Lesli, a citizen of Ottawa, signs with the PWHL Ottawa team.

Rebecca Leslie, a native of Ottawa, will be playing professional hockey for her hometown team.

PWHL Ottawa announced yesterday, Tuesday, that it has signed Leslie, a free agent, to a one-year contract for the 2024-25 season. The 28-year-old forward played with PWHL Toronto in the league's inaugural season.

Leslie scored two goals and provided seven assists for Toronto in the regular season and scored one goal in the playoffs. Before joining the PWHL, Leslie won a gold medal at the under-18 level with Canada in 2014 and was the captain of the Boston University Terriers when she was a senior. She spent her junior years in the capital with the Kanata Rangers, Gloucester Rangers, and Ottawa Lady Senators.

Leslie said Tuesday, "I would say I'm a really good skater and I think my 200-foot game is solid, so I think I'm someone who can play offensively and defensively and contribute up and down the lineup."

She added, "I think Ottawa has a really well-organized team and Carla (MacLeod) has coached me before, so I'm really excited to work under her and play with players like Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and in front of Emerance Mashmayer."

The salary terms of Leslie's contract were not disclosed, under an agreement with the players' association.

"Rebecca is a fantastic skater. She is a 200-foot player. She has that veteran presence and will be a great addition to our locker room. It’s an added bonus that she’s from Ottawa. We’re excited to bring her home," says PWHL Ottawa General Manager Mike Hirschfeld in a press release.

Leslie joins a group of 12 players already signed with PWHL Ottawa for the 2024-25 season. This group includes forwards Emily Clark, Gabi Hughes, Brianne Jenner, Hailey Scamurra, Natalie Snodgrass, and Teresa Vanisova, as well as defensemen Ashton Bell, Zoe Boyd, Savannah Harmon, Geneseo Rose, Anita Tigranov, and goaltender Emerance Mashmayer. In the PWHL draft on June 10, Ottawa selected forwards Daniel Serdachny and Manon McMahon, and Anna Mixner, along with defensemen Ronja Savolainen and Stephanie Markovski, and Madeline Wheatington, and goaltender Gwyneth Phillips.