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National Post
27-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Toronto Sceptres draft night trade brings Ella Shelton back to plenty of familiarity
The newest veteran defender on the Toronto Sceptres looked down at the colours and crest on the jersey she was wearing and wondered aloud how long it was going to take to get used to them. Article content But the colours are going to be the only uncomfortable thing for Ella Shelton as she makes the move from the New York Sirens to the Sceptres. Article content Article content Shelton, 27, was acquired on draft night for the Sceptres third-overall pick and their third-rounder, 27 th overall. Article content It brings the Ingersoll native back to some familiar company in national team GM Gina Kingsbury, head coach Troy Ryan and players like Renata Fast, Blayre Turnbull, Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner, who Shelton has shared plenty of days and nights with during the international portion of her career. Three world championship gold medals and an Olympic gold medal are just some of the spoils from playing with that group. Article content On top of that familiarity, she's now just a two-hour drive from the family farm, is back living in the same city with one of her brothers and has an extensive family support system throughout the area from Toronto all the way back to the family home in Ingersoll. Article content Article content Shelton learned of the deal just before Cassie Campbell took to the stage at the brand new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on the outskirts of Ottawa early on draft night and drew gasps from the crowd with the news that Shelton had just become a member of the Sceptres. Article content The gasps may have also been about New York earning the right to claim the top two forwards in the draft after adding Patty Kazmaier winner Casey O'Brien with the third pick after selecting the imposing Kristyna Kaltounkova with the night's first pick. Article content Article content All Shelton needed to see was the joy in the faces of the veteran Sceptres in the crowd as the cameras panned to them to know she was going to be very happy with the deal. Article content Article content 'I think it's really exciting to be back home,' Shelton said Friday while surrounded by microphones and cameras in the Sceptres locker room. 'I wouldn't trade my two years in New York for anything. I think they have done a lot for me there, too, but I'm excited for a new opportunity and a new space and see what I can do for Toronto.' Article content In joining Toronto, Shelton becomes a teammate of the player she most models her game after in Fast, the newly minted PWHL defender of the year. Article content 'I can't say enough good things about Renata Fast,' Shelton said. 'She is one that took me under her wing when I graduated from college. She was one I could reach out to and ask any question and I didn't feel out of place. And then just seeing her work ethic over the past couple of years has just been tremendous and very motivational for myself.
National Post
26-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
PWHL expansion wasn't all doom and gloom for Original Six cities
It doesn't take a social-media deep-dive to find out just how hurt fans of the original six PWHL teams have been by the expansion process. Article content Despite the league's stated desire for immediate competitive balance before the expansion draft and exclusive signing window for the league's two newest teams opened, the reaction from many fans has been shock at what their respective teams had to give up to make this happen. Article content Article content Article content There's an argument that the league went too far and have created two super teams in this process. That argument won't be settled until the league is back up and playing. Article content But in the meantime, there's another more positive side to expansion as well that often gets lost in all the whining and complaining. Article content Jess Kondas is proof of that. Article content A reserve defender for all but one game over two seasons for the Toronto Sceptres, Kondas was signed to a standard player contract in the middle of all that roster plundering that went on to ensure there was competitive balance when both PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle take the ice next fall. Article content In addition to a sizable pay bump — reserves receive a stipend of a minimum of $15,000 per season — Kondas will now receive the $1700 per month living allowance as well to offset the rent she has been playing out of pocket until now. Article content A Calgary native, Kondas made the decision to stay in market in Toronto that allowed her to practice daily with the team over these past two seasons. Reserves are not required to stay in market, but it would be hard to stay game-ready should an opening arise if a player wasn't in market. Article content Kondas, for instance got into one game over two seasons, a post-Christmas win over Boston this past season, and even scored in that game as she filled in for Rylind MacKinnon, who had incurred a one-game suspension. Article content It was without question the high point of her two years with the Sceptres until she got that call from her agent telling her Toronto had signed her to a standard contract for the coming season a couple of weeks ago. Article content The goal was big, but so too was the ability to show staff she can play at this level. Article content 'I definitely think a one-game, one-goal statline might have helped, but I mean I know you can look at that in different ways,' Kondas said. 'Just in conversations with Gina (GM Gina Kingsbury) and Troy (head coach Troy Ryan) there was that question of was I ready to fit into the pace of the game at this level? I think that was the biggest question mark around myself from what I was hearing. Article content 'So just getting in a game and kind of showing that I can fit in. I don't stick out in a bad way. I think that definitely contributes to a better understanding of how I can play in the league.'
