Twenty-Two Buckeyes Rostered for PWHL's Third Season
11/20/2025 4:28:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The third season of the Professional Women's Hockey League begins Friday night and 22 Buckeyes are rostered across seven teams in the eight-team league.Â
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Of the Buckeyes playing in the PWHL this season, 21 were coached by Nadine Muzerall. All six of the team's 2025 draft picks made rosters for the 2025-26 season.
The Toronto Sceptres' roster features the most Buckeyes with five. Forwards Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner have played the last two seasons for Toronto. Spooner was the league's MVP and Forward of the Year in 2024 while Maltais was a Rookie of the Year finalist in 2024. Spooner recorded five points in 14 games played during the regular season. Maltais led the team with four points in the playoffs last season and finished the season with 13 points. Raygan Kirk was drafted by the team in 2024 and played in 10 games during her rookie season, finishing the year with a 5-1-1 record and a .917 save percentage. Clair DeGeorge, in her second year in the league, was traded to the team this summer from Montreal. Kiara Zanon, the Sceptres' second round draft pick this year, signed a one-year Standard Player Agreement with the team.
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Four Buckeyes are rostered on the Boston Fleet 2025-26 roster, including two-time Walter Cup champion Liz Schepers. Schepers, who signed with the Fleet this summer, scored the game-winning goal in both of the Frost's title-clinching games the last two seasons. She is joined in Boston by Hadley Hartmetz, who played two games in her rookie season with the team after overcoming an injury. The team's 2025 Buckeye draftees are Riley Brengman and Amanda Thiele, who were both signed by the team on one-year contracts.
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In New York, Paetyn Levis enters her third season with the squad that drafted her in 2023. Jincy (Dunne) Roese, joining the team after two seasons in Ottawa, and Lauren Bernard, in her second season with the Sirens, represent the Buckeyes on the blue line. Maddi Wheeler will play her rookie season for New York after being drafted by the team in the fourth round of the 2025 draft.
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Seven Buckeyes will play for the league's expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver.
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Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka, a duo that played together all of college and at the international level, reunite in Seattle for their second seasons in the league. Barnes joined the team during the exclusive signing window. Bilka was selected in the league's expansion draft earlier this year. Jenna Buglioni was the team's first draft pick, going eighth overall. They are joined by Emily Zumwinkle, who is designated as a reserve player.
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Jenn Gardiner signed with her hometown Vancouver Goldeneyes during the exclusive signing window. Gardiner was a finalist for the league's Rookie of the Year award. In her first season in the PWHL with Montreal, she was second among rookies in points. Vancouver also added Sophie Jaques, a two-time Walter Cup champion and 2025 Defender of the Year finalist, during the exclusive signing window. Gabby Rosenthal joins her Buckeye teammates after being selected by the Goldeneyes in the expansion draft.
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Stephanie Markowski signed a one-year extension with Ottawa after being drafted by the Charge in 2024 and played her rookie season with the team last year. She tied for fourth among rookie defenders with a goal and four assists. Markowski played in all but two of the Charges' games during her rookie season, including all eight playoff games.
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Madison Bizal joins the two-time defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost on a one-year Standard Player Agreement. Bizal was drafted in 2023 to Montreal. She played the 2024-25 season in the SDHL for SDE Hockey.
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PWHL Buckeyes – By the Numbers
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Of the Buckeyes playing in the PWHL this season, 21 were coached by Nadine Muzerall. All six of the team's 2025 draft picks made rosters for the 2025-26 season.
The Toronto Sceptres' roster features the most Buckeyes with five. Forwards Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner have played the last two seasons for Toronto. Spooner was the league's MVP and Forward of the Year in 2024 while Maltais was a Rookie of the Year finalist in 2024. Spooner recorded five points in 14 games played during the regular season. Maltais led the team with four points in the playoffs last season and finished the season with 13 points. Raygan Kirk was drafted by the team in 2024 and played in 10 games during her rookie season, finishing the year with a 5-1-1 record and a .917 save percentage. Clair DeGeorge, in her second year in the league, was traded to the team this summer from Montreal. Kiara Zanon, the Sceptres' second round draft pick this year, signed a one-year Standard Player Agreement with the team.
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Four Buckeyes are rostered on the Boston Fleet 2025-26 roster, including two-time Walter Cup champion Liz Schepers. Schepers, who signed with the Fleet this summer, scored the game-winning goal in both of the Frost's title-clinching games the last two seasons. She is joined in Boston by Hadley Hartmetz, who played two games in her rookie season with the team after overcoming an injury. The team's 2025 Buckeye draftees are Riley Brengman and Amanda Thiele, who were both signed by the team on one-year contracts.
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In New York, Paetyn Levis enters her third season with the squad that drafted her in 2023. Jincy (Dunne) Roese, joining the team after two seasons in Ottawa, and Lauren Bernard, in her second season with the Sirens, represent the Buckeyes on the blue line. Maddi Wheeler will play her rookie season for New York after being drafted by the team in the fourth round of the 2025 draft.
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Seven Buckeyes will play for the league's expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver.
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Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka, a duo that played together all of college and at the international level, reunite in Seattle for their second seasons in the league. Barnes joined the team during the exclusive signing window. Bilka was selected in the league's expansion draft earlier this year. Jenna Buglioni was the team's first draft pick, going eighth overall. They are joined by Emily Zumwinkle, who is designated as a reserve player.
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Jenn Gardiner signed with her hometown Vancouver Goldeneyes during the exclusive signing window. Gardiner was a finalist for the league's Rookie of the Year award. In her first season in the PWHL with Montreal, she was second among rookies in points. Vancouver also added Sophie Jaques, a two-time Walter Cup champion and 2025 Defender of the Year finalist, during the exclusive signing window. Gabby Rosenthal joins her Buckeye teammates after being selected by the Goldeneyes in the expansion draft.
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Stephanie Markowski signed a one-year extension with Ottawa after being drafted by the Charge in 2024 and played her rookie season with the team last year. She tied for fourth among rookie defenders with a goal and four assists. Markowski played in all but two of the Charges' games during her rookie season, including all eight playoff games.
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Madison Bizal joins the two-time defending Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost on a one-year Standard Player Agreement. Bizal was drafted in 2023 to Montreal. She played the 2024-25 season in the SDHL for SDE Hockey.
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PWHL Buckeyes – By the Numbers
- Walter Cup Champions (3) – Clair DeGeorge (2024), Sophie Jaques (2024, 2025), Liz Schepers (2024, 2025)
- First Round Draft Picks (3) – Cayla Barnes (2024), Hannah Bilka (2024), Jenna Buglioni (2025)
- Billie Jean King MVP (1) – Natalie Spooner (2024)
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