PWHL News: Boston’s Loren Gabel placed on LTIR, Montreal signs Grant-Mentis to SPA

Credit: Kelly Hagenson/PWHL

A couple of roster moves heading into a busy Saturday of Professional Women’s Hockey League action.

Boston was forced to make a couple of moves. Loren Gabel was placed on long-term injured reserve. The former Boston Pride star was injured during the team’s 2-1 shootout win over Ottawa in Detroit last month, and has not played since. The PWHL’s LTIR rules force players to be out of the lineup for 21 days. However, with the pause for the IIHF Women’s World Championship, Gabel is not eligible to return to the lineup until Boston’s game on April 24 against Ottawa.

According to Boston’s GM, Danielle Marmer, the team is not sure if Gabel will be ready by next Wednesday.

In 17 games, Gabel has scored four goals and three assists.

With the open roster spot, Boston has Nicole Kosta to a standard player agreement (SPA). The former Quinnipiac player started the season with an SPA but was moved to the reserve list on Feb. 14. She was signed to a 10-day contract following Gabel’s injury. In six games, Kosta has registered one assist.

Boston also signed forward Kelly Babstock to a 10-day contract. The former Metropolitan Riveter was added to the team reserve’s list right before the roster freeze last month.

Montreal officially announced they have signed forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis to a SPA for the rest of the season.

The former Premier Hockey Federation Most Valuable Player started the season with Ottawa, but was released from her contract in mid-February. Less than a month later, Grant-Mentis was signed to Montreal’s reserve list, but was signed to a 10-day SPA right before the trade deadline.

MGM has played three games with Montreal, registering a plus-two rating. In nine total games, she has posted three assists, all coming with Ottawa.

New York signed two players to 10-day contracts. Forward Alexa Gruschow and Carley Olivier from their reserve list. Gruschow has made one appearance this season, that coming back on Jan. 14 against Minnesota. Olivier’s contract will be activated following the team’s game against Boston on Saturday.

Ottawa also made a move, activating Becca Gilmore from long-term injured reserve. The forward was placed on LTIR with an undisclosed injury back on April 3.