senior, she famously captained the Eagles to just the second undefeated regular season in NCAA history.
Carpenter has accrued a wide range of professional experience with the PHF’s Boston Pride (2016-17), the CWHL’s Kunlun Red Star (2017-18), and various iterations of the KRS Vanke Rays (2018-21) in the CWHL and ZhHL/WHL.
She spent the 2022-23 campaign in the PWHPA and was a nominee for Forward of the Year, as voted by the players.
“I’m thrilled to have signed with New York of the PWHL,” said Carpenter.
“From the moment New York was announced as a franchise, I knew this would be a great opportunity both for me and women’s hockey, and I can’t wait to get started.
I would like to thank Pascal Daoust and his team for their professionalism throughout this process. It became clear to me in speaking with him that the organization is committed to qualities of hard work, accountability, and leadership, all which resonate with me personally and in my play.
I’m excited to continue to build the game I love with my teammates and this organization here in New York.”
Alex Carpenter
“We’re proud to welcome Alex Carpenter to our New York franchise in the PWHL,” said Daoust.
“As an offensive center, Alex’s scoring touch and skills, combined with her determination, truly stand out. Her relentless dedication, both during games and in training, perfectly mirrors the core values and vision we’re championing as we strive for unparalleled excellence. We have no doubt Alex will soon win the hearts of our fans.”
Abby Roque
Made history as the first Indigenous player to compete for the U.S. National Women’s Team at the Olympics, earning a silver medal in 2022.
The 25-year-old from Sault. Ste. Marie, MI and member of the Wahnapitae First Nation, has also won three World Championship medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver) and two U18 medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver) with Team USA.
Roque played her NCAA career with the University of Wisconsin Badgers where she won a National Championship in 2019, then finished top-10 in NCAA scoring as a senior in 2020 earning top-three recognition as a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award.
Roque’s professional career consists of two PWHPA seasons in 2020-21 and 2022-23.
She returns to New York after being part of the first-ever professional women’s hockey game played at Madison Square Garden in February 2021.
“I’m so thrilled to be one of the first women signed in the PWHL,” said Roque.
“New York is an amazing city and such a great place to start a women’s ice hockey franchise. I couldn’t be more excited about the future of this league and this team. As the great Taylor Swift once said, welcome to New York!”
Abby Roque
“We are thrilled to announce Abby Roque as an inaugural player for our New York franchise in the PWHL,” said Daoust.
“As a center, Abby embodies exceptional skills and leadership. Her unparalleled work ethic, both on and off ice, represents the values and vision we have for our team as we strive for excellence.
We’re confident that our fans will soon embrace Abby with the same enthusiasm and pride that we feel.”
Micah Zandee-Hart
Joins New York as a proven leader.
She served as captain for Canada’s U18 team and was named co-captain at Cornell University, where she became just the second sophomore in program history to don the ‘C’.
Last season in the PWHPA, Zandee-Hart was also voted by her teammates in recognition of her leadership both on and off the ice.
Internationally, the 26-year-old from Saanichton, BC, became the first player from her province to represent Canada’s National Women’s Team at the Olympics, where she won gold in 2022.
She’s also won three World Championship medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze) in addition to her U18 and U22 hardware.
She has familiarity with the New York area from her collegiate tenure with the Big Red between 2015-20, capped by point-per-game production as a senior where she finished fourth in the nation in scoring among defenders.
“I feel privileged to be one of the first women to sign with the PWHL,” said Zandee-Hart.
“This league has been years, even decades in the making, as it is the legends of our game who have paved the way for women’s hockey.
I am grateful to these women, to my fellow players today, the PWHL board of directors, and specifically to the player board for their countless hours in making this a reality for us. I am looking forward to joining the New York organization and growing the game with the community.”
Micah Zandee-Hart
“We’re thrilled to welcome Micah Zandee-Hart, a Canadian native who honed her skills in the Tri-State Area at Cornell, to our New York franchise in the PWHL,” said Daoust.
“Renowned for her leadership on a global scale and a playing style that aligns with our team’s values, Micah stands as a testament to the caliber of team we’re building. Our fans are in for a treat with her blend of talent and authenticity.”
The PWHL player selection process officially opened on September 1 with an initial free agency period that continues through Sept. 10. Teams are permitted to sign three players to Standard Player Agreements during this time. The 2023 PWHL Draft is scheduled for Sept. 18 where New York holds the fourth overall pick.
TORONTO, ON (September 7, 2023) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced the first three players to sign free agent contracts with the league’s Montreal franchise are goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, and forwards Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey. The trio of Canadian Olympians have all agreed to terms on three-year deals for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 PWHL seasons. Salary terms will not be disclosed, as per the PWHL Players’ Association.
“I couldn’t envision a more exceptional group of individuals and athletes to represent Montreal,” said Danièle Sauvageau, General Manager of PWHL Montreal.
“We are creating an environment that fosters both athletic and personal growth, ensuring that our athletes are drawn to it as a place where they can thrive. These three players exemplify a winning spirit and are committed to a culture of continuous success. We’re excited to play in front of fans who have always shown unwavering support for the teams in Montreal.”
