OTTAWA — The new PWHL team based in Ottawa has announced the signings of three players, all to three-year contracts, on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The three athletes are forwards Emily Clark and Brianne Jenner, along with goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer. All three have extensive international experience with Team Canada. Salary terms will not be disclosed, per the press release from the PWHL.
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These are the first three players to sign to any PWHL team since the league's inception. The six new PWHL teams started the free agency period on Sept. 1 and that period will stay open through the Sept. 10. Teams can sign up to three players to an SPA (Standard Player Agreement) during that time. The PWHL Draft will be held on Sept. 18.
"We are thrilled with the three players we have signed as the inaugural players for the Ottawa franchise," general manager Mike Hirshfeld said in a press release. "We truly believe that we have signed three incredible hockey players. As important to us, we are focused on making Ottawa a best-in-class organization in the PWHL, a place where players want to come and play. Building a culture is important to us and we believe these three players are incredibly well-respected and will help us to lay the foundation of the type of organization we aspire to be."
The first of the three signings is 28-year-old netminder Emerance Maschmeyer, who is originally from Bruderheim, Alberta. She competed with various Fort Saskatchewan teams as a young player and even suited up for a handful of games with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL (a Junior A men's hockey team) one season prior to college.
She went on to compete in four seasons at Harvard University and was a Patty Kazmaier top-10 finalist as a sophomore. After her time with the Crimson, she became the all-time saves leader for the team. During her many years as a top goaltender, she has backstopped Team Canada's U18 team to a goal medal, won an Olympic gold medal, and has earned seven different World Championship medals. Maschmeyer has played professionally for many years now, primarily in the CWHL and most recently, the PWHPA. She was the 2018-19 Goaltender of the Year for Montreal of the CWHL.
"It is an absolute honor and privilege to be one of the first-ever players signed to the PWHL," said Maschmeyer in the teams press release. "It's important to recognize that I wouldn't have reached this point of signing a professional contract without all the determination of the women and pioneers of the game who came before me. I am thrilled to be joining the Ottawa organization as we build a strong-charactered, championship caliber team."
Hirshfeld said that he believes Maschmeyer is one of the top goalies in the world and is headed into one of her best seasons yet. He added that she also has an "infectious personality" and is a great teammate and leader, so she will be a building block for the team's culture going forward.
Saskatoon native Emily Clark is one of the two forwards signed by Ottawa on Tuesday. The 27-year-old grew up skating with the Saskatoon Stars and Okanagan HA U18 Prep before a collegiate career at Wisconsin. The Badgers won a national championship and made four Frozen Four appearances during Clark's time there. After college, she played professionally in the PWHPA.
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Clark has been competing for Team Canada for many years, she started out by earning two U18 gold medals as a young skater, and eventually earned two Olympic medals and seven IIHF Women's Worlds medals later on in her career.
"I couldn't be happier to be a part of the PWHL Ottawa franchise and I am looking forward to building on the strong women's hockey history in the nation's capital," Clark said in the press release. "Having played there before [in Ottawa], it was evident that the fans are passionate and that this is a hockey city. This is a dream come true and I cannot wait to get things started in Ottawa!"
Hirshfeld stated that the team signed her for her 200-foot style of play and that they believe her best years are still to come. He added, similar to with Maschmeyer, that they are trying to build a good team culture for the new professional team and that Clark will play a big role in that as a leader in the locker room.
The 32-year-old Jenner is the other forward who was signed on Tuesday. The native of Oakville, Ontario, grew up skating with the Stoney Creek Sabres, the Mississauga Chiefs, and the Burlington Barracudas before a collegiate career at Cornell. She set Big Red's all-time scoring record during her time there and was a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award, twice. After college, Jenner competed in the CWHL with Calgary and later on in the PWHPA. She won a Clarkson Cup title in the CWHL in 2016.
Like the other two signees, Jenner has extensive international experience with Team Canada. She has three Olympic medals to her name alongside nine World Championship medals. She was actually the MVP of the 2022 Olympics since she tied the Olympic record for goals scored in a single tournament (9).
"I'm thrilled and honored with the opportunity to help build a franchise in Ottawa and help establish a culture and atmosphere here that will be a foundation for years to come. I couldn't be more excited to get to Ottawa and become a part of the community," she said on the PWHL's press release. "I would like to thank my family for their support through this process and throughout my career. This is truly a dream come true for all of us."
Hirshfeld said the team is very excited to welcome Jenner, and described her as one of the "generation's greatest players." He is excited about her work ethic and her leadership that will help lay the foundation for the Ottawa team in the future.
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You can read the entire press release from the PWHL here . More signings are expected to come in the next few days from the other five teams. Make sure to follow The Rink Live to stay up to date on all news involving the PWHL.
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