Emma Maltais Bio
Emma Maltais (born November 4, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward. She is a member of the Canadian national team and competes at the highest levels of women’s hockey, including the Olympic Games and the IIHF World Championship. Standing 163 cm tall, Maltais has built a reputation as a skilled scorer and dependable two-way forward.
Drafted in the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), Maltais quickly established herself as one of the league’s standout rookies. Her career has spanned youth hockey in Ontario, a record-setting college career at Ohio State University, and international competition on behalf of Canada.
Early Life and Background
Emma Maltais was born on November 4, 1999, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while her father was working on the Big Dig construction project. Before her first birthday, her family moved north to Burlington, Ontario, where she grew up and was introduced to hockey. She began skating at the age of two and started playing organized hockey at the age of four, laying the foundation for what would become a competitive career in the sport.
During her high school years, Maltais played for the Oakville Jr. Hornets in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), one of the premier women’s junior hockey leagues in Canada. She served as team captain during the 2016–17 season, a campaign in which she was the league’s leading scorer. That year, the Hornets completed a rare triple crown, finishing first in the regular season, the league playoffs, and the provincial championship.
Path to Hockey
Maltais committed to Ohio State University as a high school freshman, an early commitment that reflected her standing as one of the top young players in Canada. Her development in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League gave her exposure to high-level competition and helped position her for a successful college career in the NCAA.
By the time she finished her junior career, Maltais had amassed 55 goals and 92 assists, with her 147 career points standing as the most in Oakville Jr. Hornets history. Her scoring touch and leadership qualities made her one of the most highly regarded recruits heading into the U.S. college ranks.
Emma Maltais Career
College Career at Ohio State (2017–2023)
Maltais played her first season with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2017–18, scoring 40 points in 37 games and leading the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) in points per game. She set a conference record by earning WCHA Rookie of the Month honors four times, an unprecedented feat that announced her arrival as a collegiate star.
Across her time at Ohio State, Maltais continued to elevate her game. In 2019–20, she set a Buckeyes single-season record with 59 points in 38 games and recorded her 100th collegiate point against Bemidji State University on November 2, 2019. She was a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given to the top women’s college hockey player in the United States, and was named to the All-WCHA First Team three consecutive seasons. During her senior year in 2020–21, she reached 100 career assists and set a Buckeyes record for career playoff points with 14. In 2022–23, she became the first Ohio State player to reach 200 career points.
International Career (2016–Present)
Maltais first represented Canada at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship in 2016 and 2017, winning two silver medals and recording nine points in ten games. She was named to the senior national team for the first time in 2019, joining the squad for the Rivalry Series against the United States.
In May 2021, Maltais was one of 28 players invited to Hockey Canada’s Centralization Camp ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics. On January 11, 2022, she was officially named to Canada’s Olympic roster for the Beijing Games. Maltais has also represented Canada at multiple IIHF World Women’s Championships, including tournaments in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. On January 9, 2026, she was named to Canada’s roster for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
PWHL Career (2024–Present)
One of the youngest players available in the inaugural PWHL Draft, Maltais was selected in the second round, 11th overall, by Toronto. On January 5, 2024, she scored her first PWHL goal, a shorthanded game-winning tally in a 3–2 victory over New York that secured the first win in Toronto franchise history. The goal also made her the first player to invoke the league’s jailbreak rule, which ends a minor penalty after a shorthanded goal is scored.
In her rookie PWHL season, Maltais recorded four goals and 19 points while playing on both the power play and penalty kill. She was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team and was nominated for Rookie of the Year honors. Following her debut campaign, she was announced as a member of the Montréal Victoire on a two-year contract, continuing her professional career in the PWHL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Maltais’s first PWHL goal stands as one of the defining early moments of the league, both for the historic nature of Toronto’s first win and for her role in activating the jailbreak rule for the first time. Her selection as an Olympian in 2022 and again in 2026 marks her among the most accomplished Canadian forwards of her generation.
Emma Maltais Career Wins
Emma Maltais has built an impressive résumé across junior, collegiate, international, and professional hockey. Her trophy case includes multiple All-WCHA First Team selections, a record-setting run of Rookie of the Month honors, and silver medals at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship.
Junior and College Highlights
At the junior level, Maltais captained the Oakville Jr. Hornets to a triple crown in 2016–17 and finished as the Provincial Women’s Hockey League’s leading scorer. In college, she became Ohio State’s all-time leader in career points and set program records for playoff points and single-season scoring, while earning two top-10 finishes for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Maltais has been part of Canada’s medal-winning entries at the IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship and has represented the senior team at the Olympic Games and multiple IIHF World Women’s Championships. Her professional résumé includes All-Rookie honors in the PWHL during her debut season with Toronto.
Emma Maltais Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Emma Maltais was raised in Burlington, Ontario, after her family relocated from Cambridge, Massachusetts during her infancy. Her early introduction to skating and hockey reflected a household connected to athletics, though specific details about her parents are not widely documented in public sources.
Beyond hockey, Maltais pursued her education at Ohio State University, where she studied health sciences. She has also gained professional experience outside of athletics, having interned at the Ohio State Neurological Institute during her college years.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a milestone year for Emma Maltais on the international stage. She represented Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Czechia, continuing her role as a key forward for the national team. Her combination of scoring ability and defensive responsibility made her a mainstay in Canada’s lineup throughout the tournament.
At the professional level, Maltais’s standing in the PWHL continued to grow following her rookie All-Rookie campaign with Toronto. Her transition within the league positioned her for expanded responsibilities, and her experience in high-pressure situations, including Olympic competition, provided a strong foundation heading into the new PWHL season.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025 and into 2026, Maltais remains a central figure in Canadian women’s hockey. With a place already secured on Canada’s roster for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, her focus is on maintaining peak form, contributing offensively, and helping her club team contend for a Walter Cup championship.
