TORONTO — The PWHL team to begin play in Toronto is now the second squad to announce their three player signings of the free agency period after Ottawa was the first team to announce its selections on Sept. 5.
Toronto has signed Olympic gold medalists Blayre Turnbull, Sarah Nurse and Renata Fast, each to three-year contracts. Salary terms will not be disclosed, per the PWHL press release.
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"We are beyond excited and proud of the three foundation players we have signed," said general manager Gina Kingsbury in a press release. "For us, it was all about them as a group, building a puzzle that we knew would work well together and give us the best foundation to our team's success. When I think of the qualities of this group, I think of character, leadership, and talent. A combination we believe we can build upon in the draft and for years to come."
The PWHL free agency period opened on Friday, Sept. 1 and will close on Sunday, Sept. 10. The PWHL Draft will be held on Monday, Sept. 18. Each of the six teams are allowed to sign three players in the free agency period.
The 28-year-old forward Sarah Nurse is originally from Hamilton, Ontario, and grew up playing for the Stoney Creek Sabres before an impressive four-year career at the University of Wisconsin. She won a U18 gold medal with Canada prior to college and since then has been a two-time Olympic medalist and a four-time IIHF World Championship medalist. She broke the single-tournament scoring record at the 2022 Olympics with a whopping 18 points.
Many may know Nurse from appearing on the EA Sports' "NHL 23" game cover alongside the NHL's Trevor Zegras. Since college, Nurse has competed professionally for multiple years in addition to her time with Team Canada, most recently skating in the PWHPA.
"I am incredibly excited to begin this new chapter as one of the first-ever players signed to the PWHL and to bring professional women's hockey to Toronto," Nurse said in a press release. "Growing up so close to the city and getting to watch so many professional teams thrive in the market, I have always seen Toronto as the mecca of hockey and pictured myself representing the city on a larger stage. It is surreal to finally have that dream come to life."
"I know that Gina [Kingsbury]'s vision and experience, combined with the incredible skill Renata Fast and Blayre Turnbull bring to the table, we are already off to a great start," she added.
"Sarah is a tremendous athlete who has proven herself to be one of the best athletes in the world," Kingsbury said in the press release. "Sarah's on-ice potential reach is unmatched, she brings offense to our lineup, and off the ice she is a wonderful person. She will have a great impact on the Toronto market."
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The 30-year-old Blayre Turnbull is originally from Stellarton, Nova Scotia. She skated for Shattuck-St. Mary's high school in Faribault, Minnesota, before a four-year career at Wisconsin. She was captain of the Badgers squad in 2014-15. After college, she competed with Calgary of the CWHL, and eventually joined the PWHPA in 2019-20. She won the CWHL's Clarkson Cup twice over her four seasons in the league. The 5-foot-7 forward is a two-time Olympic medalist and six-time World Championship medalist.
"I am extremely honored to have been selected as one of the first players to sign a professional contract in the PWHL," Turnbull said in the press release on the league's website. "To have the opportunity to be a part of a franchise in such a great sports city like Toronto is super exciting and I can't wait to get started!"
Kingsbury said that Turnbull is "one of the best two-way forwards in the women's game." She also added that she can bring offense, while also being a tough skater to play against.
"Blayre is one of the fiercest competitors in the game and is a key piece to the puzzle we are trying to build in Toronto," Kingsbury said. "When I think of Blayre I think of character, leadership, and grit. Three ingredients our team in Toronto will be built around. We have no doubt Blayre will have a tremendous impact on our team's identity."
And last but certainly not least, Renata Fast was also signed by Toronto to a three-year deal. The 5-foot-6 right-shot defender from Burlington, Ontario, competed for her hometown Burlington Barracudas before a four-year career at Clarkson University. The Golden Knights won an NCAA championship her sophomore season in 2014. She went on to compete professionally for Toronto of the CWHL and later on joined the PWHPA.
Fast has plenty of international experience with Team Canada, similar to her other two teammates mentioned above. She is a two-time Olympic medalist and five-time IIHF Women's World Championship medalist.
"We are thrilled with the signing of Renata Fast," said Kingsbury. "Renata brings the whole package to our organization. She is arguably the best defensemen in the world, she is an incredibly dynamic athlete, and is one of the best teammates you can ask for. Renata is an incredible leader, she is selfless, highly competitive, and always has a team-first mentality."
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Fast herself said that it was an honor and a privilege for her to become a foundational piece of the newly formed PWHL.
"This historic moment is a testament to the dedication of those who paved the way before us," she said. "I am looking forward to helping set a standard of excellence both on the ice and within our community to grow the game of hockey for everyone and continue Toronto's legacy as one of the world's preeminent hockey cities."
Now that both Toronto and Ottawa have announced their three player signings, there are still four teams left (Montreal, New York, Minnesota, Boston) to sign their three players to an SPA (standard player agreement). Those announcements should come within the next few days.
Make sure to stay tuned to The Rink Live for all of the latest updates on the PWHL. You can read Toronto's full press release, here .
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