Toronto franchise to trade Babstock to American squad

By Sam Laskaris

NORWALK, CONNECTICUT – Kelly Babstock will still get to play some professional hockey games in Toronto.

But it just won’t be with the Toronto Six, an expansion franchise in the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL).

Babstock, a member of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, signed a contract to play with the Toronto squad this past May.

She was looking forward to the opportunity of showcasing her skills with the Toronto squad since she grew up in nearby Mississauga. But those plans have now been derailed as Babstock was traded to the New Jersey-based Metropolitan Riveters earlier this month.

A trade was necessary since Babstock plans to continue living in Norwalk, Connecticut, where she runs her hockey school and also coaches minor hockey teams.

Since most NWHL contests are on weekends, Babstock’s original plan was to fly to Toronto for the team’s home games and some practices while continuing to live south of the border.

But because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Babstock would currently be required to quarantine for 14 days every time she came to Canada. As a result, Babstock had been unable to travel and practice with the Toronto squad, which kicked-off training sessions earlier this month, even though team members do not know when, or if, a 2020-21 campaign will be able to start.

Babstock was uncertain at what point travel restrictions would be lifted. Thus, she requested a trade to the Riveters, whose home rink is a 70-minute drive from her home, so she could at least practice with the New Jersey club.

“That was a huge factor, not knowing when I would be there,” Babstock said of her trade request to the Riveters.

Babstock signed with the Toronto club in the spring even though it was uncertain at that point what the professional sports scene in North America would look like in the future.

“I didn’t expect it to be lasting so long,” Babstock said of the pandemic.

Though she is now a member of the Riveters, Babstock admits she is disappointed at not having the opportunity to don a Six jersey.

“I really wish I could play there,” she said. “It’s my hometown. I will still be playing there, just on a different team.”

By trading Babstock, the Toronto team received the Riveters’ first-round pick in the 2021 NWHL draft and their second-round selection in the 2022 draft.

Digit Murphy, the president of the Six franchise who will also serve as the team’s head coach, would obviously have preferred to still have Babstock on the Toronto roster.

“I feel strongly about how valuable she is as a person and to our organization,” Murphy said.

Murphy realized, however, that the club should not deny Babstock the opportunity to at least train with a NWHL squad.

“It made more sense for her to be in the States,” Murphy said. “We’re all about getting players to where they need to be. She’s a great player. But you have to do what’s right for certain things.”

Besides the Six and Riveters, the NWHL also includes the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and Minnesota Whitecaps.

Babstock, 28, has played four seasons in the league. She spent three years with the Whale and then suited up for the Beauts during the 2018-19 campaign.

Babstock didn’t play in the NWHL last year, opting instead to throw her support behind the

Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, which was formed last year to fight for a viable professional North American women’s league.