Shiann Darkangelo Bio
Shiann Darkangelo (born November 28, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey player who most recently competed for the Montreal Victoire of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). A left-shooting forward standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, she has represented the United States at the international level and won gold at both the U18 IIHF Women’s World Championships in 2011 and the senior IIHF Women’s World Championships in 2016.
Darkangelo has built a versatile career across multiple professional women’s leagues, including stints in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL), and the Professional Women’s Hockey League. She captained the Toronto Six to the 2023 Isobel Cup championship and later helped the Montreal Victoire capture the Walter Cup.
Early Life and Background
Shiann Darkangelo was born on November 28, 1993, in Royal Oak, Michigan, and raised in Brighton, Michigan. Growing up in a large athletic household helped shape her competitive drive, and she developed an early passion for hockey that carried her through youth programs in the region.
She is one of six siblings, with three brothers named Anthony, Austin, and Isaac, and two sisters, Mariah and Ciara. Her younger brother Isaac went on to play professional football, reflecting the family’s strong sporting tradition.
Beyond her playing career, Darkangelo has built a reputation as a certified plant-based nutritionist and the owner of Plant-Based Performance, a whole foods, plant-based lifestyle coaching company. She also follows a plant-based diet herself and has spoken publicly about its role in her athletic recovery and overall performance.
Path to Hockey
Darkangelo’s journey toward elite hockey began with strong showings in youth development programs, which earned her a place on the United States roster for the 2011 U18 IIHF Women’s World Championships, where she won a gold medal. That early international success helped establish her as a promising forward prospect.
She continued her development at the NCAA Division I level, first playing two seasons with the Syracuse Orange women’s ice hockey program during 2011–12 and 2012–13, where she accumulated 42 points. She then transferred to the Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s ice hockey program, where she added 60 points across the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons.
Following her collegiate career, Darkangelo transitioned into the professional ranks, beginning with the Connecticut Whale of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) during the 2015 season. Her selection to the first NWHL All-Star Game that same year confirmed her status as an emerging talent in the women’s game.
Shiann Darkangelo Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
After completing her time at Quinnipiac, Darkangelo joined the Connecticut Whale for the 2015 PHF season and quickly made an impact, earning a selection to the league’s first All-Star Game. On July 31, she signed a one-year contract valued at $21,000 with the Buffalo Beauts, marking her first multi-team professional stint.
She returned to the All-Star Game in 2017 and later signed with the Kunlun Red Star, the CWHL’s expansion franchise based in Shenzhen, China, for the 2017–18 season. On October 28, 2017, she scored her first point for the Red Star on a power play goal against the Calgary Inferno, with Hongxin Yan and Zhixin Liu picking up their own first CWHL points on the same play.
Toronto Six Era (2018–2023)
On August 2, 2018, Darkangelo signed a contract with the Toronto Furies of the CWHL. When the CWHL dissolved in 2019, she spent a year with the PWHPA’s GTA West chapter before being announced in April 2020 as one of the first five players signed by the Toronto Six, the first NWHL team based in Canada.
Named the first captain in Toronto Six franchise history for the 2020–21 inaugural season, Darkangelo partnered with alternate captains Emma Woods and Emma Greco. She and Woods assisted on the first goal in franchise history, scored by Lindsay Eastwood against the Minnesota Whitecaps. Under her leadership, the Six captured the 2023 Isobel Cup championship.
PWHL Era (2024–Present)
Darkangelo signed with PWHL Boston ahead of the PWHL’s inaugural 2023–24 season. On March 18, 2024, she was traded to PWHL Ottawa in exchange for Lexie Adzija and Caitrin Lonergan. She then signed a one-year extension with Ottawa on June 26, 2024, and posted eight goals and nine assists in 29 games during the 2024–25 campaign.
On June 17, 2025, Darkangelo signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Victoire. In 2025–26, she recorded four goals and four assists in 30 regular season games and added one goal across nine playoff games to help the Victoire win the Walter Cup. Following the league’s expansion to 12 teams, she signed a two-year contract with PWHL Detroit on June 14, 2026.
Playing Style and Strengths
Darkangelo is recognized for her two-way reliability as a forward, combining a strong left-handed shot with responsible defensive play. Her size and skating allow her to drive play through the neutral zone, while her nutrition background contributes to her conditioning and recovery habits across long professional seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Her most significant milestones include winning gold at the 2011 U18 IIHF Women’s World Championships and the 2016 senior IIHF Women’s World Championships, where she posted four points in five games. She also captained the Toronto Six to the 2023 Isobel Cup and later helped Montreal win the Walter Cup in 2026.
Shiann Darkangelo Career Wins
Across her professional career, Shiann Darkangelo has collected two major championship titles in North American women’s hockey. Her leadership helped deliver the Toronto Six their first Isobel Cup in 2023, and her contributions during the 2025–26 playoff run helped the Montreal Victoire capture the Walter Cup. She has also added two IIHF gold medals to her resume at the U18 and senior levels.
League Highlights
In the NWHL/PHF, Darkangelo became the first captain of the Toronto Six and helped establish the franchise’s early identity before lifting the Isobel Cup in 2023. She was a two-time NWHL All-Star, selected in both 2016 and 2017.
In the PWHL, her midseason trade to Ottawa in March 2024 gave her a central role with the Charge, and her subsequent signing with Montreal positioned her for the 2026 Walter Cup run. Her playoff goal during that run underscored her value in high-pressure moments.
Other Performances
Darkangelo’s international résumé includes her U18 gold in 2011 and her senior gold in 2016 with Team USA, where she contributed four points in five games. Her brief CWHL stint with Kunlun Red Star in 2017–18 added overseas experience to her professional portfolio.
Shiann Darkangelo Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Shiann Darkangelo comes from a close-knit Michigan family with five siblings. Her younger brother, Isaac, is a professional football player, continuing the family’s presence in competitive sport.
Personal Life
Darkangelo resides in Brighton, Michigan. She is a member of the LGBTQ community and is in a relationship with Toronto Sceptres goaltender Elaine Chuli. Off the ice, she operates Plant-Based Performance, a coaching company focused on whole foods, plant-based nutrition.
2025 Season Performance
Shiann Darkangelo’s 2025 calendar year was defined by her June 17, 2025, signing of a two-year contract with the Montreal Victoire. Coming off an 8-goal, 9-assist season split between PWHL Boston and PWHL Ottawa, she joined a Victoire roster aiming to contend in the league’s second season.
During the 2025–26 PWHL campaign, Darkangelo registered four goals and four assists across 30 regular season games, serving as a steady middle-six forward. Her role grew in importance as the Victoire pushed through the playoff bracket.
In the 2026 Walter Cup playoffs, she added one goal in nine games, contributing to Montreal’s championship run. Looking ahead to the 2026–27 season, her June 14, 2026, signing with expansion side PWHL Detroit positions her as a veteran presence on a new franchise.