The PWHL's new Vancouver franchise went defense first by landing the two-time defending champion Minnesota Frost's blue-line duo of Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques to start the league's expansion signing period.

The PWHL expansion signing window opened on Wednesday. Here's who has signed with Seattle or Vancouver so far.

Our first strike in the expansion process. According to Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News, PWHL Vancouver has added the first two players to its roster, signing defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques.

Vancouver's PWHL team still doesn't have a name, but it now has players. They're signing three players with international experience.

The list of players protected in the PWHL’s expansion draft for Seattle and Vancouver was released on Tuesday. Each of the league’s six existing teams were permitted to protect three players from being selected in the expansion draft,