268 eligible players have declared for the draft on September 18
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TORONTO, ON (September 13, 2023) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced the 268 eligible players from across the women’s hockey world that have declared for the inaugural PWHL Draft presented by Canadian Tire. PWHL teams will call the names of 90 eligible players across the 15-round selection process on Monday, September 18, beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET at CBC’s headquarters in downtown Toronto, and streamed live in partnership with CBC Sports.
“Declaring for the draft was the first step for players to become part of this historic PWHL season and the depth of talent in our player pool is evident with stars from various collegiate, professional, and international programs,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. “All six PWHL teams are going to be able to select many of the best players in the world that will make for an exciting draft and inaugural season.”
All 268 eligible players officially declared for the draft prior to the Sept. 3 deadline. The group consists of 146 forwards, 78 defenders, and 44 goaltenders representing a total of 17 different countries. 237 of the players competed during the 2022-23 season including 98 players in the PHF, 63 players with the PWHPA, and 49 players at the NCAA and U SPORTS level. A Player Evaluation Advisory Committee has assessed the eligible player pool as an additional resource for General Managers.
The PWHL Draft follows the league’s initial 10-day free agency period where 18 players (three per team) were signed to Standard Player Agreements (SPAs) between Sept. 1-10. Those foundational players include Boston’s Aerin Frankel (G), Megan Keller (D), and Hilary Knight (F); Minnesota’s Kendall Coyne Schofield (F), Kelly Pannek (F), and Lee Stecklein (D); Montreal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens (G), Marie-Philip Poulin (F), and Laura Stacey (F); New York’s Alex Carpenter (F), Abby Roque (F), and Micah Zandee-Hart (D); Ottawa’s Emily Clark (F), Brianne Jenner (F), and Emerance Maschmeyer (G); and Toronto’s Renata Fast (D), Sarah Nurse (F), and Blayre Turnbull (F). Collectively, the decorated group of Canadian and United States National Women’s Team players have won 38 Olympic medals and 117 medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Minnesota holds the first overall pick in the draft, followed by Toronto, Boston, New York, Ottawa, and Montreal. Audiences will be able to watch the full Draft live on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, radio-canada.ca/sports, and the Radio-Canada info app. International audiences can stream on CBC Sports’ and Radio-Canada’s YouTube pages.
INAUGURAL PWHL DRAFT ELIGIBILITY LIST
Players are grouped by position and listed alphabetically by last name. The player’s nationality is in brackets, followed by their birth year, most recent collegiate program, and their 2022-23 playing experience. DNP refers to ‘did not play’ last season.
FORWARDS (146):
Adzija, Lexi (CAN) 2000, Quinnipiac University, NCAA Albers, Jonna (USA) 1994, University of New Hampshire, PHF Anderson, Kaycie (USA) 1991, Norwich University, PHF Aubin, Ariane (CAN) 1999, University of Ottawa, DNP Aurard, Chloe (FRA) 1999, Northeastern University, NCAA Babstock, Kelly (CAN/USA) 1992, Quinnipiac University, PHF Bach, Victoria (CAN) 1996, Boston University, PWHPA Bettez, Ann-Sophie (CAN) 1987, McGill University, PHF Birch, Siobhan (CAN) 1997, Saint Mary's University, DNP Boreen, Abigail (USA) 2000, University of Minnesota, NCAA Brand, McKenna (USA) 1996, Northeastern University, PHF Brandt, Hannah (USA) 1993, University of Minnesota, PWHPA Brodt, Sydney (USA) 1998, University of Minnesota Duluth, PHF Bryant, Brooke (USA) 2000, Minnesota State University, NCAA Bujold, Sarah (CAN) 1996, St. Francis Xavier University, PHF Bunton, Hanna (CAN) 1995, Cornell University, PWHPA Butorac, Claire (USA) 1999, Minnesota State University, NCAA Cava, Michela (CAN) 1994, University of Minnesota Duluth, PHF Cogan, Sam (CAN) 1997, University of Wisconsin, PWHPA Colizza, Chrissy (CAN) 1999, McGill University, U SPORTS Compher, Jesse (USA) 1999, University of Wisconsin, NCAA Connors, Maggie (CAN) 2000, Princeton University, NCAA Cornine, Kendall (USA) 1997, Rochester Institute of Technology, PHF Costa, Jennifer (USA) 1999, University of Maine, SDHL Coyne, Bailey (USA) 1996, Lindenwood University, DNP Crossman, Demi (USA) 1994, University of Minnesota Duluth, PWHPA Dalton, Claire (CAN) 2000, Yale University, NCAA Daoust, Melodie (CAN) 1992, McGill University, PWHPA Darkangelo, Shiann (USA) 1993, Quinnipiac University, PHF David, Gabrielle (CAN) 1999, Clarkson University, NCAA Davis, Samantha, (USA) 1997, Boston University, PHF DeGeorge, Clair (USA) 1999, Ohio State University, PWHPA Della Rovere, Kristin (CAN) 2000, Harvard University, NCAA Demers, Rosalie (CAN) 2000, Colgate University, PWHPA Dempsey, Jillian (USA) 1991, Harvard University, PHF De Sousa, Deziray (CAN) 1998, Boston University, PHF Dobson, Summer-Rae (CAN) 1999, University of Connecticut, PHF Donovan, Samantha (USA) 1996, Brown University, PWHPA Dostaler, Laura (CAN) 1991, N/A, PWHPA Downie-Landry, Jade (CAN) 1995, McGill University, PHF Dubois, Catherine (CAN) 1995, University of Montreal, PHF Eldridge, Jessie (CAN) 1997, Colgate University, PWHPA Fanning, Kate (USA) 1998, Lake Forest College, DNP Field, Madison (CAN) 1997, Ohio State University, PWHPA Fjordbak Hansen, Liv (DEN) 1998, N/A, Denmark 2 Fleming, Brittyn (USA) 1999, Minnesota State University, PHF Fox, Danielle (CAN) 2000, Toronto Metropolitan University, U SPORTS Gabel, Loren (CAN) 1997, Clarkson University, PHF Ganser, Kennedy (CAN) 1997, University of Alberta, PHF Garat-Gasparics, Fanni (HUN) 1994, N/A, PHF Gélinas, Maude (CAN) 1992, University of Montreal, PHF Giguère, Elizabeth (CAN) 1997, University of Minnesota Duluth, PHF Gilmore, Becca (USA) 1998, Harvard University, PHF Girard, Taylor (USA) 1998, Quinnipiac University, PHF Goldberg, Chelsey (USA) 1993, Northeastern University, DNP Graham, Grace (CAN) 1998, Cornell University, PWHPA Grant-Mentis, Mikyla (CAN) 1998, Merrimack College, PHF Gribbons, Kelly (CAN) 1995, University of Guelph, PWHPA Gruschow, Alexa (USA) 1994, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, PWHPA Heise, Taylor (USA) 2000, University of Minnesota, NCAA Hlinka, Janka (SVK/USA) 1995, Middlebury College, PHF Howard, Brittany (CAN) 1995, Robert Morris University, PHF Hughes, Gabbie (USA) 1999, University of Minnesota Duluth, NCAA Hutchison, Cailey (USA) 1997, University of Maine, DNP Isbell, Samantha (CAN) 1998, Mercyhurst University, PHF Jardin, Laura (CAN) 2000, McGill University, PHF Jones, Jessica (CAN) 1990, Mercyhurst University, PWHPA Kepler, Claudia (USA) 1995, University of Wisconsin, PHF Klienbach, Grace (USA) 1994, Neumann University, PHF Klimášová-Boneberg, Iveta (SVK) 1998, N/A, PHF Knott, Mary Margaret (CAN) 1998, Mercyhurst University, PHF Kosta, Nicole (CAN) 1993, Quinnipiac University, PWHPA Křížová, Denisa (CZE) 1994, Northeastern University, PHF Kunin, Sophia (USA) 1997, University of Wisconsin, PWHPA Labelle, Alexandra (CAN) 1996, University