The Toronto Sceptres re-signed defender Renata Fast and goalie Raygan Kirk to three-year contracts on Wednesday in protecting both players from the PWHL expansion process.

The two were on expiring contracts, with Fast making just over $106,000 last season, and Kirk $37,200. The Sceptres have yet to announce the third and final player they’ll protect before the PWHL’s four expansion teams — Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose and Hamilton, Ontario — can begin signing so-called foundational players on Friday.

The 31-year-old Fast has spent all three seasons in Toronto and was the league’s 2025 defender of the year. From Burlington, Ontario, she’s a three-time Canadian Olympian, and her 45 career points (10 goals, 35 assists) rank second among PWHL blue-liners.

The 25-year-old Kirk had a breakthrough season in taking over the starting duties in her second PWHL season. With an 8-8-6 record and three shutouts, she ranked third among PWHL goalies with an 1.87 goals-against average and .934 save percentage.

Kirk is from Ste. Anne, Manitoba, and was selected by Toronto in the seventh round of the 2024 draft after winning two NCAA championships at Ohio State.

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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey