2023 PWHL Draft explained

2023 PWHL Draft
Date:September 18, 2023
Location:CBC's Toronto Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Network:CBC Gem
CBC Sports App
League:Professional Women's Hockey League
First: Taylor Heise
Minnesota
Overall:90
Next:2024
Rounds:15

The 2023 PWHL Draft was the first draft in Professional Women's Hockey League history, and took place on September 18, 2023, at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto, Ontario.[1]

Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Taylor Heise was the first player chosen in the draft, selected by Minnesota. In all, 90 players were selected over 15 rounds of drafting.

List of Eligible Players

286 eligible players from 17 different countries declared for the inaugural PWHL draft.[2]

Top NCAA/U Sports prospects

Source: The Hockey News ranking (September 5, 2023).[3]

RankingPlayerSchool
1 Taylor Heise (F)Minnesota Golden Gophers
2 Alina Muller (F)
3 Sophie Jaques (D)Ohio State Buckeyes
4 Emma Maltais (F)Ohio State Buckeyes
5 Emma Soderberg (G)
6 Grace Zumwinkle (F)Minnesota Golden Gophers
7 Chloe Aurard (F)Northeastern Huskies
8 Jesse Compher (F)Wisconsin Badgers
9 Gabbie Hughes (F)Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
10 Ashton Bell (D)Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Format

The draft consisted of 15 rounds. The order of picks in the first round was decided by using a computerized list randomizer during a video conference call with all 6 team's general managers.[4] In the second round this order was reversed, so the team with the 6th pick would also receive the 7th pick, whilst the team with first overall pick would not pick again until the 12th pick (last pick in the second round). The order would continue alternating in each subsequent round, producing a 'snaking' order.[5]

The final draft order was:

  1. Minnesota
  2. Toronto
  3. Boston
  4. New York
  5. Ottawa
  6. Montreal

Selections by round

Picks from the 2023 Draft are listed below by round.[6]

Round one

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
1Taylor Heise (F)PWHL MinnesotaMinnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA)
2Jocelyne Larocque (D)PWHL TorontoTeam Adidas (PWHPA)
3Alina Muller (C)PWHL BostonNortheastern Huskies (Hockey East)
4Ella Shelton (D)PWHL New YorkTeam Scotiabank (PWHPA)
5Savannah Harmon (D)PWHL OttawaTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)
6Erin Ambrose (D)PWHL MontrealTeam Sonnet (PWHPA)

Round two

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
7Kristin O'Neill (F)MontrealTeam Adidas (PWHPA)
8Ashton Bell (D)OttawaMinnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA)
9Jaime Bourbonnais (D)New YorkTeam Scotiabank (PWHPA)
10Sophie Jaques (D)BostonOhio State Buckeyes (WCHA)
11Emma Maltais (F)TorontoOhio State Buckeyes (WCHA)
12Nicole Hensley (G)MinnesotaTeam Sonnet (PWHPA)

Round three

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
13Grace Zumwinkle (F)MinnesotaMinnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA)
14Kristen Campbell (G)TorontoTeam Scotiabank (PWHPA)
15Jamie Lee Rattray (F)BostonTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)
16Jessie Eldridge (F)New YorkTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)
17Jincy Roese (D)OttawaTeam Adidas (PWHPA)
18Maureen Murphy (F)MontrealNortheastern Huskies (Hockey East)

Round four

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
19Dominika Laskova (D)MontrealToronto Six (PHF)
20Gabbie Hughes (F)OttawaMinnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA)
21Chloe Aurard (LW)New YorkNortheastern Huskies (Hockey East)
22Loren Gabel (F)BostonBoston Pride (PHF)
23Natalie Spooner (F)TorontoTeam Scotiabank (PWHPA)
24Maggie Flaherty (D)MinnesotaMinnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA)

Round five

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
25Susanna Tapani (C)MinnesotaShenzhen KRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL; 2021–22)
26Jesse Compher (F)TorontoWisconsin Badgers (WCHA)
27Hannah Brandt (C)BostonTeam Sonnet (PWHPA)
28Elizabeth Giguere (RW)New YorkBoston Pride (PHF)
29Hayley Scamurra (F)OttawaTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)
30Kati Tabin (D)Montreal Toronto Six (PHF)

