Canadian Olympian Szabados turns pro
• Fresh off her second Olympic gold medal and a practice with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, goaltender Shannon Szabados will join the Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League next week.
The Cottonmouths announced on their website Friday that the team intended to sign the Edmonton goalie. Szabados would be the first female to play in the 10-team SPHL since its formation 10 years ago, the team said.
“I am very excited to get a world-class athlete that has competed and has faced highpressured situations,” Cottonmouths head coach Jerome Bechard said in a statement.
Szabados posted a 28-save shutout over the U.S. in the women’s Olympic hockey final in 2010. She made 27 saves in Canada’s 3-2 overtime win against the Americans to defend the gold in Sochi last month.
But the 27-year-old has spent the majority of her career in men’s leagues.
She played for Sherwood Park, Bonneyville and Fort Saskatchewan during her four years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Szabados was named the AJHL’s top goaltender in 2006-07 after helping Fort Saskatchewan to a leaguebest record of 45-11-0-4.
She then spent five years in Alberta men’s college hockey with Grant MacEwen and then NAIT.
She set a league record in 2012-13 for the lowest goalsagainst average (1.58) and her NAIT Ooks won their first championship in 16 years. Szabados stopped 30 of 31 shots in the final game.
Cottonmouths captain Kyle Johnson, forward Jordan Draper and defenceman Andy Willigar are her former NAIT teammates. Winnipeg’s Andrew Loewen is the starting goaltender.
“Well here goes nothing,” Szabados tweeted on Friday. “Heading to the @SPHL to join the @Cottonmouths for the remainder of their season. See you on the 12th guys! #snakes”
Szabados will head to Columbus on Wednesday and will be introduced at a news conference the following day prior to a game at home against the Pensacola Ice Flyers.
“She won a championship with NAIT last year alongside Andy Willigar and Jordan Draper so I know she can compete at this level,” Bechard said. “We are working on her immigration, and we are looking to sign her officially Thursday, where she will be backing up Loewen.
“She will play when she feels comfortable and situated.”
The Cottonmouths are 2322-3 and rank seventh in the league.
“Thanks for all the support, im overwhelmed!,” Szabados tweeted later in the day. “Cant wait to sign my first pro contract and get back on the ice. #snakes”
Szabados participated in an Edmonton Oilers practice Wednesday. The Oilers were short a goalie on trade deadline day awaiting the arrival of Viktor Fasth from Anaheim.
No woman has ever played in an NHL regular-season game. Goaltender Manon Rheaume became the first to play in an exhibition game with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992.