PWHL Ottawa has finalized their goaltending lineup for the upcoming season by signing Gwyneth Philips to a two-year contract. Philips, selected 14th overall in the 2024 PWHL Draft, is set to bring her impressive skills to the professional stage.
Throughout her collegiate career at Northeastern University, Philips established herself as a top-tier goaltender with a stellar record.
Career Statistics at Northeastern University:
- 2019-20:
- 7 games, 0.37 GAA, .982 SV%, 3 shutouts, record 5-0-0
- 2020-21:
- 2 games, 0.97 GAA, .941 SV%, 1 shutout, record 2-0-0
- 2021-22:
- 7 games, 0.75 GAA, .964 SV%, 2 shutouts, record 6-1-0
- 2022-23:
- 38 games, 0.87 GAA, .960 SV%, 10 shutouts, record 34-3-1
- 2023-24:
- 37 games, 1.17 GAA, .955 SV%, 6 shutouts, record 23-11-3
General Manager Mike Hirshfeld expressed his enthusiasm in signing Philips:
“We are thrilled to have Gwyneth join our organization. She is a young player with tremendous potential to be one of the best goaltenders in this league. Her athletic ability, skating, quickness, and tenacity are skills we identified in the draft and believe will help her excel at this level.”
PWHL Ottawa
Philips’ accolades include being named the 2023 NCAA Goaltender of the Year and setting the NCAA record for the best career save percentage (.958). She also helped Team USA secure a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
With the signing of Philips, Ottawa aims to solidify its goaltending for the upcoming season. Philips is expected to provide strong competition for starting goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, enhancing the team’s depth in the crease. This move comes after Sandra Abstreiter did not re-sign with the team.
Philips joins a roster featuring fellow 2024 draft pick Anna Meixner, free agents Logan Angers, Rebecca Leslie, and Alexa Vasko, along with 14 returning players, including forwards Emily Clark, Ashton Bell, and Brianne Jenner. As Ottawa gears up for a competitive season, Philips is poised to make a significant impact both on and off the ice.