Round six

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
31Kennedy Marchment (RW)MontrealConnecticut Whale (PHF)
32Daryl Watts (C)OttawaToronto Six (PHF)
33Corinne Schroeder (G)New YorkBoston Pride (PHF)
34Jessica Digirolamo (D)BostonTeam Adidas (PWHPA)
35Kali Flanagan (D)TorontoBoston Pride (PHF)
36Clair DeGeorge (F)MinnesotaTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)

Round seven

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
37Natalie Buchbinder (D)MinnesotaWisconsin Badgers (WCHA)
38Victoria Bach (F)TorontoTeam Scotiabank (PWHPA)
39Theresa Schafzahl (F)BostonVermont Catamounts (Hockey East)
40Jill Saulnier (F)New YorkTeam Adidas (PWHPA)
41Aneta Tejralova (D)OttawaBoston Pride (PHF)
42Tereza Vanisova (F)Montreal Toronto Six (PHF)

Round eight

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
43Madison Bizal (D)MontrealOhio State Buckeyes (WCHA)
44Katerina Mrazova (C)OttawaConnecticut Whale (PHF)
45Brooke Hobson (D)New YorkModo Hockey Dam (SDHL)
46Emily Brown (D)BostonTeam Sonnet (PWHPA)
47Brittany Howard (F)TorontoToronto Six (PHF)
48Denisa Krizova (F)MinnesotaMinnesota Whitecaps (PHF)

Round nine

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
49Sidney Morin (D)MinnesotaMinnesota Whitecaps (PHF)
50Allie Munroe (D)TorontoConnecticut Whale (PHF)
51Taylor Girard (F)BostonConnecticut Whale (PHF)
52Jade Downie-Landry (F)New YorkMontreal Force (PHF)
53Zoe Boyd (D)OttawaQuinnipiac Bobcats (ECAC)
54Gabrielle David (C)Montreal Clarkson Golden Knights (ECAC)

Round ten

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
55Maude Poulin-Labelle (D)MontrealNortheastern Huskies (Hockey East)
56Kristin Della Rovere (C)OttawaHarvard Crimson (ECAC)
57Paetyn Levis (F)New YorkOhio State Buckeyes (WCHA)
58Emma Söderberg (G)BostonMinnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA)
59Mellissa Channell (D)TorontoTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)
60Sophia Kunin (F)MinnesotaTeam Harvey's (PWHPA)

Round eleven

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
61Amanda Leveille (G)MinnesotaMinnesota Whitecaps (PHF)
62Maggie Connors (F)TorontoPrinceton Tigers (ECAC)
63Sophie Shirley (F)BostonWisconsin Badgers (WCHA)
64Abbey Levy (G)New YorkBoston College Eagles (Hockey East)
65Lexie Adzija (F)OttawaQuinnipiac Bobcats (ECAC)
66Jillian Dempsey (F)Montreal Boston Pride (PHF)

Round twelve

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
67Claire Dalton (C/RW)MontrealYale Bulldogs (ECAC)
68Sandra Abstreiter (G)OttawaProvidence Friars (Hockey East)
69Olivia Zafuto (D)New YorkBoston Pride (PHF)
70Shiann Darkangelo (LW)BostonToronto Six (PHF)
71Rebecca Leslie (F)TorontoTeam Sonnet (PWHPA)
72Michela Cava (C)MinnesotaToronto Six (PHF)

Round thirteen

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
73Liz Schepers (C/LW)MinnesotaMinnesota Whitecaps (PHF)
74Hannah Miller (F) / TorontoShenzhen Kunlun Red Star (ZhHL)
75Emma Buckles (D)BostonTeam Sonnet (PWHPA)
76Kayla Vespa (F)New YorkTeam Adidas (PWHPA)
77Amanda Boulier (D)OttawaMinnesota Whitecaps (PHF)
78Elaine Chuli (G)Montreal Toronto Six (PHF)

