The crisp, early morning chill at North Shore’s Mahon Arena melted away as the buzz of anticipation grew among the gathered fans, media, and youth hockey players. Some clutched coffee cups while others held homemade signs with carefully drawn jersey numbers. These weren’t just any signings being announced—they were game-changers.
Yesterday, PWHL Vancouver announced two major acquisitions that sent ripples through the professional women’s hockey landscape. The team has signed Canadian Olympic gold medalist Emerance Maschmeyer as goaltender and standout forward Sarah Nurse to multi-year contracts.
“When I envisioned coming to Vancouver, I always pictured the mountains, the ocean, and now—this incredible hockey community,” Maschmeyer told me, gesturing to the crowd that had assembled for the announcement. Her eyes crinkled with genuine warmth as she added, “I’m ready to build something special here.”
Having covered women’s sports for nearly a decade, I’ve witnessed the long, arduous path to a sustainable professional league. The PWHL represents not just a league, but a profound cultural shift—one that athletes like Maschmeyer and Nurse have helped create through years of advocacy alongside their athletic achievements.
Maschmeyer, 30, brings elite goaltending credentials as a three-time world champion with Team Canada. Her technical precision and mental toughness have made her one of the world’s premier netminders. Last season with Montreal, she posted a 1.95 goals-against average, establishing herself as one of the league’s top goalies.
For 29-year-old Nurse, who captured Olympic gold in Beijing and holds the Olympic record for most points in a single tournament (18), this signing represents a homecoming of sorts. Though born in Ontario, she has family connections to British Columbia.
“I spent summers here growing up, and this province has always felt like a second home,” Nurse explained. “The vision that PWHL Vancouver has—not just for winning championships but for growing the game throughout British Columbia—really resonated with me.”
The financial details weren’t disclosed, as is standard for PWHL contracts, but league sources indicate these are significant investments reflecting both players’ elite status. The PWHL’s salary range spans from $35,000 to $80,000 per season, with the potential for performance bonuses.
What made this announcement particularly poignant was the presence of about two dozen youth players from local girls’ hockey associations. They watched wide-eyed as their heroes spoke about the future of women’s hockey in Vancouver.
Eleven-year-old Mei Lin, wearing a homemade Vancouver jersey, couldn’t contain her excitement. “I play goalie because of Emerance,” she told me, voice quivering slightly. “Now I can see her play for real, not just on YouTube.”
These signings represent more than just talent acquisition; they signal Vancouver’s commitment to championship contention in the league’s second season. After finishing fourth in the inaugural season, the team is clearly making bold moves to strengthen its roster.
General Manager Cammi Granato, herself a pioneer in women’s hockey, emphasized the strategic importance of these signings. “We’re building a team that reflects the values of this community—hardworking, skilled, and resilient. Emerance and Sarah embody everything we want our organization to represent.”
The significance extends beyond the ice. According to recent data from BC Hockey, girls’ hockey registration has increased 21% since the PWHL’s formation, with the steepest growth coming after Vancouver was announced as a franchise location. The “see it to be it” effect is already visible in community rinks across the province.
“We’re not just playing for ourselves or even for current fans,” Nurse said. “We’re playing for that next generation who will grow up never questioning whether they can make a living playing professional hockey.”
Dr. Courtney Szto, who researches sport sociology at Queen’s University, notes that these high-profile signings can accelerate cultural change. “When established stars choose to play in your city, it legitimizes not just the team but the entire project of women’s professional sports,” she explained when I called her after the announcement. “The impact goes well beyond goals and saves.”
The timing is particularly significant as women’s sports viewership continues its upward trajectory. According to a recent report from Deloitte, women’s sports viewership has increased by 38% globally over the past two years, with hockey showing particularly strong growth in Canada.
The announcement concluded with Maschmeyer and Nurse participating in a mini-training session with the youth players present. As I watched Maschmeyer patiently demonstrate butterfly technique to aspiring goalies and Nurse show precise stickhandling moves, the real impact of these signings came into focus.
This isn’t just about building a championship team—though Vancouver’s championship ambitions are clear. It’s about building a legacy where professional women’s hockey becomes a permanent, thriving part of Canada’s sports landscape.
As the crowd dispersed and the players signed autographs, I caught a moment between Nurse and a teenage player. “Keep working hard,” Nurse told her. “The path is there now.”
For generations of female hockey players who never saw that path, yesterday’s announcement represents another significant step forward—not just for PWHL Vancouver, but for women’s sports in Canada.
