| Kayla Vespa | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | April 1, 1997 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| PWHL team | New York Sirens | ||
| Playing career | 2020–present | ||
Kayla Vespa (born April 1, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is signed as a reserve player for the New York Sirens of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She has previously played in the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and college ice hockey for St. Lawrence University.
After a St. Lawrence University coach scouted 17-year-old Vespa playing for the Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres, she was offered a full scholarship on the spot to play for the Saints. [1] Vespa played for St. Lawrence from 2016 to 2020, making 135 appearances. [2]
Vespa began her professional career playing with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) in 2020. She played in multiple showcases, commuting to be able to play with a team in Toronto. [3] [4]
When the PWHPA boycott ended and the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) was created, Vespa was drafted by New York 76th overall, in the thirteenth round of the inaugural PWHL draft. She signed a one-year contract with the team and scored in the first PWHL game against Toronto, a 4–0 victory. [5] [6] For the 2024–25 season, the Sirens signed Vespa to a Reserve Player contract. [7] On June 20, 2025, she signed a one-year contract extension with the Sirens. [8]
Vespa began playing hockey at five years old, often playing on boys teams. She played soccer and ran track for St. Jean de Brébeuf high school in Hamilton. She wore number 10, which she continues to wear as a hockey player. She graduated with honors in biochemistry at St. Lawrence University. She worked for the City of Hamilton full-time as a member of the parks and roads department, driving a snowplow on the night shift. [1] [4] Vespa has also been involved with the Stoney Creek Sabres Girls Hockey Association, coaching the U13A girls. [3]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2013–14 | Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres | Prov. WHL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres | Prov. WHL | 37 | 20 | 13 | 33 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres | Prov. WHL | 39 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 36 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 34 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 29 | 1 | 19 | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | St. Lawrence University | ECAC | 36 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Team Sonnet | PWHPA | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Team Sonnet | PWHPA | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Team Adidas | PWHPA | 19 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | New York | PWHL | 23 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| PWHL totals | 23 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||