Sceptres sign Elaine Chuli, Claire Dalton to one-year contracts
A couple of players who had been behind enemy lines are moving back home.
On Tuesday, the Toronto Sceptres announced the team has signed goaltender Elaine Chuli and forward Claire Dalton to one-year contracts.
Both players arrive in Ontario having spent the first two seasons in the PWHL with the Montreal Victoire, a noted rival of the Sceptres.
Chuli is no stranger to playing in The Six. The Waterford, Ontario native spent three seasons with the Toronto Six in the Premier Hockey Federation, winning an Isobel Cup in the league’s final season of operation in 2022-23. She also played for the Toronto Furies in the final season of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League in 2018-19.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be coming home to Toronto and joining the Sceptres for next season,” Chuli said in a release. “It means a lot to me to be back close to home and have the chance to play in front of such a passionate fan base. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent this city and this organization, and I’m ready to compete to bring a championship back to Toronto.”
In the PWHL, Chuli has been an outstanding backup to Ann-Renee Desbiens. In the first year of the league, Chuli led the league in goals-against average (1.61) and save percentage (.949), despite only playing eight games. The 31-year-old wasn’t as unbeatable this past season, going 4-6-1 in 11 appearances with a 2.42 GAA and a .910 SV%.
The addition of Chuli certainly brings questions to what the Sceptres’ goaltending situation could look like next year. There have been rumors that the team is looking to move on from 2024 Goaltender of the Year Kristen Campbell, giving the team a duo of sophomore netminder Raygan Kirk and Chuli, with Carly Jackson a possible No. 3 if she re-signs.
Dalton has been a useful depth player in Montreal, even though he hasn’t necessarily been lighting up the scoresheet. After scoring five goals and nine points in 20 games during the inaugural season, the Etobicoke native registered three goals and nine points in 30 games during the 2024-25 campaign.
“I’m looking forward to coming home and playing in front of friends and family,” Dalton said. “I’ve admired the competitiveness and style of play Toronto has demonstrated these past two seasons and hope to contribute positively to an already great group.”
The 25-year-old has played in six of Montreal’s seven postseason games over the past two years, failing to register a point.