Amanda Pelkey Bio
Amanda Pelkey, born on May 29, 1993, in Montpelier, Vermont, is an American retired professional ice hockey forward whose career bridged the college, national team, and professional ranks of women’s hockey. Across more than a decade of competitive play, she represented the United States in Olympic and World Championship events, captured major international gold medals, and helped launch two professional women’s leagues. She completed her professional career with the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), the league she helped establish as a former member of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA).
Standing 5 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 130 pounds, Pelkey built her reputation as a skilled, hard-working forward who produced at every level she joined. Following her playing days, she transitioned into retirement in 2025 after a career that included an Olympic gold medal, multiple world championship titles, a college scoring record book, and a championship in the founding season of women’s professional hockey in North America.
Early Life and Background
Amanda Pelkey grew up in Montpelier, Vermont, a small capital city with a strong winter sports culture. From an early age, she gravitated toward ice hockey, developing her skills on local rinks and quickly showing the offensive instincts that would later define her career. The proximity of Vermont’s youth hockey pathways gave her access to high-level competition and coaching without leaving her home state.
As a teenager, Pelkey played for North American Hockey Academy (NAHA) White, based in Stowe, Vermont, and competing in the Junior Women’s Hockey League (JWHL). During the 2010-11 JWHL season, she earned a selection to the JWHL All-Star Game at the 2011 JWHL Challenge Cup, an early signal of her national-level talent. Her time at NAHA also placed her on the radar of USA Hockey’s development programs.
Pelkey’s international introduction arrived in January 2011, when she represented Team USA at the IIHF Women’s World U18 Championships and won a gold medal. She had previously won gold in the same tournament in 2009 at age 16, an unusually early achievement that foreshadowed her senior-team future.
Path to Professional Hockey
Pelkey’s trajectory toward professional hockey ran through the University of Vermont and its Catamounts women’s ice hockey program in the Hockey East conference of NCAA Division I. She entered the 2011-12 NCAA season as a freshman and played all 32 games, establishing herself immediately as a regular contributor.
Her development accelerated in her sophomore season of 2012-13, when she tied for second on the team in points with 20 (nine goals, 11 assists) despite missing the first month with a broken collarbone sustained at the U.S. National Team Evaluation Camp. By her junior year of 2013-14, Pelkey set single-season program records in goals (21) and points (40) and tied the program record for points in a single game with four in an October 2013 outing against RIT.
Named co-captain in her senior season, Pelkey closed her college career as Vermont’s all-time leader in goals (49), assists (56), and points (105). Those totals underlined her status as one of the most productive players in program history and set the stage for her professional transition in 2015.
Amanda Pelkey Career
Early Career (2011-2015)
Pelkey’s early career was defined by her time with the Vermont Catamounts from 2011 to 2015, where she developed into one of the most decorated players in program history. Her freshman season established her durability, and her sophomore year showcased her scoring touch even through injury. Each successive season brought new program benchmarks, and her appointment as co-captain reflected her standing among teammates and coaches.
Alongside her college schedule, Pelkey continued to represent the United States at international junior and senior events, collecting additional gold medals and sharpening her game against the world’s top players. This dual pathway of NCAA and international play prepared her for the rigors of professional hockey.
Boston Pride Era (2015-2016)
On June 22, 2015, Amanda Pelkey became the first player ever signed by the Boston Pride, doing so ahead of the National Women’s Hockey League’s (NWHL) inaugural 2015-16 season. The signing placed her at the forefront of the launch of women’s professional hockey in North America, and she answered with a productive rookie campaign, recording ten points in 16 regular-season games.
Pelkey’s standout year continued when she was selected for the inaugural NWHL All-Star Game, held on January 24, 2016, at Harbor Center in Buffalo, New York. The Pride completed their debut season by winning the Isobel Cup, the NWHL’s championship trophy, with Pelkey contributing to the title run. The championship gave her one of the earliest professional trophies in women’s hockey history.
