One of the top blueliners in the PWHL is returning to the lineup.

On Sunday, the Minnesota Frost announced they have activated defender Sophie Jaques from long-term injured reserve. In response, the team has released defender Charlotte Akervik from her standard player agreement but remains on the roster under a 10-day contract.

Jaques will be in the lineup on Sunday afternoon when the Frost takes on the Montreal Victoire in the third leg of the Takeover Tour in Denver, as the top two teams in the league faceoff at Ball Arena, home of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.

Jaques has been out of the lineup since Dec. 19, making Sunday’s return the earliest she could return to the lineup. The 2023 Patty Kazmaier Award winner suffered an upper-body injury against Ottawa Charge when Jaques was hurt after awkwardly falling to the ice when she received a hit from Charge forward Mannon McMahon.

The 24-year-old has only played four games so far this season, registering three assists with a plus/minus of +4. Jaques is regarded as one of the more versatile defenders in the league and was a big part of the team’s run to the Walter Cup last year. In 15 games with Minnesota in year one, in which she was sent to the State of Hockey via trade with Boston, Jaques notched two goals and 10 points, adding five points in 10 playoff games.

Akervik was signed to an SPA when Jaques was placed on LTIR. She ended up only playing two games over the past month, last being placed in the lineup in the Frost’s 5-0 loss to the New York Sirens on Jan. 4. The 23-year-old played 8:14 in her PWHL debut against the Victoire on Dec. 28, registering a -1 rating.

The Frost (3-3-1-2) are second in the PWHL, one point back of the Victoire.