Clair DeGeorge Bio
Clair DeGeorge (born June 7, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey forward who plays in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). A left-shooting forward from Anchorage, Alaska, she has competed for PWHL Minnesota, the Montreal Victoire, the Toronto Sceptres, and the New York Sirens. She is recognized for her playmaking ability, her college résumé at Bemidji State University and Ohio State University, and her role as a depth forward who has contributed to championship-winning teams at multiple levels of the sport.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and listed at 170 pounds, DeGeorge combines size with two-way responsibility, often serving as a center in key matchups. Beyond professional hockey, she has built a parallel career in nursing and bioethics, working as a vascular nurse at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her path from youth hockey in Alaska to a Walter Cup championship reflects steady development and a reputation for reliable special-teams and fourth-line play.
Early Life and Background
Clair DeGeorge was born on June 7, 1999, in Anchorage, Alaska, to John DeGeorge and Lynn DeGeorge. She grew up in a competitive athletic household; her mother Lynn was an All-American swimmer at Indiana University. Her two sisters also pursued collegiate swimming, with Tara swimming for Air Force and Leah swimming for Florida, which gave the family a deep grounding in competitive sport.
DeGeorge began figure skating at three years old before transitioning to ice hockey. Growing up in Alaska, she played on boys’ hockey teams, a common route for young female players in regions with fewer girls’ programs. At 13 years old, she moved to Minnesota to attend Shattuck-Saint Mary’s, one of the most respected prep hockey schools in the United States.
Over four prep seasons with the Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Sabres, DeGeorge helped lead the program to a national championship every year. The experience sharpened her skills against high-level competition and prepared her for the next step in college hockey. Her time at Shattuck-Saint Mary’s also helped her transition from boys’ hockey to competing exclusively against female players at an elite level.
Path to Hockey
DeGeorge’s first major international honor arrived in 2017 when she represented the United States at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship. She recorded five assists in five games, including two assists in the gold medal game against Canada. Her assist on Grace Zumwinkle’s game-winning goal cemented her as a clutch performer on the international stage.
That same year, she began her collegiate career at Bemidji State University, joining the Bemidji State Beavers women’s ice hockey program for the 2017–18 season. The move from Alaska and prep school to NCAA Division I hockey marked her formal entry into the national player development pipeline. She quickly became a top playmaker for the Beavers.
Across four seasons at Bemidji State, DeGeorge appeared in 128 games and totaled 79 points on 28 goals and 51 assists, finishing tied for 10th on the program’s career assists list and tied for 12th in career points. After completing her undergraduate nursing degree, she transferred to Ohio State University for a graduate year in 2021–22. At Ohio State, she recorded 16 goals and 30 assists in 38 games, ranking second on the team in assists and helping the Buckeyes capture their first national championship.
Clair DeGeorge Career
College Career (2017–2022)
DeGeorge played her first three collegiate seasons at Bemidji State from 2017 to 2021, developing into one of the WCHA’s most consistent playmakers. During her freshman year in 2017–18, she posted seven goals and 16 assists in 37 games. As a sophomore in 2018–19, she appeared in all 36 games and added nine goals and 13 assists. Her junior season in 2019–20 saw her lead the team in assists with 15 while ranking second in points.
As a senior co-captain in the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, she appeared in all 20 games and recorded five goals and seven assists, leading the team in scoring. On April 8, 2021, she announced she would transfer to Ohio State for her final year of eligibility. During the 2021–22 graduate season at Ohio State, she posted 16 goals and 30 assists in 38 games and scored the double-overtime game-winner against Quinnipiac in the NCAA tournament to send the Buckeyes to the Frozen Four. In the national championship game against Minnesota Duluth, she recorded one goal and one assist as Ohio State won its first NCAA title.
PWHPA and PWHL Draft (2022–2023)
Following her college career, DeGeorge joined Team Harvey’s of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) for the 2022–23 season. She recorded one goal and three assists in 18 games and won the Secret Cup, helping showcase her skills for the newly forming PWHL. On September 18, 2023, she was selected 36th overall by PWHL Minnesota in the 2023 PWHL Draft, the league’s inaugural entry draft.