Round fourteen

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
79Ann-Sophie Bettez (F)MontrealMontreal Force (PHF)
80Caitrin Lonergan (F)OttawaConnecticut Whale (PHF)
81Emma Woods (F)New YorkToronto Six (PHF)
82Tatum Skaggs (F)BostonTeam Scotiabank (PWHPA)
83Alexa Vasko (F)TorontoTeam Sonnet (PWHPA)
84Minttu Tuominen (D)MinnesotaKiekko-Espoo Naiset (NSML)

Round fifteen

PlayerNationalityPWHL teamCollege/university/club team
85Sydney Brodt (F)MinnesotaMinnesota Whitecaps (PHF)
86Olivia Knowles (D)TorontoMinnesota Whitecaps (PHF)
87Jessica Healey (D)BostonBuffalo Beauts (PHF)
88Alexandra Labelle (F)New YorkMontreal Force (PHF)
89Audrey-Ann Veillette (F)OttawaMontreal Carabins (RSEQ)
90Lina Ljungblom (C)Montreal Modo Hockey Dam (SDHL)

Draftees based on nationality

RankCountrySelectionsPercentTop selection
North America 77 85.6%
1 49 54.4% Jocelyne Larocque, 2nd
2 28 31.1% Taylor Heise, 1st
Europe 13 14.4%
3 5 5.6% Dominika Lásková, 19th
4 2 2.2% Susanna Tapani, 25th
2 2.2% Emma Söderberg, 50th
6 1 1.1% Alina Müller, 3rd
1 1.1% Chloé Aurard, 21st
1 1.1% Theresa Schafzahl, 39th
1 1.1% Sandra Abstreiter, 68th

North American draftees by state/province

RankState/provinceSelectionsPercentTop selection
1 27 30.0% Ella Shelton, 4th
2 11 12.2% Taylor Heise, 1st
3 8 8.9% Élizabeth Giguère, 28th
4 5 5.6% Jocelyne Larocque, 2nd
5 5.6% Maureen Murphy, 18th
6 3 3.3% Kali Flanagan, 35th
7 2 2.2% Savannah Harmon, 5th
2 2.2% Jill Saulnier, 40th
2 2.2% Brooke Hobson, 45th
2 2.2% Taylor Girard, 51st
2 2.2% Hannah Miller, 74th
12 1 1.1% Nicole Hensley, 12th
1 1.1% Jincy Dunne, 17th
1 1.1% Clair DeGeorge, 36th
1 1.1% Maggie Connors, 62nd
1 1.1% Amanda Boulier, 77th
1 1.1% Tatum Skaggs, 82nd
1 1.1% Jessica Healey, 87th

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-09-05 . Jenner, Clark, Maschmeyer become PWHL’s first players after signing with Ottawa . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230905183732/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/jenner-clark-maschmeyer-become-pwhls-first-players-after-signing-with-ottawa/ . 2023-09-05 . 2023-09-07 . Sportsnet . en.
  2. Web site: 2023-09-13 . Complete list of players eligible for inaugural PWHL draft . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230918195207/https://www.sportsnet.ca/women-hockey/article/complete-list-of-players-eligible-for-inaugural-pwhl-draft/ . 2023-09-18 . 2023-09-19 . Sportsnet . en.
  3. Web site: Kennedy . Ian . 2023-09-05 . PWHL Draft: Ranking NCAA and USports Grads . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230918214050/https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/pwhl-draft-ranking-ncaa-and-usports-grads . 2023-09-18 . 2023-09-19 . The Hockey News.
  4. News: 2023-09-01 . Professional Women's Hockey League announces 2023 Draft order of selection . PWHL . live . 2023-09-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907183739/https://news.thepwhl.com/draft-lottery-results/ . 2023-09-07.
  5. Web site: Sadler . Emily . 2023-09-17 . PWHL Draft: How it will work and players to watch for . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230919140510/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article/how-the-pwhls-inaugural-draft-will-work/ . 2023-09-19 . 2023-09-19 . Sportsnet.
  6. Web site: 2023 PWHL Draft . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230919133728/https://www.thepwhl.com/2023-draft . 2023-09-19 . 2023-09-19 . thepwhl.com.

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