The PWHL is in its inaugural season! Two of the teams made history on Sunday making a midseason trade.
PWHL History: First Trade
Minnesota and Boston made the first trade in Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) history with a three-player swap on Sunday. Boston sent heralded young defender Sophie Jaques to Minnesota for forward Susanna Tapani and defender Abby Cook.
Jaques was the tenth overall pick of the inaugural PWHL Draft last September. The 23-year-old defender won the Patty Kazmaier Award as a senior with for 2023 national champion Ohio State following a 59-point senior season — the second-most for a defender in NCAA women’s hockey history.
The Toronto native signed a three-year contract with Boston after being drafted. Jaques has yet to register a goal or assist this season but is seen as a prospective point producer from the blue line.
PWHL: Boston’s New Player
Tapani is the centerpiece for Boston’s return from Minnesota. A respected veteran forward from Finland, the 30-year-old had five points on two goals and three assists in nine games for Minnesota. Her presence figures to bolster a Boston offense that currently ranks last in the six-team PWHL with 17 goals.
The 30-year-old Tapani is a three-time Olympian who was a member of Finland’s bronze medal-winning teams in 2018 and 2022. She was a fifth-round pick of Minnesota in the 2023 PWHL Draft after a professional career spent playing in Europe.
Cook also returns to Boston via the trade. The 25-year-old played collegiately for Boston University from 2016-2020. Cook was not drafted, instead signing a one-year contract with Minnesota following preseason training camp. She had one goal in nine games so far this season.
Minnesota & Boston Looking To Remain in the Top Half of the PWHL Standings
Minnesota and Boston enter this week in the upper half of the PWHL standings. Minnesota, which was the last undefeated team in the league this season, currently resides in second place with 15 points — two points behind PWHL-leading Montreal.
Boston sits in a third-place tie with New York and Toronto with 11 points. However, Boston has played two fewer games than both teams.
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