PWHL Boston signs 2024 draft pick Sydney Bard to two-year contract

PWHL Boston announced Monday they signed 2024 fourth-round pick and defender Sydney Bard to a two-year contract.

The 23-year-old Bard is the first Boston draft pick to officially sign with the club this offseason. She played five season of college hockey with the Colgate Raiders, where she scored 13 goals and 99 assists for 112 points. During her five seasons, she was a three-time ECAC Hockey Defender of the Month.

“I’m very grateful to have signed with Boston for two years,” Bard said in a press release. “I can’t wait to meet the team and start working towards another championship run. I’m looking forward to making Boston my home.”

Bard, a native of New Hartford, N.Y., represented the U.S. on the international stage in 2019, helping the club with a silver medal at the IIHF U-18 Women’s World Championship. She was also invited to the U.S. Women’s National Team Evaluation Camp last March.

Boston General Manager Danielle Marmer says Bard’s style fits what the club is looking for.

“Sydney is a mobile defender with a high IQ and good offensive involvement,” Marmer said. “She’s active on zone exits and can get up into the rush. We want to play a fast transition game and Syd has attributes that fit that style of play.”

It’s been a busy offseason for Boston. The club re-signed Hannah Brandt, Emily Brown and Sophie Shirley to two-year contracts on June 20, then re-upped Lexie Adzija to a one-year deal the following day.

The club is trying to repeat the success of last season, where they came within one win of taking home the inaugural Walter Cup championship, losing to PWHL Minnesota in the deciding Game 5 on May 29.