Minnesota Frost Era (2023–2025)
DeGeorge made her professional PWHL debut with Minnesota during the league’s inaugural 2023–24 season. She recorded three assists in 23 regular-season games and served as Minnesota’s fourth-line center during the Walter Cup playoffs. Her steady two-way play helped the Frost win the inaugural Walter Cup, establishing her as a trusted depth forward.
Montreal Victoire and Toronto Sceptres Era (2024–2026)
During the 2024–25 season, DeGeorge recorded two assists in 26 games for the Montreal Victoire. On June 23, 2025, she signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Sceptres. During the 2025–26 season, she appeared in 17 games for the Sceptres but was scoreless before being traded. On March 17, 2026, she was traded to the New York Sirens in exchange for future considerations. On June 20, 2026, she signed a one-year contract extension with the Sirens.
Driving Style and Strengths
DeGeorge is valued as a reliable two-way forward and penalty-killing option, often deployed as a fourth-line center in critical matchups. Her 5-foot-11 frame, left shot, and playmaking vision make her effective on the boards and in transition. Coaches have trusted her in defensive-zone faceoffs and on penalty kills throughout her professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
DeGeorge’s milestone moments include a 2017 IIHF U18 gold medal, an NCAA national championship with Ohio State in 2022, and a Walter Cup championship with PWHL Minnesota in 2024. Her double-overtime game-winning goal against Quinnipiac in the 2022 NCAA tournament ranks among the most memorable plays of her career.
Clair DeGeorge Career Wins
Clair DeGeorge has collected championship hardware at every level of her career. Her résumé includes an IIHF U18 gold medal, four prep national championships at Shattuck-Saint Mary’s, an NCAA Division I national championship with Ohio State, a Secret Cup with the PWHPA’s Team Harvey’s, and a Walter Cup with PWHL Minnesota.
PWHL Highlights
DeGeorge won the inaugural Walter Cup with the Minnesota Frost during the 2023–24 PWHL season, serving as a fourth-line center throughout the playoffs. She later skated for the Montreal Victoire and the Toronto Sceptres before being traded to the New York Sirens in March 2026.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond professional play, DeGeorge won the 2017 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship gold medal with the United States, capturing two assists in the final against Canada. She also won four consecutive national championships at Shattuck-Saint Mary’s and helped Ohio State claim its first NCAA women’s hockey title in 2022.
Clair DeGeorge Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Clair DeGeorge was raised by John DeGeorge and Lynn DeGeorge, both of whom encouraged athletic achievement. Her mother Lynn was an All-American swimmer at Indiana University, and both of Clair’s sisters, Tara and Leah, swam collegiately, with Tara competing for Air Force and Leah for Florida. The family’s strong athletic foundation shaped DeGeorge’s competitive approach.
Personal Life
DeGeorge earned her nursing degree from Bemidji State University and a master’s degree in bioethics from Ohio State University. In addition to her playing career, she works as a vascular nurse at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She has balanced professional hockey with a demanding healthcare career throughout her time in the PWHL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a transitional stretch for DeGeorge. After recording two assists in 26 games with the Montreal Victoire during the 2024–25 PWHL season, she signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Sceptres on June 23, 2025. The move positioned her as a depth forward and penalty-killing option for a competitive Toronto roster.
During the early portion of the 2025–26 PWHL season, DeGeorge appeared in 17 games for the Sceptres but had not recorded a point before the trade deadline. Her role remained focused on defensive matchups, faceoffs, and special-teams responsibility rather than offensive production.
On March 17, 2026, DeGeorge was traded to the New York Sirens in exchange for future considerations, opening a new chapter with the New York franchise. On June 20, 2026, she signed a one-year contract extension with the Sirens, signaling continued confidence in her two-way game as she enters the next phase of her professional career.