Metropolitan Riveters and PWHPA (2016-2023)
Following the Pride’s championship season, Pelkey joined the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), the rebranded successor to the NWHL, for the 2016-17 campaign. She continued her professional career across multiple PHF seasons while also aligning with the Calgary section of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), a player-led movement that pushed for improved conditions and ultimately helped establish the PWHL.
During this stretch, Pelkey balanced club play with sustained international duty, contributing to United States gold medals at the 2016 and 2017 IIHF World Women’s Championships. Her combination of league experience and national-team production made her a steady presence on rosters throughout a transitional era for women’s hockey.
Boston Fleet Era (2023-2025)
Pelkey joined the Boston Fleet, formerly known as PWHL Boston, when the Professional Women’s Hockey League launched. In the league’s inaugural 2023-24 regular season, she appeared in 23 games and recorded one goal and one assist, providing veteran depth and a championship pedigree to a first-year franchise.
In the playoffs, Pelkey played all eight games for the Fleet, contributing two goals and one assist as the team advanced to the Walter Cup finals. Boston ultimately fell 3-2 in the championship series to the Minnesota Frost. Pelkey continued to be part of the Fleet’s roster until her retirement in 2025, closing out her professional career in the league she helped build.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pelkey played a responsible, two-way forward style, combining reliable defensive positioning with an accurate right-hand shot and a willingness to drive play through the middle of the ice. Her ability to contribute on the power play and to log key minutes in tight games made her a trusted complementary scorer throughout her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her most significant achievements, Pelkey won Olympic gold with Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, helped the United States capture IIHF World Women’s Championship gold in 2016 and 2017, and was part of the 2011 IIHF Women’s World U18 title while tying for the tournament scoring lead. She was also the first player ever signed by the Boston Pride and an inaugural NWHL All-Star.
Amanda Pelkey Career Wins
Amanda Pelkey accumulated a wide range of titles across the international, collegiate, and professional stages of women’s hockey. Her trophy case includes Olympic gold, multiple world championship golds, an Isobel Cup from the NWHL’s founding season, and a Walter Cup finals appearance with the Boston Fleet.
International Highlights
Pelkey won gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World U18 Championships in 2009 and 2011, adding a silver in 2012. She then claimed back-to-back golds at the IIHF World Women’s Championships in 2016 and 2017 and capped her international resume with an Olympic gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
Professional Highlights
Pelkey’s professional resume is highlighted by her 2016 Isobel Cup win with the Boston Pride, making her a champion in the first season of organized women’s professional hockey in North America. She added a Walter Cup finals appearance with the Boston Fleet in 2023-24, helping the expansion club reach the championship series in its inaugural PWHL campaign.
Amanda Pelkey Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Pelkey’s family ties are rooted in Vermont, where she grew up and developed her hockey career. Specific details about her parents and extended family are not widely documented in verified public sources.
Personal Life
Amanda Pelkey married two-time Olympic ice hockey medalist Venla Hovi in August 2023. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Leevi Romeo Pelkey, on September 10, 2024. The family has been based in North America, balancing Pelkey’s playing commitments with her personal life.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked the conclusion of Amanda Pelkey’s professional playing career with the Boston Fleet of the PWHL. After helping the franchise reach the Walter Cup finals in its inaugural 2023-24 campaign, Pelkey entered the 2024-25 season as a veteran leader whose championship experience and international résumé provided stability in the locker room.
Throughout the season, Pelkey continued in a depth and mentorship role, contributing to the team’s everyday professionalism and supporting the development of younger teammates. Her presence on the roster reflected her standing as a respected veteran of the women’s game, even as ice time and offensive production naturally shifted to the next generation of players.
Pelkey announced her retirement in 2025, ending a 14-year playing career that began in 2011 with the Vermont Catamounts. Her departure closed a significant chapter for both the Boston Fleet and the broader women’s hockey community, leaving behind a legacy of championships, record-setting performances, and leadership at every level of the sport.