Montreal Force make big splash in free agency

Entering their second season, the Montreal Force of the Premier Hockey League have made their biggest signings, the team announced on Wednesday.

The team announced the re-signing of captain Ann-Sophie Bettez and forward Alexandra Labelle but the bigger news was the signings of unrestricted free agents Elizabeth Giguère and Corinne Schroeder.

Giguère and Schroeder were both nominees for the PHF’s Rookie of the Year award. Giguère played several games for Canada’s women’s national team in the Rivalry Series and Schroeder won the PHF’s goaltender of the year award. Both players were with the Boston Pride.

Giguère, 26, had six goals and 16 assists in 18 games last season. She was coming off of a great NCAA career at Clarkson University and one year at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She’s a native of Quebec City.

“To say I’m excited to be back playing in Canada is an understatement,” Giguère said. “La Force is such a great organization and I have no doubt we will make an impact in the league this year. I am looking forward to starting this season while playing close to home in front of all my friends and family again.”

Schroeder is 23 years old from Elm Creek, Manitoba. She had an unbelievable 19-1-0 record last year with the Pride, with a 1.67 goals against average and .955 save percentage. She also had seven shutouts. She played her NCAA hockey at Boston University with a fifth year at Quinnipiac.

“Thrilled to be joining La Force de Montreal next season and taking the next step in my professional career,” Schroeder said in the team’s press release. “Montreal is such an amazing city and I am grateful to play in front of such passionate fans. The team and staff have been super welcoming already and I look forward to building upon the Force’s impressive inaugural season.”

Bettez and Labelle were two of the team’s top scorers alongside Jade Downie-Landry, who re-signed last week. Bettez had 11 goals and 11 assists in 23 games while Labelle had six goals and seven assists in 24 games. Both players played in the PWHPA before joining the Force for their inaugural season.