National Post
25-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Toronto Sceptres make noise at PWHL draft, trade for top New York Sirens defender Ella Shelton
OTTAWA — The Toronto Sceptres didn't own the first-overall pick in the PWHL draft, but they certainly stole the thunder in Ottawa last night. Article content With Patty Kazmaier Award winner Casey O'Brien still on the board, the Sceptres turned the draft on its head early by trading the No. 3 pick in the draft to the New York Sirens for defender Ella Shelton. Article content Article content New York also received Toronto's fourth-round pick in the deal. Article content Then just as the draft was settling into a bit of a routine, the Sceptres shook things up again. Toronto dealt its starting goaltender, Kristen (Soupy) Campbell, of its first two seasons to Vancouver for the expansion club's second- and third-round picks (16th and 23rd overall), while also giving up their own third-round pick (19th overall). Article content The move is a good one for both Campbell and the Sceptres. Campbell gets a fresh start in Vancouver alongside national squad teammate Emerance Maschmeyer. Campbell had a rocky finish to an up-and -down tenure with the Sceptres as she was on the bench for Toronto's final game of the playoffs after tough Games 2 and 3 in the semifinal loss to Minnesota. Article content Campbell had a tonne of good moments in the Toronto net, but with the signing of former Montreal netminder Elaine Chuli and Raygan Kirk somehow avoiding being selected in the expansion draft, the writing was on the wall for Campbell's future in Toronto. Article content Shelton, meanwhile, has been one of the top defenders in the PWHL since the league began and even scored the first goal in league history against her new club. Article content She is very familiar to Toronto's braintrust, having played a prominent role on Canada's national women's team where Sceptres GM Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan held the same roles. Article content In a year in which defenders were flying around at the expansion draft, then again during free agency, building a reliable, consistent blue line has become a priority for teams. Article content The Sceptres lost a key defender in Megan Carter, last year's second-rounder, when she went to Seattle in the expansion draft. Article content With no disrespect intended to Carter, who had a very solid first year in the league, Shelton is an unquestioned upgrade at this position for the Sceptres. Article content Like Renata Fast, who is expected to walk away with the league's defender of the year honour at Wednesday's awards, Shelton is a strong two-way defender as capable of jumping into the rush and providing offence as she is protecting her own end.
