The NHLPA’s website has posted an article about the fact that J.T. and Jesse Compher are playing hockey in the same city this year:
J.T. and Jesse Compher are making Motor City history 🙌🛞
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) September 18, 2026
Heading into this season as the first pair of siblings to represent the same city in the NHL and PWHL at the same time, the two couldn’t be more excited to bring Compher hockey to Detroit: https://t.co/Li2vxM96Ic pic.twitter.com/hWm1VgTdjM
From NHLPA.com’s Chris Lomon:
When Jesse, 27, signed a three-year contract with expansion PWHL Detroit in early June, she and her brother, J.T., became the first siblings to professionally represent the same city in the NHL and PWHL at the same time. The forward was one of five players added to the team during Phase 2 of the PWHL’s Expansion Roster Distribution Process.Â
For J.T., 31, who has been with the Red Wings since he signed a five-year contract with the Original Six club on July 1, 2023, the opportunity to share the same city with his younger sister is a career highlight.
“I love watching her play,” said the veteran of 658 NHL regular-season games. “She competes hard every shift and every game. To be in the same city now, and to get the chance to see more games, is just unbelievable.”
Jesse, who was selected by Toronto in the fifth round of the inaugural PWHL Draft in 2023 and is one of five players to have played in every Sceptres game in team history (84 regular season and nine postseason games), also sees it in a similar light.
“J.T. always gives me the best advice. And now we get to be in the same city. He’s always there for me and always encouraging me. That’s how he has always been, and it means a lot. When you go through the ups and downs in hockey, and you have someone who understands that and can be a calming influence, it helps you so much.”
It’s also a win-win situation for their parents, Bob and Valerie.
“If our schedules match up, it will be nice for our parents to see more games, now that we are in the same spot,” said J.T. “There has been a lot of interest in PWHL Detroit, so I am excited for Jesse and her teammates to have a world-class place to play. They very much deserve it and seeing how passionate the fans are and how much they embrace the team was incredible.”
