Camp Questions: As PWHL Camps Open, Each Team Looks To Address Needs

PWHL training camps open this week with teams hitting the ice November 14. Here's a look at the on-ice competition that will take place in each franchise for the final roster spots.

Boston Fleet

Boston has a number of interesting competitions lined up for camp. Klara Peslarova in net will be one to watch, particularly if Emma Soderberg doesn't impress off the bat. Up front with 11 forwards signed, Boston has Ilona Markova, Amanda Pelkey, and Jill Dempsey vying for spots as the top contenders to round out their roster. Sixth round pick Shay Maloney has struggled to contribute in the SDHL this season recording only one point in 14 games for Leksands, which does not bode well for her roster hopes in Boston.

Minnesota Frost

There are so many open roster spots in Minnesota. This was a product of the offseason turmoil, that is likely the biggest item to deal with in Minnesota. Up front the Frost have only nine players signed heading into camp with a trio of returnees - Sydney Brodt, Brooke Bryant, and Claire Butorac - fighting for spots against draft picks Katy Knoll, Dominique Petrie, and Brooke McQuigge, along with free agent invite Kaitlyn O'Donohue. McQuigge and O'Donohue will be up to speed after playing more than a dozen games each in the SDHL, but neither started well overseas. On the blueline, at least two roster spots are available between Mellissa Channell, who is certainly the front runner, draft pick Mae Batherson, and invite Charlotte Akervik. In net, Minnesota's lone decision will be for a third goalie between Lucy Morgan and Lauren Bench.

Montreal Victoire

If Cayla Barnes isn't ready for the season, it will open the door for another blueliner to stake her claim on Montreal's back end. Luckily for Montreal, they have an overabundance of defenders and were likely in a position where they'd need to release a PWHL capable defender. With Barnes, Erin Ambrose, Kati Tabin, Amanda Boulier, Dominika Laskova, and Mariah Keopple signed, it's nearly a full house already. The team certainly has the option to move Laskova up front, although she's also coming off a lengthy injury recovery. Anna Wilgren and Anna Kjellbin are the leading contenders to fight for a spot against returnee Catherine Daoust. The team also has U Sports star Kelly-Ann Nadeau who has potential to be a hidden gem. How this defensive shakedown occurs will be important not only for Montreal, but potentially for other teams eyeing depth additions.

New York Sirens

Secondary everything is up for grabs. Nine forwards are signed heading to camp with draft picks Gabby Rosenthal, Elle Hartje, and Emmy Fecteau looking to earn contracts. They'll need to push out PWHL veterans including Madison Packer, Kayla Vespa, Paeytn Levis, Savannah Norcross, and Alexa Grushow who are all headed to Jersey with roster spots in mind. On the back end it would appear that Ally Simpson is the favorite to take the sixth defender role, but with no contract, and the same sides coming to the table that did with Sarah Fillier, nothing is guaranteed. Returning defender Taylor Baker and veteran free agents Madison Bizal and Olivia Zafuto will fight for roster spots.

Ottawa Charge

There's very little to do in Ottawa, aside from watching to see if an unsigned player can force the Ottawa Charge to cut a signed player. Stephanie Markowski should be a safe bet to crack the lineup on the blueline, but that leaves question marks around draft pick Madeline Wethington and versatile veteran Samantha Isbell. Up front Mannon McMahon has an inside track at the 13th forward contract, but Audrey-Anne Veillette and Taylor House will put up valiant efforts to change that, or to force Ottawa to look at the rest of their lineup.

Toronto Sceptres

With 12 forwards signed, and Noemi Neubauerova, Anneke Linser, Laura Kluge, Sam Cogan, and Kaitlin Willoughby all heading to camp, there will be significant competition, and it's unlikely most of those players would settle for a reserve spot. Should Neubauerova be released, there will be considerable interest around the league, and that could also stand true for teams looking to add size via Kluge or Linser. All three of these newcomers are capable of contributing in the PWHL. On the blueline, Rylind MacKinnon and Lauren Bernard have inside lanes for the 6-7 roles, but Olivia Knowles will have something to say about that.