PWHL San Jose signs Lily Shannon, McKenna Van Gelder to two-year contracts

The PWHL season may still be a few months away, but PWHL San Jose are continuing to build their roster for the first season, even as they await a schedule and a name before hitting the ice after the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship in November. 

On Wednesday, the team announced the signings of forwards Lily Shannon and McKenna Van Gelder to two-year PWHL deals, bringing the draft picks through the 2027-28 PWHL campaign and bringing the roster to 18 players. 

Shannon, 23, was selected 40th overall in the fourth round of the PWHL Draft and takes the step to the professional level after playing four seasons of NCAA hockey with Northeastern University. In her collegiate career, she amassed 45 goals and 47 assists for 92 points over 144 games and led the team as captain in 2025-26. In her captaincy year, she scored 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points and was the only player to surpass 40 points and 40 blocked shots in the same season. 

Van Gelder, meanwhile, takes the step up to the pro game after scoring 41 goals and 45 assists for 85 points in 134 games across four years with Cornell University, where she crossed paths with fellow San Jose teammate Rory Guilday. The Etobicoke, Ont. native served as Cornell’s captain last season and posted 10 goals and 13 assists. Internationally, she also earned a gold medal with Canada at the 202 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. 

While no details have been unveiled on the PWHL’s schedule or San Jose’s further branding and identity, information is expected in the coming weeks, with the hockey season set to get underway at the NHL level on the men’s side, even with the women’s game still waiting until deeper into 2026 to drop the puck at the professional level.