Hamilton adds Hemp, Las Vegas picks Boreen in PWHL expansion
A couple of players have been added to two of the PWHL’s newest teams.
At the end of Phase 4 of the 2026 PWHL Expansion Player Distribution Process, both Hamilton and Las Vegas were one player short of the required 10 additions both teams were supposed to have. So, a selection process was initiated in order for each expansion franchise to fill its quota. Hamilton elected to add Ottawa Charge forward Peyton Hemp, while Las Vegas chose Vancouver Goldeneyes forward Abby Boreen.
Hemp’s situation will require a little more work from Hamilton general manager Meghan Duggan. With just one season under her belt, Hemp entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, but had yet to receive an extension from the Charge.
She is the team’s fourth addition during the fourth phase of the process, joining Abby Hustler, Riley Brengman and Allyson Simpson. The quartet joins the team’s first six signings – Zoe Boyd, Emily Clark, Alina Muller, Nicole Gosling, Kayle Osborne and Brianne Jenner.
Hemp is an excellent pickup for Hamilton, as she was a solid depth player for a team that made it back to the Walter Cup Final. The 23-year-old scored two goals and seven assists for nine points during the regular season, posting a goal in eight postseason games.
Boreen has become quite the traveler in her PWHL career. The former University of Minnesota star began her first season as a part-timer with the Minnesota Frost before being re-drafted by the Montreal Victoire in the 2024 PWHL Draft. Then, she was picked by the Goldeneyes in last year’s expansion draft. While she has shown glimpses of being a top-notch scorer, the Minnesotan struggled in Vancouver, scoring just four goals and nine points last season. In 69 career regular-season games, Boreen has scored 14 goals and 28 points, with one assist in nine postseason games.
Boreen joins a pretty solid core in Las Vegas – Katy Knoll, Maureen Murphy, Megan Carter, Nicole Hensley, Erin Ambrose, Mae Batherson, Kendall Cooper, Hayley Scamurra and Hilary Knight (though the last isn’t expected to be around much longer).
With Phase 4 complete, the expansion teams now have to play the waiting game before free agency. The fifth phase, which begins on Tuesday and runs through Thursday, will allow only the eight existing franchises to sign any current players without contracts. The sixth phase, set to begin on Friday, is the open signing period.