As the 2020-21 season continues to encroach on the league’s newest team, the Toronto Six have been hard at work to make their mark on the ice in Lake Placid, New York. With less than 50 days left to go until the franchise makes history at the drop of the puck, the organization announced on Monday the signing of forward Emily Fluke.
Fluke, from Bourne, Massachusetts, joins the Toronto Six for the league’s sixth season, which will be her fourth of professional hockey. It will also be the third team she plays with since making her debut in the NWHL. Fluke, 28-years-old, spent 2019-20 with the Boston Pride.
During the one season she played with them, the righty racked up nine goals along with 18 assists which made for 27 points. She did so through 23 games while helping to guide them to the Isobel Cup Playoffs. However, due to the spread of COVID-19, the cup final was cancelled against the Minnesota Whitecaps.
A key part of the Boston Pride’s playoff push, Fluke’s 27 points ranked her fourth on the team, a career high total for the five-foot-five forward. In the Isobel Cup Semifinals, she recorded two points, which helped to push the Pride past the Connecticut Whale. Speaking of which, prior to signing with Boston, Fluke spent two seasons with the Whale in Danbury.
Signing in 2017-18, Fluke played in 16 games, amassing eleven points on four goals and seven assists. The following season, she was appointed as captain, having tallied three goals along with eight assists. That made for eleven points, which Fluke managed to compile in 16 games.
The same year, Fluke led the Whale to the playoffs, where she added one goal in just a single game played. A fan favourite, she was winner of the fan vote, earning her second selection to an NWHL All-Star team. In 2019, she took the ice for Team Stecklein at the NWHL All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena.
Combined between the Whale and Pride, the forward has played in 55 games, recording 16 goals along with 33 assists. As such, she’s tallied 49 points, which ranks her for ninth most points in NWHL history. As for postseason play, Fluke has appeared in three games, having scored two goals and one assist in three playoff games.
Before she made the jump to pro hockey, Fluke skated four years collegiately with the Middlebury Panthers in the NCAA. From 2011-2015, the American forward tallied 54 goals along with 61 assists in 109 career games. This would make for a total of 115 points.
Her signing follows an offseason trade, sending forward Kelly Babstock to the Metropolitan Riveters. The deal, which took place in October, saw the veteran shipped out for a pair of first-rounders. Fluke now becomes the 10th forward to sign a contract with Toronto for the upcoming season.
Joining the league’s newest expansion team, Fluke said on Monday of the chance to keep playing, “Digit really got me fired up about the incredibly talented team and amazing leadership group with the Six and I couldn’t turn down the opportunity. I am beyond excited to join the team and to be able to continue my professional career in the NWHL.”
As reported earlier by Dan Rice of The Hockey Writers, the top-six centre was attempting to sign elsewhere when the Boston Pride’s roster started filling up rapidly. He mentioned that one team wanted her, however, was unable to fit her under the salary cap. Another team expressed strong interest, however, logistics saw the deal fall through.
As she prepares to join the Toronto Six, the feisty forward is joined by Taylor Woods, Mikyla Grant-Mentis and Jenna McParland. Among the list as well includes Sarah-Eve Coutu-Godbout, Natalie Marcuzzi, Amy Curlew and Emma Woods. Not only that, but as Fluke signs with the hockey club, she reunites with a former teammate.
That would be defender Emma Greco, who made her pro debut with the Connecticut Whale. As well, Fluke is one of four players on the Toronto Six roster with experience in the league. Alongside herself and Greco, those are Shiann Darkangelo and Mikyla Grant-Mentis.
Shortly after the signing was announced, The Puck Authority learned that the team’s eighteenth member will arrive this week and start her 14-day quarantine. Following that, she’ll join team practice at Canlan before the Six take off for the league bubble in Lake Placid. With Jenna McParland opting out of the season, Toronto’s signing of Fluke becomes the perfect replacement.
While upping the team’s rivalry with Boston, Melissa Burgess of The Victory Press notes that Emily Fluke will become the sixth player in league history to be apart of at least three different NWHL teams. Doing so with the Toronto Six, she will provide to the hockey club both scoring depth and leadership.
In a statement from Digit Murphy, head coach and president of the Toronto Six, she said of what Fluke brings to Toronto, “Emily is a seasoned veteran in this league, and she will play any role asked of her. She is a winner both in life and in hockey and that is exactly what we want in a player. We are excited to have her as part of our organization and can’t wait to have her on the ice to help with our quest for an Isobel Cup.”