The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) held its draft, with the Vancouver Goldeneyes selecting US Olympian Caroline Harvey as the first overall pick. Harvey, a defender from the University of Wisconsin, was named the International Ice Hockey Federation’s female player of the year.

PWHL Draft Class

The draft class was considered the league’s deepest and most talented, with 11 Olympians, including five Americans, being selected in the first two rounds. The first round saw Americans sweep the top five picks, with Harvey being followed by Abbey Murphy, Tessa Janecke, Laila Edwards, and Kirsten Simms.

The draft was held in Detroit, one of the PWHL’s new markets, and featured a mix of emotions, with tears and cheers from the players and their families. The event was seen as a major boost for women’s hockey in North America, following the US team’s thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Canada in the Olympic final.

The PWHL has been growing its brand, with the league adding four new markets and expanding to 12 teams. The league’s executive board member, Stan Kasten, expressed his excitement about the growth of the league and the potential for new fans.

Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.