After being selected in the second round of the PWHL Draft, Kristin O’Neill has become the first draft pick signed to a contract by the PWHL Montreal team.
O’Neill signed a three-year contract. As with all deals so far, terms were not disclosed. Once all players are signed, there will be a vote to determine whether players want the salaries disclosed to the public. They are available internally and players are aware what each other are making.
O’Neill is a rising star on the Canadian National team. She had nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 20 games last year with the PWHPA. She finished tied for fourth in PWHPA scoring, tied with Team Adidas and Montreal teammate Laura Stacey. Montreal has three of the top five scorers in the PWHPA last year, including Marie-Philip Poulin.
O’Neill has made the Canadian roster at the last two World Championships, scoring one goal and two assists in 14 games. She is one of many players who will see their role go from bottom six at the international level to top-six at the club level.
The 25-year-old is from Oakville, Ontario, and played NCAA hockey at Cornell University. She trained in Montreal after graduating and played the 2020-21 and 2021-22 PWHPA seasons based out of Montreal.
Training camps open on November 15.
