Victoria Bach Bio
Victoria Bach (born July 12, 1996) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who most recently played for the Ottawa Charge of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). A graduate of Boston University, she was the first player in Boston University history to score more than 100 goals and finished her NCAA career as the program’s all-time leading scorer. She previously played in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) with the Markham Thunder, and represented Canada’s women’s national ice hockey team in major international competitions, including the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Across her career, Bach became a respected goal-scoring forward known for her offensive instincts and durability. She was a top-three finalist for the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award and collected multiple individual honors at both the collegiate and professional levels. On June 1, 2025, Bach announced her retirement from professional hockey.
Early Life and Background
Victoria Bach was born on July 12, 1996, in Milton, Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation. Growing up in Ontario, she was introduced to sports at a young age and first played soccer before eventually switching to hockey. Bach has cited watching Team Canada win the gold medal in women’s ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games as the moment that inspired her to pursue the sport.
That early spark shaped her development through youth hockey, where her speed and scoring touch quickly stood out. Her progress in minor hockey prepared her for a smooth transition into competitive U.S. college hockey and, eventually, professional ranks.
Path to Hockey
Bach’s path to high-level hockey ran through the U.S. collegiate system. She enrolled at Boston University, joining the Boston University Terriers women’s ice hockey program and beginning her NCAA career in 2012. She immediately became an offensive contributor, winning the Hockey East Rookie of the Year in 2014–2015. She was only the second Terrier player to win the award, following teammate Marie-Philip Poulin, who earned it in 2010–2011.
Her development accelerated through her sophomore and junior seasons, and by her senior year she tallied 67 points in 33 games. Over 145 NCAA games, Bach scored 198 points, setting the all-time points and goals record for Boston University, and she became the first woman in program history to score 100 career goals. She was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star in both 2017 and 2018, and she was a top-three finalist for the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top women’s college hockey player in the United States.
Victoria Bach Career
Early Career (2012–2016)
Bach spent her first four seasons of competitive hockey at the NCAA level with the Boston University Terriers from 2012 to 2016. She built a reputation as a dynamic two-way forward, blending scoring ability with responsible play in all three zones. Her rookie season produced the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award, signaling her arrival as one of the conference’s top young talents.
Through steady production each year, Bach developed into the Terriers’ offensive engine. By the end of her senior season in 2016, she had established herself as the program’s all-time leading scorer and set the stage for a professional career.
CWHL Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Following her senior year, Bach was selected seventh overall by the Metropolitan Riveters in the 2017 NWHL Draft, but she ultimately signed her first professional contract with the Markham Thunder, who selected her in the first round of the 2018 CWHL Draft. In her rookie CWHL campaign of 2018–19, she produced 32 points in 26 games, with 19 goals that ranked second in the entire league. Her strong debut season earned her the CWHL Rookie of the Year Award.
Her time with Markham, however, was cut short. The CWHL ceased operations in May 2019, ending Bach’s first professional stint. The sudden collapse forced players across the league, including Bach, to seek new opportunities.
PWHPA Years (2019–2023)
After the CWHL folded, Bach joined the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) in 2019. Over the next four seasons, she continued training and competing at a high level, keeping her game sharp while advocating for a sustainable professional league. During this period, she also advanced within Hockey Canada’s program, being named to the Canadian World Championships roster for the first time in 2020 before that tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Toronto Sceptres Era (2023–2024)
Bach was drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 PWHL Draft by Toronto and joined the Toronto Sceptres for the league’s inaugural season. Her first PWHL game came on February 3, 2024, when Toronto hosted Minnesota. Thirteen days later, she recorded her first PWHL goal, scoring in the third period of a 3-0 shutout win against Montreal. She finished her first PWHL season with five points.
Ottawa Charge Era (2024–2025)
On December 30, 2024, Toronto traded Bach to the Ottawa Charge, along with Jocelyne Larocque, in exchange for Savannah Harmon and Hayley Scamurra. The move marked the first trade of the 2024–25 PWHL season. Bach debuted with Ottawa on December 31 against Toronto, and her first goal as a member of the Charge came on January 11, 2025, against the Boston Fleet, with Larocque picking up one of the assists.
Her Ottawa stint provided a late-career home stretch in the PWHL before she announced her retirement on June 1, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bach built her reputation as a quick, skilled forward with a reliable scoring touch and strong hockey sense. Her collegiate production reflected an ability to generate offense consistently, and her professional results with Markham Thunder confirmed she could translate that skill to the next level. Throughout her career, she was praised for her work ethic, her conditioning, and her ability to play effectively on a line with high-profile teammates, including Marie-Philip Poulin.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bach’s signature milestones include becoming the all-time leading scorer at Boston University, her first CWHL goal with Markham Thunder in 2018, and her first PWHL goal against Montreal in 2024. She represented Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, winning a gold medal, and went on to play in the 2018 4 Nations Cup, where she served as assistant captain. She was later part of Hockey Canada’s Centralization Camp ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Victoria Bach Career Wins
Victoria Bach compiled an impressive list of individual honors across both her collegiate and professional careers. Her scoring consistency at Boston University and her immediate impact with Markham Thunder established her as one of the top Canadian forwards of her generation.
Boston University Highlights
Bach’s Boston University highlights include becoming the program’s all-time leader in points and goals, finishing with 198 points across 145 NCAA games. She won the Hockey East Rookie of the Year in 2014–15, was a Hockey East First Team All-Star in 2017 and 2018, and was a top-three finalist for the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award.
Other Wins & Performances
Bach’s professional accolades include the CWHL Rookie of the Year Award in 2018–19 after a 32-point season with Markham Thunder. Internationally, she won gold with Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship and served as assistant captain at the 2018 4 Nations Cup, where she helped Canada capture another title.
Victoria Bach Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bach was raised in Ontario, Canada, and is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation. Her early athletic upbringing began with soccer before she shifted her focus to hockey after watching Canada’s gold-medal performance at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
Personal Life
At Boston University, Bach completed a bachelor’s degree in communication, balancing her academic work with one of the most productive offensive careers in program history. She played alongside notable Canadian teammates, including Marie-Philip Poulin, with whom she later played on a line for Team Canada during the 2019–20 season.
2025 Season Performance
Bach’s 2024–25 PWHL season was split between the Toronto Sceptres and the Ottawa Charge. After beginning the year with Toronto, she was traded to Ottawa on December 30, 2024, in the first trade of the PWHL season, and made her Charge debut the following day against Toronto.
Her first Ottawa goal came on January 11, 2025, in a game against the Boston Fleet, and she continued to contribute on a line with veteran teammates including Jocelyne Larocque. Although her Ottawa tenure was brief, the move gave her a stable professional home to close out her playing career.
On June 1, 2025, Victoria Bach announced her retirement from professional hockey, closing the book on a career that spanned the NCAA, the CWHL, the PWHPA, and the PWHL. Her legacy includes program records at Boston University, an Olympic appearance, and a respected role in the growth of women’s professional hockey in North America.