The first players for Ottawa’s new professional women’s hockey team have been announced

The first three players for Ottawa’s new professional women’s hockey club have been signed.

Tuesday saw the signing of free agency contracts by the team of goalie Emerance Maschmeyer, forwards Emily Clark and Brianne Jenner, and forward Emily Clark, according to the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The three have signed three-year contracts for the PWHL seasons of 2023–2024, 2024–2025, and 2025–2026.

According to the PWHL Players’ Association, the league is not releasing salary parameters, it claimed in a news release.

Prior to training camp in November, each team will be limited to 20 regular player agreements. Each team will sign six players to three-year contracts worth a minimum of $80,000 USD (roughly $108,600 CAD) annually.

“We are thrilled with the three players we have signed as the inaugural players for the Ottawa franchise,” PWHL Ottawa general manager Mike Hirshfeld remarked. “We genuinely think we have signed three incredible hockey players,” the company stated.

With Team Canada, 27-year-old Clark won a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics and a gold in 2022. She won two gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2012 and 2013, in addition to seven other medals, including seven for the Under-18 World Championship.

The 32-year-old Jenner has won nine medals at the world championships, including three gold ones, and three Olympic medals, including two gold ones (2014, 2022) and one silver.

Maschmeyer, 28, was a member of Canada’s 2022 Olympic gold-medal winning squad. In addition, she captured two golds at the 2012 Women’s World Championships and one gold at the World Under-18 Championship.

The PWHL is putting together its rosters for the six founding teams competing in the league’s inaugural campaign. Teams are also being hosted in Toronto, Montreal, New York, Boston, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The first season, which is anticipated to start in January, will include 24 games.

On September 18, the 2023 PWHL Draft will take place, and Ottawa has the fifth overall pick.

The game will be held at TD Place in Ottawa.