The PWHL's new Vancouver franchise went defense first by landing the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost ’s blue-line duo of Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques to start the league’s expansion signing period on Wednesday.

The Frost teammates were among the league’s top-scoring defensemen. Thompson, Jaques and Toronto’s Renata Fast were the finalists for the defender of the year honor, and the Minnesota pair represented Canada at the world championships in April.

Seattle, the other expansion team, has remained quiet so far in the five-day signing period, during which both franchises are allowed to add up to five players who were either left unprotected by their current teams or eligible to become unrestricted free agents.

Vancouver and Seattle will then take part in an expansion

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