PWHL Detroit added another local player to the roster for the inaugural season in 2026-2027.
Plymouth’s Mellissa Channell-Watkins (Vancouver Goldeneyes) was one of three defensemen signed to the team on Sunday along with Stephanie Markowski (Ottawa Charge) and Mia Biotti (Boston Fleet).
Channell-Watkins joins Macomb’s Taylor Girard, Brighton’s Shiann Darkangelo and Port Huron’s Casey Borgiel as Michigan-area players in the lineup.
Channell-Watkins played with the expansion Goldeneyes last year after two previous seasons with the Minnesota Frost where she won back-to-back Walter Cup titles.
In 30 games in 2025-26, the 31-year-old recorded two assists and tied for fifth among defenders with 44 hits.
In 83 career regular-season games, she has 11 points (1G, 10A), while her nine career playoff points (1G, 8A) in 18 games is tied for third all-time among defenders.
Prior to turning pro, the Little Caesars graduate played at the University of Wisconsin, scoring the game-winning goal in the 2017 NCAA Frozen Four semifinal.
Markowski entered the PWHL as the 20th overall selection by Ottawa in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft.
The 24-year-old finished third on the team with a plus-6 rating in 2025-26 and has recorded 10 points (2G, 8A) in 58 career regular-season games.
Collegiately, the Edmonton native played four seasons at Clarkson University (2019-23), serving as an alternate captain in 2022-23.
She transferred to Ohio State where she won a national championship with the Buckeyes in 2024.
Biotti spent her rookie season with Boston Fleet, making her PWHL debut at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 3 and went on to record two assists in 13 regular-season games and saw action in two playoff contests.
The 23-year-old from Cambridge, Massachusetts, played four seasons at Harvard University, serving as captain in her senior year, and earned Second-Team All-Ivy League honors.
PWHL Detroit roster
Forwards
Daryl Watts, Detroit’s first signing, Canadian Olympian, Toronto Sceptres
Hannah Bilka, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent
Britta Curl-Salemme, U.S. Olympian, Minnesota Frost
Jesse Compher, Sister of Red Wings forward J.T. Compher, Toronto Sceptres
Taylor Girard, Macomb native, New York Sirens
Shiann Darkangelo, Brighton, Montreal Victoire
Hilary Knight, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent
Defensemen
Cayla Barnes, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent
Sydney Bard, Vancouver Goldeneyes
Nina Jobst-Smith, German Olympian, Vancouver Goldeneyes
Detroit’s draft picks
No. 15 (Second round): Andrea Brandli, G, Switzerland
No. 22 (second round): Casey Borgiel, D, Colgate
No. 34 (third round): MaryKate O’Brien, F, Minnesota-Duluth
No. 39 (fourth round): Kyle Josifovic, F, Connecticut.
No. 51 (fifth round): Sena Catterall, F, Clarkson
No. 63 (sixth round): Georgia Schiff, F, Cornell
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Plymouth’s Channell-Watkins joins local hockey players on PWHL Detroit
Reporting by The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
