A New Chapter for the PWHL
Four‑time Olympian Alina Muller is leaving Boston to sign a three‑year contract with the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s expansion franchise in Hamilton, Ontario. The agreement marks a significant addition to the league’s roster as it prepares for its first full season.
Muller, who has accumulated 56 career points in the PWHL and scored the overtime‑winner for Switzerland in the recent Olympic bronze‑medal game, will be joined in Hamilton by Montreal defender Nicole Gosling, also bound by a three‑year deal. Gosling, a rookie‑of‑the‑year finalist, finished tied for first among rookie defenders with 19 points last season.
The league’s growth continues as San Jose adds forward Kristin O’Neill on a two‑year Foundational Offer that guarantees her at least $100,000 per season. O’Neill’s arrival reunites her with former Team Canada coach Troy Ryan, now the franchise’s general manager and bench boss.
O’Neill’s signing follows a standout campaign in which she ranked fourth league‑wide with 272 faceoff wins and contributed 19 points as a rookie defender for Montreal, earning her a finalist spot for Rookie of the Year. The move underscores the league’s strategy of attracting top international talent.
Muller’s international pedigree extends beyond club play; she netted Switzerland’s two bronze‑medal‑clinching goals at the Milan Cortina Games, including the decisive strike in overtime against Sweden. Her presence in Hamilton is expected to boost the team’s global profile.
The Hamilton expansion team is positioning itself as a hub for talent from across the globe, a strategy that aligns with the league’s ambition to become a truly worldwide competition. Behind the scenes, the franchise collaborates with institutions such as Northeastern University and Cornell University on research and development initiatives.