Whale Sign Emma Söderberg to Two-Year Deal

The Connecticut Whale just made a massive free-agency splash. On Tuesday the Pod announced that they have signed goaltender Emma Söderberg to a two-year contract. The 25-year old star netminder has made a household name for herself during her five seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth and internationally with Team Sweden.

During her time at UMD, Söderberg was the team’s MVP year in and year out where she posted a 54-26-2 record, .936 SV%, 1.65 GAA, and an insane 23 shutouts. In her senior year she was named an All-USCHO First Team All-American, All-WCHA First Team selection, WCHA Goaltender of the Year, WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year, and Top-3 finalist for National Goaltender of the Year. She ended her collegiate career with the fifth-most NCAA career wins in history. During the 2021-22 season, she also set the NCAA Tournament record for saves with 146.

“Emma was a top prospect coming out of the NCAA, and we couldn't be more excited to have her join our organization,” Connecticut Head Coach Colton Orr said in the press release announcing the signing.

The Swedish goaltender was named a finalist for the inaugural IIHF Female Player of the Year award for the 2022-23 season. The winner is set to be announced on June 1. Söderberg made her Olympic debut during the 2022 Winter Olympics where she started in all five of Sweden’s games recording a .913 SV%.

The 2023 Worlds was where the hockey world really learnt who Emma Söderberg was. In Sweden’s 7 games, Söderberg got the nod for five games where she had an impressive .924 SV%. During the quarter final game versus the juggernaut Canadians, she made 54 saves on 57 shots where she helped push Canada to overtime for the first time in Team Sweden’s history. Her stellar quarter final play earned her a spot on the Tournament All-Star Team as chosen by the media.

“I am super excited to join the Whale this upcoming season!” Söderberg said in the team press release. “I felt right away that this is an organization that is very professional, and that it will be the right place for me to keep growing my game. I hope to bring my competitiveness to all practices and games, so that I can help the team in the journey towards a championship!”

Söderberg is the first goaltender signed by the Whale so far during the 2023 Free Agency period and the third signing announced by the Whale this off-season, joining Kacey Bellamy and Kendall Cornine. They all join returning players Kennedy Marchment, Allie Munroe, Taylor Girard, Tori Howran, and Melissa Samoskevich as the Whale continue to build towards a Cup-winning roster.