Sceptres add Kjellbin for defensive depth at PWHL trade deadline

A rather quiet PHWL trade deadline saw only one deal completed.

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The Toronto Sceptres bolstered their defensive corps by adding Anna Kjellbin from the Montreal Victoire in exchange for forward Kaitlin Willoughby.

Kjellbin is a Swedish national team defender who was drafted in the sixth round last season by the Victoire. She had been averaging about 12 minutes a game until the return to health of Dominika Laskova cut her back to about four minutes a night and gave Montreal a surplus of defenders, precipitating this trade.

Kjellbin has plenty of international experience, having played in an Olympics and five world championships. She will turn 31 in a couple of days, which means she will bring an added level of experience to a Toronto blue line that currently relies on two rookies among its six defenders.

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Willoughby has been with the Sceptres since the league began, playing a mostly fourth line role. She is an extremely fast skater whose game has become much more rounded over the year and a half she has been in the league.

Toronto recently lost rookie defender Lauren Bernard to the New York Sirens when the Sirens plucked her off Toronto’s reserve list. Earlier this year, the Sirens also helped themselves to another Toronto reserve who was also a defender in Olivia Knowles.

For most of the season, the Sceptres have gone with 13 forwards and six defenders on game days but this could be a sign that they could be headed to a 12 forwards, seven defenders setup going forward. Their next game is on Wed. March 19 at home against New York.

mganter@postmedia.com

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