Emma Greco Bio
Emma Greco (born March 6, 1995) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who has built her career as a dependable stay-at-home presence on the blue line. She has competed across several of the top women’s professional leagues in North America, including the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), and the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). A former captain at the junior level and an inaugural Walter Cup champion, Greco has earned a reputation for steady defensive play, blocked shots, and leadership in the locker room.
Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 165 pounds, Greco shoots left and brings a physical, positionally sound style to her teams. Her professional journey has taken her from the Connecticut Whale of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) to the Toronto Six, PWHL Minnesota, the Boston Fleet, and the Vancouver Goldeneyes, before she was traded to the Ottawa Charge in January 2026.
Early Life and Background
Emma Greco was born on March 6, 1995, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a household where hockey was the preferred sport, with her parents steering her toward the ice rather than figure skating when she first expressed interest in athletics at age five. That early encouragement shaped her lifelong commitment to the game and laid the foundation for a defensive identity built on positioning and reliability.
Greco attended Aldershot School, where she was a multi-sport athlete. She played varsity field hockey, soccer, ice hockey, and badminton, while also participating in basketball, volleyball, and softball throughout her high school years. In her final three years of high school, she played ice hockey with the Toronto Jr. Aeros of the Ontario Women’s Hockey League (OWHL), serving as team captain in her final season. As a senior, she was recognized as the 2013 Aldershot Female Athlete of the Year and received the City of Burlington’s High School Female Athlete of the Year award.
Path to Hockey
Following her decorated high school career, Greco committed to Quinnipiac University, where she joined the Bobcats women’s ice hockey program in the ECAC Hockey conference of NCAA Division I. From 2013 to 2017, she appeared in 144 games, registering 25 points, and gradually developed into one of the program’s most trusted defenders. Her first collegiate goal came in February of her third year, a game-winning tally in a 4–0 victory over Rensselaer. That season she was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team and led her team in blocked shots, foreshadowing the defensive style that would define her professional career.
While completing her undergraduate studies, Greco earned a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Quinnipiac. She later pursued an MBA at the same institution and, during the 2017 season, joined the Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s soccer team, appearing in 15 games with 14 starts. The combination of academic discipline and multi-sport experience helped shape the well-rounded athlete who would soon transition to the professional ranks.
Emma Greco Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
After graduating from Quinnipiac, Greco signed her first professional contract with the Connecticut Whale of the PHF. During the 2017–18 season, she recorded two assists in six games, a modest but promising debut that confirmed her readiness for the professional level. Ahead of the 2018–19 campaign, she left the Whale to return to Canada and signed with the Toronto Furies of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
The CWHL folded in May 2019, prompting Greco to join the newly formed PWHPA. She spent the 2019–20 season competing with the organization’s Greater Toronto Area West hub, playing for Team Knox at the Unifor Showcase in September 2019 and participating in the PWHPA’s Equal Sweat Deserves Equal Opportunity rally in Toronto in January 2020. Those experiences allowed her to continue developing while advocating for a sustainable professional league.
PWHPA and Toronto Six Era (2020–2023)
Greco returned to the PHF ahead of the 2020–21 NWHL season, signing with the expansion Toronto Six. She was one of the first five players announced by the franchise and served as one of the team’s alternate captains alongside Emma Woods, while Shiann Darkangelo was appointed as the first captain in franchise history. When the Six took the ice for their inaugural game on January 23, 2021, at Lake Placid’s Herb Brooks Arena against the Metropolitan Riveters, Greco was called for interference at the 3:01 mark of the first period, recording the first penalty in franchise history.
PWHL Minnesota and Walter Cup Triumph (2023–2024)
During the 2023–24 season, Greco joined PWHL Minnesota and helped the club capture the inaugural Walter Cup. Her stay-at-home style and shot-blocking reliability proved valuable during the team’s championship run, as she provided steady minutes on the back end throughout the playoffs.
Boston Fleet Era (2024–2025)
On July 9, 2024, Greco signed a one-year contract with PWHL Boston. During the 2024–25 season, she recorded three assists in 28 games for the Fleet, anchoring the defensive rotation and contributing to the team’s penalty kill. Her steady play in Boston helped maintain the club’s competitiveness throughout the regular season.
Vancouver Goldeneyes Era (2025–2026)
On June 17, 2025, Greco signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Goldeneyes, joining one of the PWHL’s newest franchises as part of their inaugural roster. She brought veteran experience and a championship pedigree to the locker room, helping establish the team’s defensive identity during its first season of competition.
Ottawa Charge Era (2026–Present)
On January 18, 2026, Greco was traded to the Ottawa Charge, along with Michela Cava and Brooke McQuigge, in exchange for Mannon McMahon, Anna Meixner, and Anna Shokhina. The move reunited her with Cava and added leadership depth to the Charge’s blue line as the team pushed toward a playoff spot.
Driving Style and Strengths
Greco has been consistently described as a reliable stay-at-home defenceman, prioritizing defensive zone coverage, shot blocking, and positional discipline over offensive production. Her physical stature and left shot allow her to play a steady, minutes-eating role, and her ability to log penalty-kill time has made her a trusted option for coaches throughout her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her standout achievements, Greco was part of PWHL Minnesota’s Walter Cup championship squad in 2023–24, making her a champion in the league’s inaugural season. She also recorded the first penalty in Toronto Six franchise history and was among the first five players announced for that expansion club, marking her as a foundational figure in the modern era of women’s professional hockey.
Emma Greco Career Wins
Greco’s most significant team triumph came during the 2023–24 season, when she helped PWHL Minnesota win the inaugural Walter Cup. That championship cemented her status as one of the early standard-bearers of the PWHL era and remains the centerpiece of her professional resume.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Greco earned the 2013 Aldershot Female Athlete of the Year award and the City of Burlington’s High School Female Athlete of the Year recognition. She was also named to the ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team during her junior year at Quinnipiac, an honor that highlighted her emergence as one of the conference’s top defensive players.
Emma Greco Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Greco was raised in Burlington, Ontario, by parents who encouraged her to pursue hockey rather than figure skating from an early age. Their support helped shape her early development and laid the groundwork for a career that began with organized hockey at age five.
Personal Life
Greco has been in a relationship with her Ottawa Charge teammate Michela Cava since October 2022. The two have been teammates on the Vancouver Goldeneyes, PWHL Minnesota, the Toronto Six, and now the Ottawa Charge, sharing a long professional and personal partnership across multiple organizations.
2025 Season Performance
Greco opened the 2025 calendar year as a member of the Boston Fleet, where she recorded three assists in 28 games during the 2024–25 PWHL season. Her steady defensive contributions helped the Fleet remain competitive throughout the regular season, even as the club navigated the challenges of a tightly contested league.
On June 17, 2025, she signed a two-year contract with the Vancouver Goldeneyes, joining the expansion franchise ahead of its inaugural PWHL campaign. The move positioned Greco as a veteran anchor on the Goldeneyes’ blue line, bringing championship experience from her Walter Cup win with PWHL Minnesota to a new market.
After beginning the 2025–26 season with Vancouver, Greco was traded to the Ottawa Charge on January 18, 2026, alongside Michela Cava and Brooke McQuigge. The trade injected leadership and defensive reliability into the Charge lineup as the team pursued a playoff berth, while reuniting Greco with her longtime partner and former teammate.