Scamurra, Bell, Zumwinkle headline Wednesday’s PWHL signings

Four players signed PWHL contracts on Wednesday, including three former Olympians.

Ottawa agreed to terms with American forward Hayley Scamurra, signing the 28-year-old to a two-year deal.

Scamurra won a silver medal at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, as well as two gold medals and two silver medals at the World Championships. She spent last season in the PWHPA.

She spent three seasons in the NWHL with the Buffalo Beauts, where she won Rookie of the Year in 2017-18. She led the league in scoring the following season.

Ottawa wasn’t done there, signing their second-round pick Ashton Bell to a three-year contract.

The University of Minnesota-Duluth co-captain recorded 33 points last season and earned her third All-WCHA First Team selection. She started her college career as a forward but converted to the blue line in her junior season. She would win WCHA Defender of the Year as a senior.

The 23-year-old from Deloraine, Manitoba represented Canada and won gold at the 2022 Olympics and back-to-back gold at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships.

Minnesota didn’t have to go far to secure their latest signing. Grace Zumwinkle, who was born in, grew up in, and played their college hockey in the State of Hockey, agreed to a three-year deal.

Taken in the third round, Zumwinkle was named Ms. Hockey as Minnesota’s top high school player in 2017. She attended the University of Minnesota, scoring 111 goals and 100 assists for 211 points through five seasons.

Boston got in on the action, signing Austrian forward Theresa Schafzahl to a two-year deal. The University of Vermont captain holds the school record in most of their all-time offensive categories, leading with 71 goals, 74 assists and 145 points.

Boston took Schafzahl in the seventh round of the draft in September.

The league is scheduled to begin in January 2024 and run through late May or early June, with a break for the Women’s World Championship.