Carpenter, Roque, Zandee-Hart sign with PWHL New York
The New York PWHL franchise signed Alex Carpenter, Abby Roque, and Micah Zandee-Hart to three-year deals Friday.
"When you're building a championship-caliber team, you look for your cornerstone players," general manager Pascal Daoust said. "Signing (the trio) isn't just about roster-building, it's about setting the tone in the locker room and on the ice.
"They represent the heart of our foundation, the compete every player and coach respects, and the spirit our fans will rally behind. With them lacing up for us, every play and every moment will be a step closer to the culture of excellence we're crafting."
Carpenter, 29, has won six World Championship gold medals with the United States while tallying 40 points in those 48 games. A center, the Boston College product has also won a pair of Olympic silver medals.
"It became clear to me in speaking with (Daoust) that the organization is committed to qualities of hard work, accountability, and leadership, all which resonate with me personally and in my play," Carpenter said.
Roque, 25, has won a World Championship gold medal with the United States, an Olympic silver medal, and an NCAA title with Wisconsin. The forward has recorded 21 points in 27 games between Olympics and World Championships.
"New York is an amazing city and such a great place to start a women's ice hockey franchise," she said. "I couldn't be more excited about the future of this league and this team."
Zandee-Hart, 26, is the lone Canadian and defenseman of the New York trio. She's won an Olympic gold and a World Championship, registering eight assists in 28 career games across those events.
"This league has been years, even decades in the making, as it is the legends of our game who have paved the way for women's hockey," Zandee-Hart said. "I am grateful to these women, to my fellow players today, the PWHL board of directors, and specifically to the player board for their countless hours in making this a reality for us."
New York is the final team to tab its free-agent signings before the PWHL's inaugural draft Sept. 18. New York owns the fourth overall pick in the serpentine formation selection process.