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Retirement announcements

PWHL Boston

Taylor Wenczkowski (F) — The 26-year-old is the most recent PWHL retiree, taking to social media earlier this week to announce she would be pursuing coaching full-time this season. Known for scoring clutch goals, especially in the playoffs, the 26-year-old spent four seasons across the PHF and PWHL. Last season, she did not tally a point in 22 regular season games but notched two goals in eight playoff games, including a triple-OT winner in the first round.

Jess Healey (D) — Per Matt Porter of the Boston Globe, the 27-year-old is stepping away from professional hockey to coach in her hometown of Edmonton. She spent five seasons in the professional ranks, split between the SDHL, PHF and PWHL. Last season, she appeared in 22 regular season games for Boston and tallied one goal and two assists. She also added one goal in eight playoff games.

PWHL Minnesota

Amanda Leveille (G) — The 30-year-old netminder announced her retirement via social media, although she will be staying in the sport by coaching full-time. She spent eight seasons playing professional hockey across the PHF and PWHL. Unfortunately, she never appeared in a PWHL game while spending last season as Minnesota’s third goaltender.

Brittyn Fleming (F) — Just over a week after Minnesota claimed the inaugural Walter Cup, the 25-year-old posted on her Instagram that she was retiring after two professional seasons, split between the PHF and PWHL. Last season, she appeared in 23 games for Minnesota and tallied one goal and two assists. She then added an assist in nine playoff appearances.

Sophia Kunin (F) — The 27-year-old took to Instagram to announce her retirement after spending five seasons playing professionally in the PWHPA and PWHL. Last season, she appeared in all 24 regular season games for Minnesota, notching two goals and one assist before adding another goal in ten playoff games.

PWHL Montréal

Mélodie Daoust (F) — The 32-year-old former Olympic MVP announced her retirement from playing to join Collège Bourget as a coach this season. She spent seven seasons playing professional hockey across the CWHL, PWHPA and PWHL. Daoust also represented Canada at three Olympic games (4G-5A in 13 games) and two IIHF Women’s World Championships (6G-10A in 14 games). She spent last season as a reserve player with Montréal, where she made the most of her two 10-day contracts with three goals and two assists in five regular season games. She also signed a contract for Montréal’s first-round playoff series against Boston but did not register a point in three games.

PWHL New York

So far this offseason, PWHL New York is the only team that has not seen a player retire. However, nine players from last season’s roster are still searching for new contracts, so that may not be the case by the end of the offseason,

PWHL Ottawa

Becca Gilmore (F) — Per Gilmore’s agency, Hectate Sports Group, the 26-year-old has called it a career after two professional seasons, split between the PHF and PWHL. She also represented Team USA at the 2023 Women’s World Championships, tallying one goal in five games. According to The Hockey News, she left a job with Silversmith Capital Partners in Boston to join PWHL Ottawa, and she will be returning to the Boston area to continue pursuing a career in investments. Gilmore notched two assists in 22 games for Ottawa last season.

PWHL Toronto

Erica Howe (G) — The 32-year-old announced her retirement from professional hockey via her Instagram. She had taken a leave from her job as a firefighter to play in the PWHL this season. Howe retires after ten seasons as a professional goaltender, split between the CWHL, PWHPA, and PWHL. She was also a member of Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championships, although she did not appear in a game. Last season, she appeared in three regular-season games for Toronto and posted a 1.89 GAA and 0.921 SV%.

Brittany Howard (F) — The 28-year-old is moving on from professional hockey to take a job as head coach of the U-16 and U-19 girls teams in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Organization. She spent six seasons in the professional ranks split between the CWHL, PWHPA, PHF and PWHL. Last season, she tallied two goals and six assists in 23 regular season games for Toronto before adding another assist through five playoff games.

Links

Team Canada U-18 and development rosters announced for Summer Showcase — The Ice Garden. The annual USA-CAN U-18 and collegiate summer showcases wrap up tomorrow, so now’s a good time to look at who sported the maple leaf this year and could be a future senior Team Canada star.

Unsigned: A team-by-team look at PWHL players who remain unsigned — The Hockey News. Now you know who has retired from this past season, but who is still hoping for a new contract? Check out this breakdown, which was last updated on Aug. 11.

Sitting around and naming old players: Goaltender edition — The Ice Garden. Who doesn’t love a good trip down memory lane? Join Geremy in remembering the cult hero goaltenders of yesteryear.

Updates on Michigan women’s hockey feasibility study and its importance — The Michigan Daily. The University of Michigan is currently in the middle of a feasibility study to determine if their club women’s hockey team should be elevated to varsity status. Here’s a look at what that means and hear from those leading the charge to bring Division I women’s hockey to the University of Michigan.

A decade of women’s hockey officiating with Chelsea Rapin, Part One — The Ice Garden. Chelsea Rapin reflects on her experiences as a player-turned-referee in this can’t-miss feature by Sally Hoerr, exclusively for TIG’s paying subscribers.