Issy Wunder tops trio of signings as PWHL Las Vegas builds core

PWHL Las Vegas moved to secure more of its future on Tuesday, announcing two-year contracts for forwards Issy Wunder and Josefin Bouveng and defender Kendall Butze. All three deals run through the 2027-28 season and involve players chosen in the franchise’s first-ever draft this past June in Detroit.

Expansion club locks in key draft picks

Wunder, Bouveng and Butze are the latest members of Las Vegas’ inaugural draft class to sign, joining first-round selections Tessa Janecke and Lacey Eden under contract. The signings give the expansion side a clearly defined group of young players to build around as it prepares for its first PWHL campaign.

Wunder was Las Vegas’ third draft choice and the 13th pick overall, taken at the start of the second round. Bouveng followed in the third round at 29th overall, while Butze entered the fold as a fifth-round selection at 49th overall. The picks used on Wunder and Butze came via a trade with the Vancouver Goldeneyes, in which general manager Dominique DiDia acquired extra draft capital by sending Abby Boreen back to Vancouver.

College standouts with international pedigree

Wunder arrives in the pro ranks after a standout senior season at Princeton University, where she led the Tigers in scoring with 27 goals and 43 points. The Toronto native was recognized as Ivy League Player of the Year, earned a spot on the ECAC First All-Star Team and was a top-10 Patty Kazmaier Award finalist for a second straight season. Over 129 NCAA games, she totalled 70 goals and 76 assists for 146 points, helping Princeton finish atop the ECAC standings and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

Bouveng was a key offensive threat at the University of Minnesota on a roster that also featured Abbey Murphy and Ava Lindsay. In her final season with the Golden Gophers, the Uppsala, Sweden product recorded 15 goals and 43 points in 31 games, tying for second in team scoring. Across 143 collegiate contests, she amassed 56 goals and 86 assists for 142 points. Internationally, Bouveng has represented Sweden at four IIHF Women’s World Championships and two Winter Olympics, and she earned a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship.

Butze comes out of Penn State University, where she was part of a highly regarded class alongside Janecke, Katie DeSa and Katelyn Roberts. Over four seasons with the Nittany Lions, she put up 15 goals and 79 assists for 94 points, the highest career total by a defender in program history. She helped Penn State capture four straight Atlantic Hockey America (formerly College Hockey America) titles and reach the Women’s Frozen Four for the first time this past spring. As a senior, Butze was honoured as Atlantic Hockey America’s Defender of the Year.

Las Vegas nearing roster limit before opening night

With Wunder, Bouveng and Butze under contract, PWHL Las Vegas now has 18 players signed for its debut season. The club can still add one more standard contract before training camp begins next month.

Las Vegas will play its first regular-season game on December 6, opening its inaugural campaign at home against fellow expansion team Detroit.