Danièle Sauvageau GM PWHL Montreal
Ann-Renée Desbiens
Has been rock solid between-the-pipes when representing Canada, including April’s IIHF Women’s World Championship where she was named Best Goaltender, and backstopping Canada to Olympic gold in 2022 where she started five games with a 1.80 goals-against-average and a .940 save percentage.
The 29-year-old from Clermont, QC first donned the maple leaf in 2011 as a member of the U18 team and has performed on the highest stages with silver at the 2018 Olympics, plus a total of four World Championship medals (2 Gold, 2 Silver) to her name.
Desbiens had one of the most prolific NCAA careers in the crease at the University of Wisconsin posting a career .955 save percentage, 99 wins, and a record 55 shutouts. She was a top-three finalist for the 2015-16 Patty Kazmaier Award as a junior, then won the prestigious honour as a senior in 2016-17.
Her pro career includes a 2012 Clarkson Cup title with the Montreal Stars, and competition across the PWHPA from 2019-21 and again in 2022-23.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be part of this historic moment for women’s hockey in Montreal,” said Desbiens.
“I’m proud to be able to play the sport I love in my home province and the city I’ve called home for the past few years. I can’t wait to begin this adventure with Laura and Marie-Philip and to make this franchise an example of excellence both on the ice and in the community.”
Ann-Renée Desbiens
“Ann is a fierce competitor who maintains her composure when it matters most,” said Sauvageau.
“She is a dedicated student of the game, driven to become the best in the world, and this relentless pursuit is a key factor in her success.”
Marie-Philip Poulin
Is one of Montreal—and Canada’s— most well-known athletes and the first women’s hockey player in history to win the honourable Northern Star Award as Canada’s athlete of the year.
Often referred to as ‘Captain Clutch’, the 32-year-old is the only player in women’s hockey history to score goals in three Olympic gold medal games, twice notching game-winners, including the iconic overtime ‘Golden Goal’ in Sochi, 2014.
Poulin has been a member of Canada’s National Team since 2007 and captain since 2015.
The native of Beauceville, QC is a four-time Olympic medalist (3 Gold, 1 Silver) and 11-time World Championship medalist (3 Gold, 7 Silver, 1 Bronze).
At Boston University she captained the Terriers and was a top-3 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award as a senior in 2015.
She uniquely played two CWHL seasons before NCAA, suiting up for the Montreal Stars as a 16-year-old and winning 2008 Rookie of the Year and the 2009 Clarkson Cup.
She resumed her pro career in 2015 with Les Canadiennes, winning three MVP and scoring titles in four years, and a second championship in 2017.
Poulin joined the PWHPA from 2019-21 and led the circuit in scoring in 2022-23 on her way to the Top Forward Award.
“This professional women’s hockey league is the outcome of years of work from key players in the hockey community,” said Poulin.
“We have achieved a very important milestone, not only for our generation of players but for all the girls who aspire to play in our professional league one day.
We now have the opportunity to make a living playing the game we love. I am proud of what we have accomplished and especially grateful to be part of the history of women’s hockey as a member of the Montreal team.
This city lives for hockey, just like me. This is where I wanted to live my dream.”
Marie-Philip Poulin
“Marie-Philip is always a true leader of every group she encounters,” said Sauvageau.
“Her work ethic stands unparalleled. She possesses a multitude of facets to her game that elevate her to the status of the ultimate competitor, both on and off the ice.”
Laura Stacey
Joins PWHL Montreal from Kleinburg, Ontario, where she developed as a dominant power forward.
A two-time Olympic Medalist (1 Gold, 1 Silver) and five-time World Championship medalist (2 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze).
The 29-year-old debuted for Hockey Canada in 2011 for its U18 team, helping win two straight medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver).
Her collegiate career was played at Dartmouth University where she captained the Big Green as a senior.
Stacey turned pro upon graduation in 2016, drafted third overall to the CWHL’s Brampton Thunder where she earned Rookie of the Year honours.
Upon her return from the 2018 Olympics, she helped the Markham Thunder win the 2018 Clarkson Cup and scored the overtime-winning goal in the championship.
Competing with the PWHPA from 2019-21 and again in 2022-23, after the 2022 Olympics, Stacey was the fourth-leading scorer last season.
“It is an absolute honour to sign with Montreal and officially be a part of the PWHL,” said Stacey.
“This has been something we all have been dreaming about and collectively working towards for over four years now, and to be a part of the beginning of this new chapter is truly something I will remember forever. Allez Montreal!”
Laura Stacey
“Laura has become an offensive powerhouse in the women’s game, consistently expanding and developing her craft,” said Sauvageau.
“Her speed remains the X-factor, consistently making her hard to play against.”
The PWHL player selection process officially opened on September 1 with an initial free agency period that continues through Sept. 10. Teams are permitted to sign three players to Standard Player Agreements during this time. The 2023 PWHL Draft is scheduled for Sept. 18 where Montreal holds the sixth overall pick.