Toronto Sun
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Toronto Sceptres make noise at PWHL draft, trade for top New York Sirens defender Ella Shelton
Get the latest from Mike Ganter straight to your inbox The Toronto Sceptres traded the third-overall pick at the PWHL draft to the Sirens for defender Ella Shelton on Tuesday. BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES OTTAWA — The Toronto Sceptres didn't own the first-overall pick in the PWHL draft, but they certainly stole the thunder in Ottawa last night. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account With Patty Kazmaier Award winner Casey O'Brien still on the board, the Sceptres turned the draft on its head early by trading the No. 3 pick in the draft to the New York Sirens for defender Ella Shelton. New York also received Toronto's fourth-round pick in the deal. Then just as the draft was settling into a bit of a routine, the Sceptres shook things up again. Toronto dealt its starting goaltender, Kristen (Soupy) Campbell, of its first two seasons to Vancouver for the expansion club's second- and third-round picks (16th and 23rd overall), while also giving up their own third-round pick (19th overall). Read More Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The move is a good one for both Campbell and the Sceptres. Campbell gets a fresh start in Vancouver alongside national squad teammate Emerance Maschmeyer. Campbell had a rocky finish to an up-and -down tenure with the Sceptres as she was on the bench for Toronto's final game of the playoffs after tough Games 2 and 3 in the semifinal loss to Minnesota. Campbell had a tonne of good moments in the Toronto net, but with the signing of former Montreal netminder Elaine Chuli and Raygan Kirk somehow avoiding being selected in the expansion draft, the writing was on the wall for Campbell's future in Toronto. The Sceptres free up some much-needed cap space as well by moving on from Campbell. Shelton, meanwhile, has been one of the top defenders in the PWHL since the league began and even scored the first goal in league history against her new club. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto Sceptres GM Gina Kingsbury, right, poses with second-round pick Emma Gentry, left, an American forward, at the PWHL draft in Ottawa on Tiuesday. ADRIAN WYLD/THE CANADIAN PRESS She is very familiar to Toronto's braintrust, having played a prominent role on Canada's national women's team where Sceptres GM Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan held the same roles. In a year in which defenders were flying around at the expansion draft, then again during free agency, building a reliable, consistent blue line has become a priority for teams. The Sceptres lost a key defender in Megan Carter, last year's second-rounder, when she went to Seattle in the expansion draft. With no disrespect intended to Carter, who had a very solid first year in the league, Shelton is an unquestioned upgrade at this position for the Sceptres. Like Renata Fast, who is expected to walk away with the league's defender of the year honour at Wednesday's awards, Shelton is a strong two-way defender as capable of jumping into the rush and providing offence as she is protecting her own end. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It gives Ryan plenty of options at the back end and the ability to count on offence from his blueline, much in the way the new Vancouver franchise has talked about since adding both Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson from Minnesota in the expansion process. With the trade, New York wound up with the top two projected forwards in the draft, taking Colgate standout Kristyna Kaltounkova of Czechia with the first-overall pick, allowing her to rejoin her old head coach Greg Fargo with the Sirens. Kaltounkova spent four years with Fargo at Colgate before he moved on to take over behind the Sirens bench last season. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. New York GM Pascal Daoust took some heat for protecting his defence during the expansion process and in doing so exposing forward Alex Carpenter who was snapped up Seattle. But in hoarding his defence, Daoust opened the door to a trade like the one he made with Toronto. It allowed him to add O'Brien to Kaltounkova and perhaps lessen the blow in losing both Carpenter and Jessie Eldridge in the expansion process. The top defender off the board went to the Boston Fleet in U.S. national team and Clarkson standout Haley Winn. Winn and Nicole Gosling were the backbone of that Clarkson team. Both defenders went within two picks of each other, with Gosling — a London, Ont., native and cousin of one-time Sceptre Julia Gosling — going fourth overall to the Montreal Victoire. The draft hosts from Ottawa were next on the clock and, to the surprise of very few, they went with the best remaining defender available in Rory Guilday from Cornell. Guilday has big shoes to fill with the departures of Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralova who were casualties of the expansion process for the Charge. mganter@ Toronto Blue Jays NHL Columnists Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
New York Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
New York Sirens trade Ella Shelton to Toronto Sceptres for No. 3 pick in PWHL Draft
OTTAWA – In a massive move in midst of the first round of the PWHL Draft, the New York Sirens traded defender Ella Shelton to the Toronto Sceptres for the third-overall pick and a fourth-rounder in the 2025 draft on Tuesday night. The trade comes just minutes after New York selected forward Kristýna Kaltounková with the No. 1 pick. Advertisement Shelton was New York's first-round pick in the inaugural draft in September 2023 and was named a finalist for 2024 Defender of the Year. The 27-year-old led all defenders in goals this season and is entering the final year of her three-year contract in 2025-26. She'll add immediate depth to the Sceptres blue line that lost rookie Megan Carter in the expansion draft. This story will be updated.
