Toronto Six Add Versatility To Blue-line With Re-Signing Of Defender Kati Tabin
June 12, 2023, Toronto ON — The Toronto Six have announced their seventh move of the offseason, re-signing defender Kati Tabin to a two-year Premier Hockey Federation contract to remain with the organization for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns. Her agreement includes an annual salary valued at $110,000 USD per season for a total of $220,000 USD over two years.
“Toronto is just a good spot for me. I think just after having a pretty good season, I liked what Toronto has to offer both on the team side and on the management side, with Angela James and Geraldine Heaney taking the lead in their respective roles,” said Tabin. “It’s pretty cool to have two females a part of our program and it’s a great organization, which is only continuing to grow. We have a couple of great owners too, so it’s a great place to be and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Tabin played an instrumental role in helping Toronto win their first Isobel Cup championship in franchise history, making an impact both offensively and defensively as T6 won a 4-3 overtime thriller over Minnesota in Tempe, Arizona on March 26. The 26-year-old enjoyed a successful first full season at the highest professional level in 2022-23, leading all defenders in scoring with 18 points, including four goals and 14 assists in 24 games, which ranked fifth overall on the team. The Winnipeg, MB native earned her first invitation to the PHF All-Star Showcase, suiting up with PHF Team Canada and helping secure a 3-2 victory over PHF Team World during the championship event at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre on January 29. During the Isobel Cup Playoffs, Tabin established herself among the league leaders in points with four while sitting atop the assists category with three.
“With Kati, last year, she had a fantastic season, and if you’re looking for her, you can always find her in the gym putting in the work to get better and better. With that type of pedigree, there is no doubt she will be great again for us this year,” said Angela James, General Manager of the Toronto Six. “Kati sets a high standard for herself, and this season, I know she wants to continue to grow her game to the next level. We look forward to having Kati quarterback us to another Isobel Cup.”
Prior to making her debut at the pro level, Tabin played four years of NCAA Division I competition at Quinnipiac University, where the Bachelor of Business Marketing graduate compiled 52 points in 141 games, registering 14 goals while adding 38 assists from 2016-20. Her experience also includes a stint with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team in 2019-20, and competing on the national stage with Team Manitoba at the 2015 Canada Winter Games. Before joining T6, Tabin appeared in six games as a member of the Connecticut Whale during the 2021-22 season.
Presented with the opportunity to patrol the blue-line in Toronto for the next two seasons, Tabin is excited to continue growing the women’s game for the next generation, both on and off the ice.
“The biggest thing for a lot of us in the league is just growing the female game. The salary increase and just having more eyes on our league this year has brought a lot of light to female hockey so future generations know that you can get paid a good amount to play hockey and do what you love, just like the boys,” said an elated Tabin. “First off, that’s the goal to get the word out there about the PHF. It’s only going to grow, so that’s super exciting and I’m super excited to be a part of that.”
“Now it’s super cool to share with friends and family that I’m going to be able to get paid a good wage and this is going to be my job,” Tabin continued. “Just going into the Six the next couple of seasons here, I’m just excited to be a part of it moving forward for the female game.”
Toronto now has eight players under contract for the 2023-24 season with Tabin joining returning goaltender Elaine Chuli and captain Shiann Darkangelo on two-year deals, with fellow defenders Saroya Tinker and Taylor Davison joining goaltender Carly Jackson and forward Claire Dalton each signing one-year deals. Returning forward Daryl Watts is entering the second year of a two-year agreement.
About the Toronto Six
The Toronto Six are a professional women’s ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario and competing in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). The Six are the league’s second expansion team that stepped on PHF ice in 2021, capturing a regular season championship. The team is owned and operated by Johanna Neilson-Boynton and BTM Partners. Visit toronto.premierhockeyfederation.com to learn more.
About Premier Hockey Federation (PHF):
The PHF is the leading source of professional women’s hockey in North America. Established in 2015 as the National Women’s Hockey League, the NWHL rebranded to become the PHF in 2021 and maintains the mission to provide strong role models and fuel the continued growth of the sport. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and the Toronto Six who all compete annually for the Isobel Cup.