Jason La Rose
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) welcomed its newest crop of players Tuesday night in the nation’s capital, with 16 Canadians selected in the annual PWHL Draft.
The list features representation from six Members, and 11 players who have worn the Maple Leaf in international competition at some level (or all levels) of the National Women’s Program.
The run of Canadians started from the No. 4 pick, where the Victoire de Montréal selected defender Nicole Gosling, the lone player who has seen time with Canada’s National Women’s Team (and won gold at the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship).
She was the first of three first-rounders, along with fellow blue-liner Kendall Cooper (No. 6 to Minnesota) and Jenna Buglioni, who made history as the first-ever draft pick by Seattle at No. 8.
Each of the six rounds featured at least one Canadian, with three going in each of the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Seattle used three of their picks on Canadians, followed by Vancouver (two), Boston (one) and Ottawa (one). The Toronto Sceptres were the lone team not to select a Canadian.
Fourteen of the 16 draft picks are alumnae of the U18 Women’s National Championship, having represented their province or region at the tournament, and four – Tamara Giaquinto (Brampton, 2018); Maya Labad (Lanaudière, 2018); Dayle Ross (St. Albert, 2019) and Vanessa Upson (Stoney Creek, 2019) – competed at the Esso Cup, Canada’s U18 Women’s National Club Championship.
Vancouver made history with the 48th and final choice, selecting University of B.C. product Chanreet Bassi, the first-ever South Asian draft pick.
CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY MEMBER
Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (8) – Brianna Brooks, Kendall Cooper, Tamara Giaquinto, Nicole Gosling, Hannah Murphy, Vanessa Upson, Olivia Wallin, Maddi Wheeler
BC Hockey (3) – Chanreet Bassi, Jenna Buglioni, Anne Cherkowski
Hockey Alberta (2) – Dayle Ross, Sarah Wozniewicz
Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador (1) – Abby Newhook
Hockey P.E.I. (1) – Abby Hustler
Hockey Quebec (1) – Maya Labad
CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
National Women’s Team (1) – Nicole Gosling
National Women’s Development Team (9) – Jenna Buglioni, Anne Cherkowski, Kendall Cooper, Nicole Gosling, Maya Labad, Hannah Murphy, Abby Newhook, Maddi Wheeler, Sarah Wozniewicz
National Women’s Under-18 Team (10) – Brianna Brooks, Jenna Buglioni, Anne Cherkowski, Kendall Cooper, Tamara Giaquinto, Nicole Gosling, Maya Labad, Olivia Wallin, Maddi Wheeler, Sarah Wozniewicz