The Vancouver Goldeneyes have officially selected centre Sarah Nurse, defender Sophie Jaques, and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer as their three protected players as the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) begins its expansion process. The league is adding four new teams for the upcoming season, with clubs in Detroit, Hamilton, San Jose, and Las Vegas, bringing the total to 12 teams for Year 4.
All eight existing teams were required to submit their three-player protected lists to the league office by 2 p.m. Wednesday. Only players already signed for next season were eligible for protection. Nurse, who was a pending free agent, signed a two-year contract with Vancouver on Tuesday, making her eligible. Jaques and Maschmeyer were already under contract for the 2026-27 season.
Nurse, a longtime member of the Canadian national team, brings extensive experience to the Goldeneyes. Jaques led the team in scoring with 20 points and tied for the team lead in goals with nine. She is also a top-three finalist for the league's defender of the year award for the second consecutive season. Maschmeyer served as Vancouver's starting goaltender, and goaltending depth was considered scarce across the league last season. Notably, seven of the eight teams protected a goaltender in their lists.
Expansion Background
Vancouver joined the PWHL as an expansion team last season. Nurse, Jaques, and Maschmeyer were among the team's first five signings, alongside forward Jenn Gardiner and defender Claire Thompson. All five players represented Team Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Goldeneyes left several notable players unprotected, including Gardiner and Thompson, as well as forward Hannah Miller and blueliner Ashton Bell, who served as the team's captain during their inaugural season. Miller and Bell are under contract with Vancouver for next season, while Gardiner and Thompson are pending free agents. Gardiner, from Surrey, and Miller, from North Vancouver, were key local connections for the team in its first campaign.
Team Performance and Coaching Changes
Vancouver finished the season with a 9-3-4-14 record, placing sixth in the eight-team league and missing the fourth and final playoff spot by seven points. The team recently fired head coach Brian Idalski earlier this week, and no replacement has been announced yet.
The four new expansion teams—Detroit, Hamilton, San Jose, and Las Vegas—now have until noon Thursday to submit a list of 20 players from around the league they are interested in acquiring as part of their five "Foundational Signings." These new clubs cannot sign or negotiate with any player not on their 20-player list.
Phase 2 of the expansion process runs through Monday, during which new teams can sign up to five players. An existing team can lose a maximum of three players who are under contract for the 2026-27 season. Phase 3 begins next Wednesday and runs through the following Friday, allowing all 12 teams to negotiate with unsigned and unprotected players. Expansion teams may sign up to three players during this period, while existing teams will add three more protections, which can include players already signed for 2026-27 or those on expiring contracts signed during the phase.
The expansion process consists of six phases, with the final open signing period beginning on June 19.
