NCAA star Daryl Watts unveiled a record $150,000 US contract with PHF’s Toronto Six

Darryl Watts thought he had retired from hockey after a stellar NCCA career.

The 23-year-old from Toronto was accepted into the University of Wisconsin master’s commercial real estate program last fall after a summer internship in that field.

But a week before returning to his alma mater in Madison, Watts did what people his age often do: change his mind about what he wanted to do with his life.

“I quit seven days before. My dad was so upset,” Watts told The Canadian Press on Wednesday. “He supported everything I did and he was very supportive after he got over it.”

‘Turning point’

While rearranging the course of his life, what brought him out of retirement was the Major Hockey Federation announcement December 14 of the salary cap doubling next season to $1.5 million US per team.

“I was kind of pursuing other things at the time,” Watts said. “As soon as I saw the news that the PHF salary cap had doubled to $1.5 million US, that was the turning point.

“Conversation with my family playing women’s professional hockey is a very viable financial option and can support a very good lifestyle for a 23 year old. Why don’t I pursue this and see what the options are?”

Historic contract

Days after the Toronto Six signed the forward to a two-year contract, Watts announced on Wednesday his 2023-24 salary of $150,000 was a league record.

“I’m expressing this because women’s hockey has struggled for so long,” Watts said. “I am very grateful and lucky to be the recipient of this historic contract.

“It’s my job, almost, to the women’s hockey community, to share this contract, bring clarity to what the pro-women’s hockey scene is like right now.

“These are staggering numbers. It sends a message to young girls who play hockey that they can look forward to a women’s pro league where they have the opportunity to make very significant amounts of money to support themselves while playing the sport they love.

“I also reveal this because I hope that it will attract other players, which will then accumulate into the formation of one professional women’s hockey league.”

Toronto forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis is the PHF’s highest-paid player heading into the season after signing an $80,000 contract with the Buffalo Beauts.

The seven-team PHF, with clubs in Toronto and Montreal, has raised the financial stakes in its bid to become a North American women’s pro hockey league record.

The average salary this season is $34,000 for a 22-man roster, but salaries range from $13,500 to $80,000 from Grant-Mentis.

Watts’ contract converting to $200,000 in Canadian dollars next season is a milestone in terms of raising financial standards.

It was also PHF’s latest message to the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, whose membership of 80 players includes stars Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse, Hilary Knight and Kendall Coyne Schofield.

PWHPA, which holds games and tournaments, intends to start its own league with Billie Jean King Enterprises and Mark Walter, co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, as potential backers.

PWHPA players have so far refused to join the PHF arguing that if a player needs a second job to support themselves—and some have side gigs—it’s not the pro league they dreamed of.

Women’s hockey has nearly lost a high-caliber player to Watts, who ranks second all-time in NCAA scoring with 297 points in 172 games with first Boston College and then Wisconsin from 2017 to 2022.

In her rookie year with the Eagles in 2018, Watts became the first freshman to win the Patty Kazmaier Award which is given to the top player in women’s Division 1 hockey.

Watts represented Canada at the under-18 world hockey championships in 2017 in a silver medal bid. He also played for the national under-22 team in a three-game series against the United States in the summer of 2019.

With the help of his father Michael, a corporate lawyer who acts as his agent, Watts enters into discussions and negotiations with the PHF club.

He said he was attracted to the Boston Pride and Connecticut Whale because they were coached by former NHL players Paul Mara and Colton Orr respectively, and Buffalo because of their affinity.

‘Special place in my heart’

But his hometown team, which is second in the league 10-2-2 behind Boston, won Watts’ toss.

“They offered me a very good contract,” said Watts. “Born and raised in Toronto, I have a special place in my heart for the Toronto Six.

“I played high school hockey in Toronto. My family and friends are here. It’s a great downtown life and I’m a huge Leafs fan. These days, I live in my childhood home so life is pretty good.”

Watts hit the ice for the first time in 10 months during six practices last week. He played in Toronto’s Saturday and Sunday games against Connecticut and provided an assist.

“I really suck at the wind,” Watts said. “My feet were burning. I passed out on the ice. It didn’t feel good. Physically I was struggling, but mentally having fun.

“I’m hard on myself. I expect myself to perform at the level I know I’m capable of. I haven’t been on the ice in a year and I spent the summer letting go of my hockey muscles.

“I hope to be 100 percent when the playoffs come.”

Hadwin Floyd

"Coffee enthusiast. Hipster-friendly social media fanatic. Certified zombie expert. Problem solver."

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