U.S. Olympian Amanda Pelkey Signs With Riveters

NEWARK, NJ -- Amid a roster rebuild for the PHF’s eighth season, the Metropolitan Riveters have signed right-winger Amanda Pelkey to a Premier Hockey Federation contract for the 2022-23 season.

“The Riveters were always a tough team to play against both mentally and physically during my time in Boston,” the forward said. “I am looking forward to maintaining that tough style against opponents. When this opportunity came to me, I was intrigued by the thought of simply getting the opportunity to focus on being a professional athlete and help move the game forward.”

Pelkey, a returning member of the league, is a former member of the U.S. National Women’s Team. She made her debut on the national stage at the 2016 IIHF Women’s World Championship, earning her first gold medal with a 1-0 overtime victory over Canada. 

She scored a single goal in five contests the following season, as the U.S. took home their fourth straight gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship in Plymouth, Michigan. Continuing to train and compete with the National program, Pelkey racked up another gold medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

“We are so excited to have Amanda Pelkey join the Rivs,” said Digit Murphy, President of the Metropolitan Riveters. “She’s a champion, an established veteran, and she immediately solidifies our star-studded veteran core up front. We could not be happier to have a player of her caliber join the PHF with the Riveters and are anticipating great things."

Pelkey most recently spent two seasons skating with Calgary’s Team Scotiabank in the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA). She made the move in 2019 after spending three seasons with the Boston Pride.

The first free agent to sign on with the Riveters this offseason, Pelkey is no stranger to the league in which she started her career back in 2015. She originally signed with the Pride for the inaugural season of the National Women’s Hockey League.

Across 49 career NWHL contests, the right-handed shooter has tallied 33 points, recording 15 goals, while adding 18 assists. This includes three consecutive appearances in the playoffs, and an Isobel Cup championship to top off her rookie campaign.

Pelkey took to the pro stage in a hurry after four years of collegiate play for the University of Vermont Catamounts. From 2011-15, she logged 127 games and registered 105 points, tallying 49 goals while adding 56 assists.

In her Junior season, the Montpelier, VT native led the program in scoring and was rewarded by being named team captain her Senior year, where she went on to log 31 points. 

A decorated forward who adds production offensively, Pelkey’s past U.S. National Team experience also includes three straight appearances at the IIHF U-18 World Championships, where she took home gold twice (2009, 2011) and earned silver at the tournament in 2010.

Now with the opportunity to return to the PHF for the 2022-23 season, Pelkey is ecstatic to join the Riveters progressive, player-centric culture and make a positive community impact alongside her teammates.

“What excites me most about the season is building on relationships with old teammates of mine and also growing new ones within the team. And all at the same time striving towards the same goal,” she said. “I think one focus of mine is to help build a team culture that everyone is excited to come to work every day and I am looking forward to being a part of that development.”