of Montreal, PHF Larson, Bailey (USA) 1996, Colgate University, PWHPA Lavigne, Tracy-Ann (CAN) 1992, Concordia University, DNP Lefort, Sarah (CAN) 1994, Boston University, PHF Legault, Lilly (CAN) 2006, N/A, U18 AA Leslie, Rebecca (CAN) 1996, Boston University, PWHPA Levis, Paetyn (USA) 1999, Ohio State University, NCAA Ljungblom, Lina (SWE) 2001, N/A, SDHL Lonergan, Caitrin (USA) 1997, Clarkson University, PHF Lum, Leah (CAN/CHN) 1996, University of Connecticut, PHF Lunny, Hayley (USA) 1999, Providence College, PHF Maltais, Emma (CAN) 1999, Ohio State University, NCAA Marchment, Kennedy (CAN) 1996, St. Lawrence University, PHF Marvin, Gigi (USA) 1987, University of Minnesota, DNP Maud, Courtney (CAN) 1999, Merrimack College, PHF Miller, Hannah (CAN/CHN) 1996, St. Lawrence University, ZhHL Mills, Alena (CZE) 1990, Brown University, SDHL Mogren, Ronja (SWE) 2001, N/A, PHF Moy, Keely (SUI/USA) 1998, Harvard University, DNP Mrázová, Katerina (CZE) 1992, University of Minnesota Duluth, PHF Müller, Alina (SUI) 1998, Northeastern University, NCAA Murphy, Maureen (USA) 1999, Northeastern University, NCAA Nichols, Madison (USA) 2000, Nazareth University, PHF Nilsson, Matilda (FIN) 1997, N/A, SDHL Norcross, Savannah (USA) 2000, University of Minnesota, NCAA Nuutinen, Emma (FIN) 1996, Mercyhurst University, PHF O’Neill Kristin (CAN) 1998, Cornell University, PWHPA Packer, Madison (USA) 1991, University of Wisconsin, PHF Palisi, Darby (USA) 1999, Castleton University, NCAA Pelkey, Amanda (USA) 1993, University of Vermont, PHF Perreault, Liliane (USA) 2000, Mercyhurst University, NCAA Peterson, Caroline (USA) 1999, Providence College, NCAA Poznikoff, Alexandra (CAN) 1997, University of Alberta, PWHPA Prévost, Carolyne (CAN) 1990, University of Wisconsin, PWHPA Quennec, Kaleigh (CAN/SUI) 1998, University of Montreal, U SPORTS Rankin, Katie (CAN) 1999, Mcgill University, DNP Rattray, Jamie Lee (CAN) 1992, Clarkson University, PWHPA Reyes, Justine (USA) 1997, St. Lawrence University, PHF Saulnier, Jill (CAN) 1992, Cornell University, PWHPA Scamurra, Hayley (USA) 1994, Northeastern University, PWHPA Schafzahl, Theresa (AUT) 2000, University of Vermont, NCAA Schepers, Elizabeth (USA) 1999, Ohio State University, PHF Schneider, Malia (CAN) 1998, Colgate University, PWHPA Shiga, Akane (JPN) 2001, N/A, JPN WNT Shirley, Sophie (CAN) 1999, University of Wisconsin, NCAA Skaggs, Tatum (USA) 1998, Ohio State University, PWHPA Skaja, Catie (USA) 1999, University of Minnesota, NCAA Skarupa, Haley (USA) 1994, Boston College, PWHPA Snodgrass, Natalie (USA) 1998, University of Connecticut, PHF Spooner, Natalie (CAN) 1990, Ohio State University, PWHPA Stacey, Brooke (CAN) 1996, University of Maine, PHF Stewart, Shannon (CAN) 1993, SUNY Plattsburgh, PWHPA Sullivan, Tori (USA) 1996, Northeastern University, PHF Tapani, Susanna (FIN) 1993, N/A, DNP Tarnowski, Natasha (CAN) 1998, Boston University, PWHPA Templeman, Lexi (CAN) 1999, Ohio State University, PHF Thunstrom, Allison (USA) 1988, Boston College, PHF Tougas, Kaitlyn (CAN) 1994, Bemidji State University, ZhHL Turner, Courtney (USA) 1994, Union College, DNP Unrau, Rebecca (CAN) 1993, University of British Columbia, DNP Vanišová, Tereza (CZE) 1996, University of Maine, PHF Vasko, Alexa (CAN) 1999, Mercyhurst University, PWHPA Veillette, Audrey-Anne (CAN) 2000, University of Montreal, U SPORTS Vespa, Kayla (CAN) 1997, St. Lawrence University, PWHPA Wabick, Morgan (CAN) 1999, University of Connecticut, SDHL Watts, Daryl (CAN) 1999, University of Wisconsin, PHF Wenczkowski, Taylor (USA) 1997, University of New Hampshire, PHF Wielenga, Savine (NED) 1989, N/A, SDHL Willoughby, Kaitlin (CAN) 1995, University of Saskatchewan, PWHPA Wohlfeiler, Alyssa (USA) 1989 USA, Northeastern University, PHF Woods, Emma (CAN) 1995, Quinnipiac University, PHF Zumwinkle, Grace (USA) 1999, University of Minnesota, NCAA
