The Premier Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced its upcoming draft class, comprising a 235-player pool that prominently features five members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team, including defender Caroline Harvey.
On Tuesday, the league revealed its player-declaration list, marking the largest prospect pool since its inaugural draft in 2023, which included 268 players. This year’s list features 23 athletes who competed in the Milan Cortina Games earlier this year.
Expansion and Draft Details
The depth of talent in the draft pool has prompted the eight-team league to consider adding up to four expansion franchises for the next season. Detroit has already been confirmed as a new team that will host the draft on June 17, with additional teams expected to be announced soon.
Vancouver holds the first overall pick in the draft, followed by Seattle, New York, and Toronto. The remaining draft order remains uncertain due to ongoing playoffs, and the league has not disclosed the selection positions for its new teams. Additionally, the total number of selections has yet to be finalized, with the PWHL informing players that not all will be drafted.
Highlighting Caroline Harvey
Caroline Harvey is viewed as the top prospect after leading the University of Wisconsin to its second consecutive NCAA championship and its fourth in six years. The 23-year-old, a two-time Olympian, concluded a remarkable season by earning both Olympic tournament and college hockey MVP honors, along with the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
Notable Teammates and International Talent
Harvey’s American teammates are expected to dominate the top draft selections. This group includes forward/defender Laila Edwards and forward Kirsten Simms from Wisconsin, along with Abbey Murphy from the University of Minnesota and Tessa Janecke from Penn State.
Among the notable international talents are Sweden’s Thea Johansson from Minnesota-Duluth, Finland’s Nelli Laitinen from Minnesota, and Switzerland’s goalie duo of Andrea Braendli and Saskia Maurer, who are transitioning from European leagues.
Diversity in the Draft Pool
The draft features a significant number of North American prospects, with 32 players representing 13 different countries. Notably, six players hail from both Finland and Germany, while Russia has five players declaring for the draft.
Additionally, several seasoned veterans are in contention, including four-time Canadian Olympian Meghan Agosta, who aims to revive her playing career at the age of 39.