Fleet signs Zoe Boyd, Rylind MacKinnon, Abbey Levy to one-year contracts
The team in New England made a few notable signings on Friday.
The Boston Fleet announced that the team has signed defenders Zoe Boyd and Rylind MacKinnon, as well as goaltender Abbey Levy, to one-year contracts for the 2024-25 season.
Boyd might be the biggest name out of the three. She was one of the Ottawa Charge’s top defenders in the first two years of the league’s existence, playing on a solid blue line that used to feature names like Aneta Tejralova, Ashton Bell and Jincy Roese. All of which have now gone elsewhere this offseason.
The Caledon East, Ontario native might not be the biggest scoring threat from the back end, but she can play a solid shutdown role in second- and third-pair minutes. This past season with the Charge, she registered three assists and a plus/minus of +2 in 23 games. She was a -1 with no points in the team’s eight playoff games, as Ottawa made it all the way to the PWHL Final, ultimately losing to the Minnesota Frost in four games.
“I am thrilled to be playing in one of the world’s best sports cities,” Boyd said in a release. “Boston has proven to be an incredible place for women’s sports, and I can’t wait to meet all of the Fleet’s passionate and loyal fans. The opportunity to join the Fleet’s amazing group of women is a really special one.”
In 39 career games with Ottawa, the 24-year-old has posted six assists and a -1 rating.
MacKinnon is a rough and tumble blueliner who made a name for herself with the Toronto Sceptres in her rookie season. Mostly playing on the third pair behind the likes of Renata Fast, Jocelyne Larocque, and later Savannah Harmon, she didn’t see a whole lot of offensive zone opportunities. In 22 games with the Sceptres, she notched two helpers and a -1 rating. She only played one game in the playoffs, as Toronto was ousted by the Frost (again) in the semifinals.
“I’m very excited to join the Boston Fleet and collaborate with the amazing staff and talented players within the organization,” MacKinnon said. “Boston’s rich sports culture and passionate fan base make it an incredible place to play, and I can’t wait to experience the energy of our supporters firsthand.”
Levy came to the New York Sirens not long after she cracked the U.S. National Team roster for the first time at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship. She ended up serving as a backup to Corinne Schroeder during the league’s first season, but fell to third on the depth chart in year two with the rise of Kayle Osborne.
The Congers, New York native has made 10 appearances in her PWHL career, posting a 1-6-2 record with a 3.19 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.
Coming to the Fleet is a bit of a homecoming for Levy, who spent the final two years of her NCAA career at Boston College.
“I’m honored and excited to join the Boston Fleet — a city that already holds a special place in my heart from my college career,” Levy said. “After two unforgettable seasons in New York, I can’t wait to bring that experience back to Boston and give it everything I’ve got.”
While it isn’t yet known, Levy is an early favorite to be the backup for Aerin Frankel next year.