- May 21, 2026
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We saw some action as we close in on the weekend across the PWHL, as a couple of teams ensured some depth while another locked down one of the best players in the world for the future.
The biggest news of the day was Hilary Knight signing a two-year contract extension with PWHL Detroit. You can read the full story here.
The Ottawa Charge are locking down the goaltending position for the 2026-27 season, re-signing Sanni Ahola to a one-year contract. Defender Vita Poniatovskaia also agreed to a one-year contract.
Ahola had a little bit of hype behind her heading into her first PWHL campaign. The Finnish National Team star was taken in the fifth round of the 2025 PWHL Draft, with the expectation that she was going to back up Gwyneth Philips. Unfortunately, Ahola ended up appearing in just two games, thanks to injury and illness. In her second start, she turned away 31 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over the Boston Fleet. The 26-year-old went 1-1-0, with a 1.93 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
Poniatovskaia was an invite to last year’s training camp, and was placed on the reserve roster. It wasn’t until Brooke Hobson was placed on long-term injured reserve that the Yale product made her PWHL debut on March 29. The Russian rearguard ended up appearing in seven regular-season games, but didn’t register a point. She posted a plus/minus of -1 while averaging 2:36 of ice time.
With the signings, the Charge has 16 players under contract for the 2026-27 campaign. Per the reported guidelines from the league, they are allotted just three more signings prior to training camp.
Las Vegas added a couple of players hoping for a bigger role with a new team. The expansion franchise signed forward Darcie Lappan to a two-year contract, with defender Madison Bizal coming on board for the 2026-27 season.
Lappan earned a reserve roster spot coming out of training camp, but was eventually signed to a standard player agreement in time for the team’s home opener. She appeared in 12 games before being moved back to the reserve list to make space for the returning Sarah Nurse in mid-January. Lappan registered just one point, that coming as an assist on Dec. 27 against the Minnesota Frost. The Kingston, Ont. native posted an even rating while averaging 8:22 of ice time per game.
Bizal returned to the PWHL after spending the 2024-25 campaign with SDE HF of the SDHL. The former U.S. National Team member joined the Minnesota Frost, and made the opening night roster. However, she was placed on the reserve list in January, and didn’t see her name in the lineup until March. She ended up appearing in 16 regular-season games, posting two assists, before playing in just one of the Frost’s semifinal games against the Montreal Victoire.
The 26-year-old played for Montreal during the league’s inaugural season. In 37 regular-season games, Bizal has notched four assists, with one assist in four Walter Cup Playoff games.
Las Vegas as 12 players under contract for next year.
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Knight extends her stay in Detroit
The biggest news of the day was Hilary Knight signing a two-year contract extension with PWHL Detroit. You can read the full story here.
Ahola, Poniatovskaia stay in Ottawa for another year
The Ottawa Charge are locking down the goaltending position for the 2026-27 season, re-signing Sanni Ahola to a one-year contract. Defender Vita Poniatovskaia also agreed to a one-year contract.
Ahola had a little bit of hype behind her heading into her first PWHL campaign. The Finnish National Team star was taken in the fifth round of the 2025 PWHL Draft, with the expectation that she was going to back up Gwyneth Philips. Unfortunately, Ahola ended up appearing in just two games, thanks to injury and illness. In her second start, she turned away 31 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over the Boston Fleet. The 26-year-old went 1-1-0, with a 1.93 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
Poniatovskaia was an invite to last year’s training camp, and was placed on the reserve roster. It wasn’t until Brooke Hobson was placed on long-term injured reserve that the Yale product made her PWHL debut on March 29. The Russian rearguard ended up appearing in seven regular-season games, but didn’t register a point. She posted a plus/minus of -1 while averaging 2:36 of ice time.
With the signings, the Charge has 16 players under contract for the 2026-27 campaign. Per the reported guidelines from the league, they are allotted just three more signings prior to training camp.
Las Vegas signs Bizal, Lappan
Las Vegas added a couple of players hoping for a bigger role with a new team. The expansion franchise signed forward Darcie Lappan to a two-year contract, with defender Madison Bizal coming on board for the 2026-27 season.
Lappan earned a reserve roster spot coming out of training camp, but was eventually signed to a standard player agreement in time for the team’s home opener. She appeared in 12 games before being moved back to the reserve list to make space for the returning Sarah Nurse in mid-January. Lappan registered just one point, that coming as an assist on Dec. 27 against the Minnesota Frost. The Kingston, Ont. native posted an even rating while averaging 8:22 of ice time per game.
Bizal returned to the PWHL after spending the 2024-25 campaign with SDE HF of the SDHL. The former U.S. National Team member joined the Minnesota Frost, and made the opening night roster. However, she was placed on the reserve list in January, and didn’t see her name in the lineup until March. She ended up appearing in 16 regular-season games, posting two assists, before playing in just one of the Frost’s semifinal games against the Montreal Victoire.
The 26-year-old played for Montreal during the league’s inaugural season. In 37 regular-season games, Bizal has notched four assists, with one assist in four Walter Cup Playoff games.
Las Vegas as 12 players under contract for next year.
Read more PWHL stories at DFO
Continue reading...