DEFENDERS (78):
Ambrose, Erin (CAN) 1994, Clarkson University, PWHPA Anderson, Amalie (DEN) 1999, University of Maine, NCAA Bailey, Katherine (CAN) 1996, University of Guelph, DNP Baker, Taylor (CAN/HUN) 1997, Rochester Institute of Technology, PHF Bell, Ashton (CAN) 1999, University of Minnesota Duluth, NCAA Bizal, Madison (USA) 2000, Ohio State University, NCAA Bohlken, Leah (CAN) 1997, University of Saskatchewan, PWHPA Boulier, Amanda (USA) 1993, St. Lawrence University, PHF Bourbonnais, Jaime (CAN) 1998, Cornell University, PWHPA Boyd, Zoe (CAN) 2000, Quinnipiac University, NCAA Brown, Emily (USA) 1998, University of Minnesota, PWHPA Buchbinder, Natalie (USA) 1999, University of Wisconsin, NCAA Buckles, Emma (CAN) 1999, Harvard University, PWHPA Calof, Shelby (CAN) 2000, Syracuse University, DNP Channell, Mellissa (CAN) 1994, University of Wisconsin, PWHPA Cook, Abby (CAN) 1998, Boston University, SWHL Curlett, Emily (USA) 1999, Ohio State University, PWHPA Dajia, Katerina (CAN) 1999, Franklin Pierce University, DNP Daoust, Catherine (CAN) 1995, University of Minnesota Duluth, PHF Davison, Taylor (CAN) 1998, York University, PHF Deaudelin, Christine (CAN) 1997, University of Ottawa, PHF Digirolamo, Jessica (CAN) 1999, Syracuse University, PWHPA Dunne, Jincy (USA) 1997, Ohio State University, PWHPA Eady, Megan (CAN) 1993, University of Alberta, PWHPA Fällman, Johanna (SWE) 1990, University of North Dakota, SDHL Flaherty, Maggie (USA) 2000, University of Minnesota Duluth, NCAA Flanagan, Kali (USA) 1995, Boston College, PHF Fratkin, Kaleigh (CAN) 1992, Boston University, PHF Gonsalves, Chloe (CAN) 1999, University of Connecticut, PHF Greco, Emma (CAN) 1995, Quinnipiac University, PHF Harmon, Savannah (USA) 1995, Clarkson University, PWHPA Healey, Jessica (CAN) 1996, University of Minnesota Duluth, PHF Herman, Cassidy (CAN) 1997, University of Ottawa, DNP Hinds, Mariah (CAN) 1999, Toronto Metropolitan University, DFEL Hobson, Brooke (CAN) 1999, Northeastern University, SDHL Howarth, Kaitlin (CAN) 1998, Saint Mary’s University, PHF Howran, Victoria (CAN) 1998, University of New Hampshire, PHF Jacobson, Corie (CAN) 1995, Clarkson University, DNP Jaques, Sophie (CAN) 2000, Ohio State University, NCAA Kaiyongana, Natalie (CAN), N/A, DNP Keenan, Emma (CAN) 1997, Clarkson University, PHF Keopple, Mariah (USA) 2000, Princeton University, NCAA Knee, Sarah (CAN) 1996, Cornell University, Naisten Liiga Knowles, Olivia (CAN) 1999, University of Minnesota, PHF Kondas, Jessica (CAN) 2000, Minnesota State University, SDHL Kremer, Dominique (USA) 1997, Merrimack College, PHF Laganière, Brigitte (CAN) 1996, Concordia University, PHF Langei, Makayla (USA) 1998, Bemidji State University, PWHPA Larocque, Jocelyne (CAN) 1988, University of Minnesota Duluth, PWHPA Lásková, Dominika (CZE) 1996, Merrimack College, PHF MacInnis, Lauren (CAN/USA) 1998, Northeastern University, EWHL Marshall, Patti (USA) 1998, University of Minnesota, PHF Matteucci, Daniella (CAN) 1993, Clarkson University, PWHPA Morin, Sidney (USA) 1995, University of Minnesota Duluth, PHF Munroe, Allie (CAN) 1997, Syracuse University, PHF Newton, Savannah (CAN) 1996, Boston University, DNP Nightengale, Nikki (USA) 1998, Augsburg University, PWHPA Olivier, Carley (CAN) 1999, University of Waterloo, U SPORTS Poulin-Labelle, Maude (CAN) 1999, Northeastern University, NCAA Quirion, Catherine (CAN) 1995, Colgate University, PWHPA Ribeirinha-Braga, Lillian (USA) 1994, Boston University, PWHPA Richards, Kristen (CAN) 1992, Robert Morris University, PWHPA Rickwood, Emily (CAN) 2000, University of New Hampshire, NCAA Rougeau, Lauriane (CAN) 1990, Cornell University, PWHPA Shelton, Ella (CAN) 1998, Clarkson University, PWHPA Shiga, Aoi (JPN) 1999, N/A, JPN WNT Tabin, Kati (CAN) 1997, Quinnipiac University, PHF Tejralová, Aneta (CZE) 1996, N/A, PHF Thompson, Claire (CAN) 1998, Princeton University, PWHPA Tinker, Saroya (CAN) 1998, Yale University, PHF Tuominen, Minttu (FIN) 1990, N/A, PHF Varano, Amie (ITA/USA) 1994, Sacred Heart University, EWHL Wabick, Taylor (CAN) 1999, University of Connecticut, SDHL Wilkinson, Kiana (CAN) 1997, Saint Mary’s University, ZhHL Willoughby, Kyra (USA) 1999, Harvard University, NCAA Woloschuk, Alexis (CAN) 1994, Boston University, PHF Woods, Taylor (CAN) 1994, Cornell University, PHF Zafuto, Olivia (USA) 1997, Colgate University, PHF
GOALTENDERS (44):
Abstreiter, Sandra (GER) 1998, Providence College, NCAA Bench, Lauren (USA) 1997, University of Minnesota, SDHL Boissonnault, Marlène (CAN) 1997, Cornell University, PWHPA Browning, Lindsay (USA) 1999, Cornell University, PWHPA Burke, Chantal (CAN) 1999, Minnesota State University, PHF Campbell, Kristen (CAN) 1997, University of Wisconsin, PWHPA Cavallini, Alex (USA) 1992, University of Wisconsin, DNP Chuli, Elaine (CAN) 1994, University of Connecticut, PHF Deguire, Tricia (CAN) 1997, McGill University, PHF Deschênes, Marie-Soleil (CAN) 1994, University of PEI, PHF DeSmet, Arielle (USA) 2000, Syracuse University, NCAA Fujimagari, Mariah (CAN) 1994, University of Maine, SDHL Hensley, Nicole (USA) 1994, Lindenwood University, PWHPA Hofmann, Tera (CAN) 1998, Yale University, PHF Howe, Erica (CAN) 1992, Clarkson University, PWHPA Hsu, Tzu-Ting (TWN) 1995, Brock University, U SPORTS Jackson, Carly (CAN) 1997, University of Maine, PHF Klompmaker, Leah (CAN) 1997, N/A, WOSHL Kronish, Cami (USA) 2000, University of Wisconsin, NCAA Lanteigne, Terra (CAN) 1998, Rochester Institute of Technology, DNP Leveille, Amanda (CAN) 1994, University of Minnesota, PHF Lévesque-Ryan, Maude (CAN) 1994, University of Ottawa, DNP Levy, Abigail (USA) 2000, Boston College, NCAA Mäkelä, Amanda (CAN) 1993, Mercyhurst University, PWHPA McQuigge, Rachel (CAN) 1998, Princeton University, PHF Morse, Allie (USA) 1994, Providence College, DNP Neumann, Kelsey (USA) 1991, SUNY-Plattsburgh, DNP Philbert, Alice (CAN) 1996, Concordia University, U SPORTS Post, Lindsey (CAN) 1994, University of Alberta, SDHL Räisänen, Meeri (FIN) 1989, Robert Morris University, PHF Räty, Noora (FIN) 1989, University of Minnesota, Naisten Liiga Ridgewell, Samantha (CAN) 1996, Merrimack College, PHF Rooney, Maddie (USA) 1997, University of Minnesota Duluth, PWHPA Sauvé, Kassidy (CAN) 1996, Clarkson University, PHF Schertzer, Katie (CAN) 1988, University of British Columbia, DNP Schroeder, Corinne (CAN) 1999, Quinnipiac University, PHF Scobee, Sydney (USA) 1998, University of Minnesota, PWHPA Seeley, Rachel (CAN) 1998, Toronto Metropolitan University, DNP Škodová, Blanka (CZE) 1997, University of Minnesota Duluth, NCAA Söderberg, Emma (SWE) 1998, University of Minnesota Duluth, NCAA Strack, Jessica (USA) 1998, Franklin Pierce University, DNP Varga, Sarah (USA) 2001, Concordia University Wisconsin, DNP Walters, Jorie (USA) 1993, University of Wisconsin, DNP Zeglen, Amanda (CAN) 1999, Clarkson University, DNP
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Media Contact: Paul Krotz PWHL Director of Communications 647-505-8010 paul.krotz@thepwhl.com