Deadline deals see PWHL Ottawa add speed and experience

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With his club battling for the fourth and final playoff spot in the PWHL standings, Ottawa GM Mike Hirshfeld was busy at Monday’s trade deadline.

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Hirshfeld made two deals, sending defender Amanda Boulier to Montreal for forward Tereza Vanisova, and also trading forward Lexie Adzija and the rights to forward Caitrin Lonergan to Boston for forward Shiann Darkangelo.

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Lonergan was selected in the 14th round by Ottawa in the inaugural PWHL draft. She never signed with the club.

Adzija was Ottawa’s third-leading goal scorer with five, along with three assists, while the diminutive Boulier was a popular stalwart on the blue line who had a goal among her six points.

But Hirshfeld believes he bettered his team — which is one point behind Boston for the last post-season reservation — for the last seven games on the schedule.

“(Darkangelo) is a veteran player who has been through battles and playoff races,” he said of the 30-year-old veteran, who had one assist in 17 games for Boston but last season, as captain of the Toronto Six in the Premier Hockey Federation, had 25 points in 24 games to lead the team to the Isobel Cup. “We wanted to add her experience to our roster. She is going to work hard and bring veteran leadership.”

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Vanisova was tied for fourth in Montreal team scoring with 10 points, on two goals and eight assists.  A former star player at the University of Maine, she too was on the PWF championship Six last season.

She also played under Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod with the Czech national team.

“Obviously, our coach knows exactly what she brings to the table,” Hirshfeld said of the 28-year old Vanisova. “She is an incredibly exciting, top six forward who is under contract for next season as well.

“She is one of the best skaters in the world and we are thrilled to add that dimension to our roster.”

Both new players are expected to be in the Ottawa lineup for its game Wednesday in Bridgeport, Conn., against New York.

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