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PWHL Roster Status Report: Ottawa

A look at how PWHL Ottawa's roster is shaping up, plus where all of last year's players are now.

PWHL Roster Status Report: Ottawa
PWHL Ottawa players stand on the blue line before a game. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Things have been quiet on the PWHL front lately, but a lot has already happened this offseason between the draft and ongoing free agency. Spots will likely remain open on all teams through training camp, but the bulk of next season’s rosters is coming into focus, so it's time to look at where each team stands. First, we’ll look at where everyone from last year’s roster is before moving on to the new faces and remaining roster spots. It's Ottawa's turn in the spotlight in the penultimate installment of the TIG roster report series.

All signing information is according to TIG’s roster tracker. Camp invite details are from a master spreadsheet by The Score’s Kyle Cushman unless otherwise noted.

Last Year’s Roster

Scamurra skates down the bench to get fist bumps from her teammates after a goal. They are all wearing white away uniforms.
Hayley Scamurra celebrates a goal at the bench with her teammates. Photo courtesy of the PWHL.

Still Had Term

Forwards

  • Emily Clark
  • Brianne Jenner
  • Gabbie Hughes
  • Hayley Scamurra
  • Tereza Vanišová

Defenders

  • Jincy Roese
  • Ashton Bell
  • Savannah Harmon

Goaltenders

  • Emerance Maschmeyer

Heading into the offseason, Ottawa was guaranteed to return a strong group of players on and off the ice. However, finding a goaltender that could take some of the load away from Maschmeyer and a few more goal scorers was a priority for GM Michael Hirshfeld.

Re-Signings

Boyd skates with both hands on her stick and watches the play to her left. She is wearing a red home jersey.
Zoe Boyd skates and watches the play. Photo by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL.

Forwards

  • Natalie Snodgrass
  • Shiann Darkangelo
  • Kateřina Mrázová

Defenders

  • Aneta Tejralová
  • Zoe Boyd

Mrázová and Tejralová each inked two-year deals, while the rest earned new one-year contracts. Boyd, Snodgrass, and Tejralová all signed during the exclusive negotiation window, so their contracts are guaranteed, while the others are not.

Free Agents

Garát-Gasparics skates down the bench getting fist bumps from her teammates. She is wearing a red home uniform.
Fanni Garát-Gasparics skates down the bench to celebrate a goal with her teammates. Photo by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL.

Forwards

  • Sammy Davis
  • Rosy Demers
  • Fanni Garát-Gasparics

Defenders

  • Emma Buckles
  • Samantha Isbell
  • Lauren MacInnis

Goaltenders

  • Rachel McQuigge

Two would-be free agents–forwards Akane Shiga and Kristin Della Rovere–have signed over in Europe. Another, Becca Gilmore, has retired from professional hockey. A few others have departed via free agency, with forward Daryl Watts joining PWHL Toronto and goaltender Sandra Abstreiter accepting an invite to Montréal’s camp.

Protected List

  • Audrey-Anne Veillette (F)

Ottawa also has one player on their protected list. Injury prevented Audrey-Anne Veillette from attending training camp after being drafted in the 15th round by Ottawa in the inaugural draft, although she was able to join the team as a reserve player in March. She didn’t get into a game last season, but she will likely be at training camp to vie for another spot.

Draftees/New Faces

Five people are on stage, with Serdachny in the middle. They are all smiling and holding a wooden draft stick.
Danielle Serdachny poses with PWHL advisory board and staff members at the 2024 draft. Photo by Heather Pollock.

2024 Ottawa Draft Class

  • Round 1, Pick 2: Danielle Serdachny (F)
  • Round 2, Pick 8: Ronja Savolainen (D)
  • Round 3, Pick 14: Gwyneth Phillips (G)
  • Round 4, Pick 20: Stephanie Markowski (D)
  • Round 5, Pick 26: Mannon McMahon (F)
  • Round 6, Pick 32: Anna Meixner (F)
  • Round 7, Pick 38: Madeline Wethington (D)

Check out at my colleague Simon Hopkin’s recap here for a more in-depth look at each new draftee. So far, only Serdachny, Meixner, and Phillips have signed contracts. Serdachny inked a three-year deal, while Phillips signed for two years and Meixner for one.

Free Agent Signings

  • Rebecca Leslie (F)
  • Alexa Vasko (F)
  • Logan Angers (G)

Ottawa also signed a few free agents after losing some of last year’s players. Leslie and Vasko were with Toronto last season and signed one-year deals. Meanwhile, Logan Angers became the first undrafted free agent from this year’s draft to sign a full contract when she put pen to paper on her one-year deal.

Finally, for outside camp invites, only undrafted free agent Taylor House is confirmed as an attendee.

Remaining Roster Spots

Five Ottawa players celebrate a goal with a group hug. One is starting to skate away to go to the bench. They are all wearing red home uniforms.
Ottawa players celebrate a goal with a group hug. Photo by Andrea Cardin/Freestyle Photography/PWHL.

There isn’t going to be much wiggle room on Ottawa’s roster heading into training camp, as they’re tied for Boston and Toronto for the fewest open slots. They have 20 players already signed, leaving just three regular spots and three reserve slots up for grabs. Of the 20 players signed, 12 are forwards, five are defenders, and three are goaltenders. So, assuming a normal roster construction, expect the final four slots to be filled by one forward and two defenders.

Should all of Ottawa’s unsigned draftees attend camp, they don’t necessarily need to invite more players to camp to fill their open slots. However, for the sake of creating competition, it’s a good idea, even if it’s just some free agents from last year’s roster. So, Hirshfeld still has a little work to do before camps open to get his team in the best position possible to make the playoffs after missing out last year.

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