Robert Morris women's hockey captain Jaycee Gebhard has signed a contract to play in Sweden next season after being selected in the first round of the NWHL Draft last week, according to a report from WestCentralOnline.
Gebhard, a 22-year-old native of Saskatchewan, is the Colonials’ all-time leader in assists (124) and points (198) in her 139 games with Robert Morris. She led Robert Morris with 20 goals and 43 assists in 36 games as a senior.
Gebhard, a center, was selected No. 6 overall, the first ever draft pick of the NWHL's still-unnamed Toronto expansion team. She will instead play for Brynas IF of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL), one of the top women's leagues in the world.
The SDHL was founded in 2007-08, and is comprised of 10 teams with many North American players. The 2019-20 season featured 36 North American women (24 Canadian, 12 American) on SDHL rosters. Notable North American players in the SDHL this season included 2018 Olympic gold medalist Sidney Morin, former No. 2 overall draft pick in the NWHL Kennedy Marchment, and former CWHL champion, NWHL champion, NWHL All Star and two-time World Championship gold medalist Zoe Hickel.
The SDHL plays a 36-game schedule, while the NWHL plays 24 games.
The SDHL made major strides for the 2019-20 season, securing a six-year television broadcast deal in Sweden as well as a major sponsor in shipping company DHL.
Signing in the SDHL prevents Gebhard from having to choose between the NWHL and the PWHPA, a group of women's players who are sitting out of playing in the NWHL in hopes of working toward a more viable and sustainable women's league. The PWHPA is currently comprised of 139 players, including the entire Canadian and U.S. senior women's national teams.
Gebhard was the first of two Robert Morris products selected in the NWHL draft, with the second being forward Natalie Marcuzzi, selected by Toronto in the fourth round, No. 22 overall. Marcuzzi has yet to sign a contract for the 2019-20 season.
