Toronto Sceptres re-sign Sara Hjalmarsson to two-year deal
The Toronto Sceptres have re-signed Swedish forward Sara Hjalmarsson to a two-year contract through 2027-28. The 28-year-old appeared in all 30 games last season and scored her first three PWHL goals following the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Toronto Sceptres have re-signed Swedish forward Sara Hjalmarsson to a two-year contract through the 2027-28 Professional Women’s Hockey League season, securing another returning player as the club prepares for its 2026-27 campaign.
The Toronto Sceptres announced the agreement ahead of next month’s training camp, bringing the number of players under contract to 17. The team is expecting 29 players at camp, with nine forwards among those already signed.
Hjalmarsson, 28, returns after completing her first PWHL season with Toronto, appearing in all 30 regular-season games during the 2025-26 campaign. The Bankeryd, Sweden, native was selected by the Sceptres in the fifth round of the 2025 PWHL Draft.
Her return provides Toronto with continuity as the organization continues assembling its roster ahead of the new season.
Toronto Sceptres retain forward following Olympic breakthrough
Hjalmarsson’s first season in the PWHL included an important stretch of international and professional success.
Representing Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, she recorded five points, including two goals and three assists, across seven games. The performance marked a productive Olympic tournament for the three-time Olympian, who has been a regular presence in Sweden’s national team program.
After returning to Toronto, Hjalmarsson carried that momentum into the PWHL season. She scored the first three goals of her professional league career within a five-game span immediately following the Olympics.
The scoring run represented a notable development for a player who had yet to find the net in the PWHL before the international break.
While her offensive contributions increased during the latter part of the season, her availability was also significant. Hjalmarsson appeared in every one of Toronto’s 30 regular-season games, giving the coaching staff a consistent option throughout her first year with the organization.
The Toronto Sceptres will now have the Swedish forward under contract for two additional seasons, providing an opportunity for her to build on that initial experience.
Hjalmarsson brings international and European experience
Before joining the Toronto Sceptres, Hjalmarsson developed an extensive résumé in European and international women’s hockey.
She has represented Sweden at three Olympic Winter Games and six IIHF Women’s World Championships, establishing herself as an experienced member of the national team.
Her performances also earned individual recognition when she was named Swedish Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season.
At the club level, Hjalmarsson spent two seasons serving as captain of Linköping HC in Sweden’s top women’s league, the SDHL. That leadership role followed her collegiate career at Providence College in the United States.
The combination of international tournaments, European professional hockey and NCAA experience formed the foundation of her career before she entered the PWHL through the 2025 draft.
Toronto selected her in the fifth round, adding a player with experience across several competitive environments but no previous PWHL appearances.
One season later, the Sceptres have committed to keeping her through 2027-28.
The two-year agreement also places Hjalmarsson among the players signed beyond the upcoming campaign. Of Toronto’s 17 contracted players, nine have agreements extending past the 2026-27 season.
That longer-term commitment gives the organization a degree of roster continuity while additional contracts and training camp decisions remain ahead.
Toronto Sceptres prepare for December season opener
The Toronto Sceptres will begin the 2026-27 PWHL regular season on Sunday, December 6, with a road game against Ottawa.
Two days later, Toronto will return to Coca-Cola Coliseum for its home opener against PWHL Hamilton on Tuesday, December 8.
Those fixtures will follow a training camp featuring 29 players, including the 17 who have already signed contracts.
With nine forwards currently under contract, Toronto still has roster decisions to make before the start of the regular season.
Hjalmarsson’s extension is another step in that process, retaining a player who remained available throughout her rookie PWHL campaign and demonstrated additional scoring ability following the 2026 Olympics.
For the Toronto Sceptres, the agreement keeps an experienced Swedish international in the lineup as preparations continue for another PWHL season.
