PWHL Toronto signs forward Victoria Bach, defender Emma Buckles joins Ottawa

Heading into a short weekend of action, the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s two Ontario teams have made some additions.

On Friday, Toronto announced they are signing forward Victoria Bach to a standard player agreement. In doing so, the team has released Jess Jones from her SPA, and has been moved to the reserve list.

Bach was on a reserve player contract with Toronto after she was drafted in the seventh round (38th overall) of the PWHL Draft. The reason the Canadian National Team star fell so far was because of the knowledge that the Milton, Ontario native was not going to be available to play until Feb. 1, after she completed her teacher’s certification through Brock University’s satellite campus in Burlington.

Bach has practiced with the team sporadically over the last few months, including playing in all three preseason games in Utica, N.Y. in December. The Boston University product has donned the maple leaf a number of times in her career, both in the Rivalry Series and in Canada’s last two gold medal runs at the 2021 and 2022 World Championships.

The addition of Bach could not come at a better time for Toronto. Despite having star power like Sarah Nurse, Blayre Turnbull and Natalie Spooner, their offense has been mediocre, one of the reasons why they have the worst record in the league.

Bach will also be joining Canada’s roster for the final three games of the this year’s Rivalry Series, which gets back underway next Wednesday.

Also on Friday, Ottawa signed defender Emma Buckles to an SPA. The 24-year-old has not played a game this season, as she has sat as a reserve for Boston after getting drafted in the 13th round by New England’s team.

The PWHL allows players on reserve contracts to freely sign with other teams.

The former Harvard captain last played for Team Sonnet during the final PWHPA Dream Gap Tour, playing 20 games, but not registering a point.

Buckles also has Team Canada experience, winning the silver medal during the 2017 Women’s Under-18 World Championships.

Toronto (3-5-0) will host Minnesota on Saturday before the break, while Ottawa (2-1-3) will have a home affair against New York on Sunday.