SAN JOSE, CA\u00a0\u2013 PWHL San Jose today announced that forward Maddi Wheeler has signed a two-year Professional Women\u2019s Hockey League (PWHL) Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team\u2019s inaugural 2026-27 season. Wheeler, whose rights were held by the New York Sirens, joins PWHL San Jose on a new deal through the 2027-28 campaign and completes the list of five players to be added to the team during Phase 2 of the PWHL\u2019s Expansion Roster Distribution Process.<\/p>\n
Wheeler, a native of\u00a0Erinsville, Ontario, completed her first professional season in 2025-26, appearing in 29 games for New York and recording 10 points (3G, 7A) to finish tied for fifth on the team in both points and assists. She made an immediate impact in her first pro game on Nov. 22, 2025, against Ottawa, becoming the first player in league history to record three assists in a career debut. A physical presence, Wheeler ranked fourth in the league in hits (51) and was one of just three forwards leaguewide to register 50 or more hits during the season. The 23-year-old was selected by the Sirens in the fourth round, 27th overall in the 2025 PWHL Draft after a five-year collegiate career split between Ohio State (graduate student season) and the University of Wisconsin, where she helped lead the Badgers to two NCAA National Championships. On the international stage, Wheeler earned two medals (one gold, one silver) competing for Canada at the 2019 and 2020 IIHF U18 Women\u2019s World Championships.<\/p>\n
On PWHL San Jose, Wheeler reunites with her former Sirens teammates and fellow forwards Anne Cherkowski and Kristin O\u2019Neill, and joins defender Rory Guilday and goaltender Corinne Schroeder, all signed to two-year contracts.<\/p>\n
Phase 2 of the Expansion Player Distribution Process, which began Friday at 12 p.m. ET,\u00a0allowed each expansion team to build the foundation of its roster by acquiring five players through signings and, if necessary, a player selection process.\u00a0Only players\u00a0identified\u00a0on an expansion team\u2019s\u00a0initial\u00a020-player Exclusive Negotiation Target List are eligible to be signed during Phase 2.\u00a0Existing teams can lose a maximum of three players who are under contract for the 2026-27 season during this phase.\u00a0Read the full rules\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A complete\u00a0list of\u00a0player signings\u00a0and transactions\u00a0is available on the\u00a0official\u00a0PWHL Transactions Page<\/a>.\u00a0To see the full overview of the status of PWHL player contracts\u00a0ahead of Phase 2, visit the PWHL Contract Guide\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ABOUT PWHL\u00a0SAN JOSE\u00a0 PWHL, the PWHL Logo, and PWHL team names and logos are trademarks of the PWHL. \u00a9 PWHL 2026. All Rights Reserved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
PWHL\u00a0San Jose\u00a0is one of 12 teams in the Professional Women\u2019s Hockey League (PWHL), which was founded in 2023. The PWHL began its inaugural season in January 2024 and features the best women\u2019s hockey players in the world. PWHL\u00a0San Jose\u00a0was\u202fofficially announced<\/a>\u00a0as one of the league\u2019s four new expansion teams on May 19\u00a0and will debut at\u00a0SAP Center\u00a0in the fall. Fans can place a time-stamped deposit\u202fhere
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