PWHL Vancouver signs Emerance Maschmeyer

Vancity is looking like a force already.

According to multiple reports, PWHL Vancouver has signed goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer. She was made available to Vancouver during their exclusive signing period, during which they and Seattle have the first crack at signing players.

Maschmeyer just finished the second season of her three-year contract that she signed with the Ottawa Charge at the beginning of the league’s existence. She was the unanimous No. 1 goaltender during the team’s inaugural season, with the same narrative taking place at the start of year two.

However, rookie netminder Gwyneth Philips started to earn confidence from head coach Carla MacLeod. With Maschmeyer going down with a season-ending injury in March, Philips took the reins and never looked back. Philips took Ottawa to the PWHL Final, ultimately losing to the Minnesota Frost. Philips earned the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award as a result of her performance.

That led the Charge electing to protect Philips over Maschmeyer, also keeping forward Emily Clark and defender Ronja Savolainen.

In two seasons in Ottawa, Maschmeyer had a record of 15-16-6 with a 2.42 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage and two shutouts.

Vancouver has a pretty stacked lineup, despite only having a few players signed. They broke the ice by signing defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques from the Frost before making another splash by bringing former Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse. General manager Cara Gardner Morey hit the phones quickly, and made it known that she means business.

With four signings, Vancouver is only permitted to sign one more player before the signing period ends on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.

With former Charge teammate Danielle Serdachny being signed by PWHL Seattle, the Charge gets to protect another player, per the PWHL’s expansion rules. The team has yet to announce its decision.

The first-ever PWHL Expansion Draft is on Monday, June 9.

Read more PWHL stories on DFO