A surprising move out of Canada’s capital.

On Monday, PWHL Ottawa announced they are releasing forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis from her standard player agreement. Unlike previous releases, Grant-Mentis is not being moved to the team’s reserve list, as she is now an outright free agent.

Ottawa announced they are signing forward Rosalie Demers off their reserve list to an SPA.

MGM made the team out of camp, with many hoping she could bring her scoring prowess that she became known for in the Premier Hockey Federation to Ottawa. However, she has not been able to gel with a Carla MacLeod’s team, which has struggled to create offense in general. In six games this season, Grant-Mentis came up with just three assists, two of which came in Ottawa’s 5-1 win over Toronto on Jan. 13.

The 25-year-old has not played since Jan. 27, and has been scratched in the last three games.

The former Merrimack standout burst onto the pro scene during the PHF (formerly the NWHL) bubble in 2021, leading an expansion Toronto Six team to the Isobel Cup semifinals. Grant-Mentis ended up tied for the league lead in points, and was the named league MVP. In the 2021-22 season, she ended up second in the PHF with 30 points in 19 games.

Her play earned her an $80,000 contract with the Buffalo Beauts the following season, making her the highest paid player in PHF history.

MGM even earned an invite to Canada’s National Women’s Team Selection Camp, but did not make the World Championship roster.

This is Demers’ first SPA since joining Ottawa during training camp. She played 20 games with Team Harvey’s during the PWHPA Dream Gap Tour last season, helping her team win the tour championship. Demers played four years at Colgate University before turning pro.

Ottawa (2-0-4-2) plays Boston on Monday afternoon, and are looking to end a five-game losing streak. Ottawa is last in the PWHL with 10 points, three back of New York for the last playoff spot.