Micah Zandee-Hart was beyond frustrated to miss New York’s first five games of the PWHL season because of injury. But New York’s captain didn’t let that stand in the way of doing what a leader does. Lead.
“She’s been a great role model first and foremost in the steps she took to get back. She was probably working as hard or harder than any of the players that were in the lineup on a regular basis and playing an amazing amount of minutes,” New York coach Howie Draper said. “She was fully dedicated to getting herself back in the lineup. … And that’s what you want your captain to be like. It’s one thing to tell others to work harder. It’s another to show those you’re leading how hard you can work. If you’re prepared to work first, the others will be more likely to follow.”
The 27-year-old defenseman had not played since helping Canada win the silver medal at the 2023 World Championship in April. While still recovering from a long-term injury, Zandee-Hart was one of the first three free agents signed by New York on Sept. 8, along with Team Canada teammate Ella Shelton and forward Alex Carpenter. New York did so despite knowing she wouldn’t be ready to start the inaugural PWHL season on time.
That didn’t matter to New York general manager Pascal Daoust.
“I told her ‘I’m not signing you for the three weeks you’re missing, I’m signing you for the three years and more you’ll be playing with us,’” Daoust explained. “We can wait for those three weeks. It hurts to be without her because we’re a better team with her. She makes everyone better. But we could afford to wait.”
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Behind the scenes at training camp, the 2022 Olympic gold medalist was rehabbing and watching her teammates on the ice. Zandee-Hart was also making enough of an impression on everyone that she was selected captain in a “unanimous vote by players and staff” in December, according to Daoust.
“With injuries it’s always trusting the process and trusting the medical team and not coming back too soon, even though I was champing at the bit,” Zandee-Hart said. “But it was great coming back, being on the bench, getting in that game atmosphere again (Jan. 20 at Boston).”
Zandee-Hart suited up in that game against Boston, with the plan that she’d only take the ice for power-play duty. Except, New York didn’t have a single power play in the 4-1 loss.
She’s played more regularly the past two games and picked up her first point, an assist on Shelton’s goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to Minnesota on Sunday.
Though she was honored to take part in a preseason publicity event at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan and handle ceremonial face-off duties at the first-ever PWHL gam in Toronto on Jan. 1, all Zandee-Hart wanted to do the past two months was play.
So, it’s no surprise she recently stated with a smile, “It’s awesome to be back.”
Awesome, too, for New York. Because Draper believes the team can benefit from her skill on the ice as well as leadership both at and away from the rink.
“She’s just helped create a welcoming kind of environment,” Draper explained. “She’s an amazing human being. Her values are very strong, positive values. There’s a reason everyone agreed she should be our first captain.”