Sceptres sign Jess Kondas to one-year contract
An unheralded player might be getting her due.
On Friday, the Toronto Sceptres officially announced that the team has signed defender Jess Kondas to a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season.
Kondas’ name might sound mostly unfamiliar, as she has spent the majority of the first two seasons of the PWHL on Toronto’s reserve list. However, she was signed to a 10-day contract in late December to take the place of rookie blueliner Rylind MacKinnon, who was serving a one-game suspension.
In that game on Dec. 27 against the Boston Fleet, Kondas made an immediate impact, scoring her first PWHL goal in a 4-2 win. However, that ended up being the 25-year-old’s game of the season.
Yet, Kondas is optimistic that a full-time contract could lead to her playing a bigger role with the team next season.
“I’m excited to be back with this group and contribute in a different way,” Kondas said in a release. “It’s been great to experience the growth of this organization and fan base for the past two years, as well as my own development as a player. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to show that this season.”
Prior to turning pro, the Calgary native played five years at Minnesota State, scoring a career-high 19 points in 33 games during her final season with the Mavericks. Over her time in Mankato, which saw her serve as an alternate captain twice, Kondas appeared in 154 games, scoring 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points.
During the 2023-24 season, Kondas played for SDE HF in the SDHL over in Sweden. In 32 games with SDE, she notched a goal and three assists.
Kondas is one of a few returners to the blue line in Toronto. Along with Defender of the Year and MVP finalist Renata Fast, Kali Flanagan is another defender who has signed an extension with the Sceptres.