Toronto Sceptres sign Jess Kondas to 10-day contract
The Toronto Sceptres are making a move to fill a spot prior to their return from the holiday break.
On Friday, the team announced it had signed defender Jess Kondas to a 10-day standard player agreement. The move comes after fellow blueliner Rylind MacKinnon received a one-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head against Montreal Victoire defender Amanda Boulier last Saturday.
Kondas is expected to make her PWHL debut on Friday as the Sceptres host the Boston Fleet. The 24-year-old can also be in the lineup for Toronto’s New Year’s Eve clash against the Ottawa Charge. MacKinnon would be eligible to return game action next Tuesday as well.
Kondas was invited to the Sceptres training camp in October and performed well enough to at least earn a spot on the team’s reserve list. She came to the PWHL after spending the 2023-24 campaign with SDE HF in the SDHL over in Sweden. In 32 games with SDE, she notched a goal and three assists.
Prior to turning pro, the Calgary native played five years at Minnesota State, scoring a career-high 19 points in 33 years 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.
Per PWHL rules, players are eligible to be signed off the reserve player list to 10-day contracts twice during the regular season and can be used during one series during the playoffs.
The Sceptres (1-0-1-3) are currently tied for last in the PWHL with the Charge. Since winning their season opener against the Fleet, Toronto has lost four straight games, including a 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Victoire in their final game before the holiday break.