SAN JOSE, CA – PWHL San Jose today announced that forward Maddi Wheeler has signed a two-year Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Standard Player Agreement ahead of the team’s 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’s Expansion Roster Distribution Process.
Wheeler, a native of Erinsville, 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 madean 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 threeforwards 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) andthe 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’s World Championships.
On PWHL San Jose, Wheeler reunites with her former Sirens teammates and fellow forwards Anne Cherkowski and Kristin O’Neill, and joins defender Rory Guilday and goaltender Corinne Schroeder, all signed to two-year contracts.
Phase 2 of the Expansion Player Distribution Process, which began Friday at 12 p.m. ET, allowed each expansion team to build the foundation of its roster by acquiring five players through signings and, if necessary, a player selection process. Onlyplayers identified on an expansion team’s initial 20-player Exclusive Negotiation Target List are eligible to be signed during Phase 2. Existing teams can lose a maximum of three players who are under contract for the 2026-27 season during this phase.
