First Shift: Kirsten Simms Looks Ahead to Her Next Chapter With the Sceptres
Written by Izabela Gage
TORONTO – Kirsten Simms has spent much of her hockey career preparing for the biggest moments. Now, the Michigan native will take the next step in her career with the Toronto Sceptres.
Toronto selected Simms eighth overall with their first-round pick, adding “one of the most creative forwards” in her draft class to their roster. After four seasons at the University of Wisconsin and becoming one of nine players in Badgers’ program history to tally over 200 career points, Simms enters the professional game with a skill set that could give the Sceptres another intimidating player in their lineup.
During an interview with the PWHL, Simms explained her feelings heading into the 2026 draft.
“If I’m able to hear my name on draft night, I think it’s going to be extremely special and something that I’ve always dreamed of but never knew if it would happen, especially on the women’s side,” Simms said.
The opportunity comes at a time when the PWHL continues to provide a growing path for players coming out of college hockey. Rather than entering a league still trying to establish itself, she joins an environment that has already attracted the world’s top players in women’s hockey.
What separates Simms is not simply her ability to score. Her offensive game is built around her vision and ability to make plays develop quickly. She can create opportunities for herself, but she is equally capable of finding a teammate in space and turning a developing play into a scoring chance.
Her versatility gives Toronto a forward who can contribute in multiple ways rather than relying solely on her finishing ability. Her instincts in the offensive zone allow her to attack scoring opportunities, something the Sceptres will look to incorporate as she makes the transition to the professional level.
Simms has shown that she can deliver in nail-biting games, scoring two title-clinching goals during her college career. Those moments showcased her composure under pressure and her refusal to let the clock daunt her. She also gained experience playing for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, allowing her to compete against and alongside some of the best players in the world.
In an interview with the NHL, Simms talked about her experience moving from the Olympics back into college hockey.
“I feel like I’m always just looking ahead, looking forward to my dreams and my goals, even if exciting things have happened not that long ago,” Simms said.
Simms started her hockey career in Plymouth, Michigan, playing youth hockey with the boys’ team before transitioning to girls’ hockey in eighth grade. This connection made draft night in Detroit more meaningful. With the 2026 PWHL Draft held at the Fox Theatre, Simms became one of three Michigan natives selected in the draft and the only one selected in the first round, representing more than the beginning of a professional career. It brought her hockey journey back to where it started.
Her achievements with Wisconsin and Team USA, along with her upcoming work with the Sceptres, offer a local example of what the growing women’s game can make possible for young players.
Now, hockey fans will watch as Simms takes on a new challenge. She will enter Toronto with the offensive ability that made her a first-round selection, but her first season will be about more than continuing the production she had in college. It will be about learning to apply those skills in professional competition, finding her role within the Sceptres’ lineup and establishing herself in a new league.
The next shift for Simms is about finding out what she can achieve at the professional level while carrying with her the community that helped get her there.
