J.T. Compher's sister signs three-year deal with PWHL Detroit

Jesse Compher, the sister of Detroit Red Wings center J.T. Compher,  signed a three-year deal with Detroit’s expansion team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), the team announced on Monday.

Compher, who was under contract with the Toronto Sceptres for the 2026-27 season, joins PWHL Detroit on a new deal through the 2028-29 season and completes the five players added to the team during Phase 2 of the PWHL’s Expansion Roster Distribution Process.  

Selected by Toronto in the fifth round of the inaugural PWHL Draft in 2023, Compher is one of five players to have played in every Sceptres game in team history (84 regular season and nine postseason games).

She ranks among Toronto’s scoring leaders in each of the last two seasons, third in 2025-26 with six goals and six assists in 30 games and fourth in 2024-25 with nine goals and nine assists in 30 games.

Representing the United States, the 27-year-old Northbrook, Illinois native has an Olympic silver medal to her name (2022) and four World Championship medals (gold in 2019 and 2025, silver in 2021 and 2022). 

Compher played her first four seasons at Boston University before transferring to the University of Wisconsin for her fifth year of eligibility, helping the Badgers capture the 2023 NCAA title.

The 5-foot-8 forward reunites with the four other players on the Detroit roster: former Sceptres teammate Daryl Watts, former Wisconsin and U.S. teammate Britta Curl-Salemme and former National Team members Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes.

Detroit is now home to two professional hockey playing siblings, the first time in PWHL and NHL history. J.T. Compher had 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 82 games with the Red Wings last year.

The 2026 PWHL Awards are Tuesday, June 16 in Detroit. Attendance is limited to invited guests and accredited media. The PWHL Draft is Wednesday, June 17 at the Fox Theater at 5 p.m., and open to ticketed fans.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Jesse Compher, sister of Wings’ J.T. Compher, signs with PWHL Detroit