Lauren Messier ’24 Becomes Second Dartmouth Alum to Play in PWHL

Lauren Messier '24 was a mainstay on the ice for four years with the Big Green. Now, she's making her mark in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).

The forward from Burlington, Ontario played in 117 games in a Dartmouth sweater, scoring 23 goals and adding 25 assists for 48 total points. Messier had a breakout senior season, scoring eight goals, tallying nine assists, and collecting 17 points, leading the team in each category.

Messier's journey to the Toronto Sceptres began while she was still in Hanover. With Dartmouth's season ending in late February and graduation not until June, Messier began training while still on campus.

"It was a super long offseason that I guess I wasn't expecting, but I knew it was coming," Messier said. "I was working out all during the spring and then I got home in the summertime and was full force training, just trying to be prepared for training camp and feel my best going into that week and a half in order to try to make the team."

Quickly after arriving in Toronto for training camp, the team was off to Ottawa for its preseason game. Despite heading into the week nervous, Messier felt good about how she performed.

"It was definitely a step up from the NCAA, a very professional setting; everybody is very good at what they do," Messier said about the environment. "It was a very quick week; fast paced practices, lots of scrimmages, trying to show my stuff and it worked once we went to Ottawa and played two preseason games, which was nice to play against another team and get some reps in that way. It was an overall really good experience, and I wasn't so nervous towards the end of that week."

Coming out of training camp, Messier said she had good conversations with General Manager Gina Kingsbury and Head Coach Troy Ryan. Messier signed a reserve contract on November 20 and only nine days later, signed a ten-day standard player agreement and made her PWHL and Toronto Sceptres debut against the Boston Fleet.

"I was ready to be a reserve player, get to work, and do whatever the team needed and whatever the organization needed," Messier said. "I was not expecting to get into a game this quickly and this early in the season, but it was a cool experience being out there for my first game. I had a lot of family in the stands; I got a few shifts… Once I got out there it was just hockey, so that's the best part."

Messier has now played in two games this season, last making an appearance on December 4 in Ottawa. She was one of 75 ECAC Hockey alumnae named to a 2025-26 opening night roster, and one of only two Dartmouth alumni, alongside Laura Stacey '16 of the Montreal Victoire.

Both Dartmouth and ECAC Hockey as a conference have contributed to Messier's success as of late, but she had special praise for current Dartmouth Head Coach Maura Crowell.

"I'll say that my senior year at Dartmouth with Coach [Crowell] is what prepared me the most for coming into this league. Just her building up my confidence, pushing me and being that supportive person in my life, really put me here today," Messier said. "I don't think I'd be playing hockey if it wasn't for her coming in, shaking things up and inspiring me to continue to push myself more, which I'm very grateful for."

Additionally, Messier credited the caliber of ECAC Hockey. "The ECAC was strong and fast and had a ton of really good, talented players, most of which are playing in the PWHL now too," Messier said. "It prepared me will, but it's still a step up."

Other Dartmouth resources, such as Dartmouth Peak Performance (DP2), helped Messier.

"Everything compounds. Every little think that you do, all your habits and details that you pay attention to, your sleep, your nutrition, your workouts, your schedule and everything that happens not on the ice, compounds into success," Messier said.

As she is still early in her PWHL career, Messier said the best part is that every day is a new day and opportunity for her to learn and grow.

"I don't think I got here and was like once I sign a contract that I made it. I feel I'm still coming to the rink everyday with a mindset of I still want to learn, I still want to improve, I still want to get better. And I think being in Toronto especially, is a really good place to do that because of the growth mindset that everybody has and the coaches and the girls that are in the room. Everybody is pushing each other to be the best versions of themselves," Messier said.

"Every day is new, there's new challenges every day, there's wins in every day, and I just love that I'm always being challenged. I'm always being pushed to be the best version of myself, show up for my teammates, show up for myself and the organization. That's the best part," Messier added.

You can follow along with the Toronto Sceptres and Lauren Messier online here.

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