2026 PWHL Draft

2026 PWHL Draft
General information
DateJune 17, 2026
LocationFox Theatre
Detroit, Michigan
Overview
LeagueProfessional Women's Hockey League
First selectionCaroline Harvey (Vancouver Goldeneyes)

The 2026 PWHL Draft was the fourth annual draft in the Professional Women's Hockey League, and took place on June 17, 2026, at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan.[1]

Caroline Harvey was selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes.

Eligibility

The declaration period for the draft opened on March 1, 2026, and closed on May 8. Undrafted players will become free agents; players must declare for the draft to reach free agency. Selected players may re-enter the draft if they are not signed to their draft club after two years. No player may declare for more than two drafts.[2]

Top prospects

Top skaters

Source: The Hockey News (April 25, 2026) ranking.[3]
Ranking Player School/club team
1 Caroline Harvey (D) Wisconsin (NCAA)
2 Abbey Murphy (RW) Minnesota (NCAA)
3 Laila Edwards (D/RW) Wisconsin (NCAA)
4 Tessa Janecke (C) Penn State (NCAA)
5 Nelli Laitinen (D) Minnesota (NCAA)
6 Kirsten Simms (LW) Wisconsin (NCAA)
7 Lacey Eden (RW) Wisconsin (NCAA)
8 Emma Peschel (D) Ohio State (NCAA)
9 Issy Wunder (C) Princeton (NCAA)
10 Sydney Morrow (D) Minnesota (NCAA)

Top goaltenders

Source: The Hockey News (April 25, 2026) ranking.[3]
Ranking Player School/club team
1 Andrea Brändli Frolunda (SDHL)
2 Tia Chan UConn (NCAA)
3 Hailey MacLeod Ohio State (NCAA)

Expansion

The PWHL expanded by four new teams for the 2026–27 season, creating teams in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose.[4]

Protected lists and Expansion Player Distribution Process

The league created a six-phase expansion process for existing teams to protect some players, and for expansion teams to sign players. Phase 1, which was June 2–3, allowed existing teams to sign and protect three players. Phase 2, from June 5–8, allows expansion teams to acquire five players from existing teams. Phase 3, June 10–12, allows unsigned and unprotected players to negotiate with all teams. Phase 4, June 14–15, will see expansion teams build their rosters to reach 10 players. Phase 5, June 16 and 18, allows existing teams to negotiate with and sign their own remaining players on expiring contracts. Finally, Phase 6 (after June 18) allows all remaining eligible players on expiring contracts to sign with any team.[5]

Protected players

Boston Minnesota Montreal New York Ottawa Seattle Toronto Vancouver
Aerin Frankel Taylor Heise Ann-Renée Desbiens Sarah Fillier Rebecca Leslie Alex Carpenter Renata Fast Sophie Jaques
Megan Keller Kelly Pannek Marie-Philip Poulin Kristýna Kaltounková Gwyneth Philips Hannah Murphy Raygan Kirk Emerance Maschmeyer
Haley Winn Maddie Rooney Laura Stacey Casey O'Brien Ronja Savolainen Anna Wilgren Ella Shelton Sarah Nurse
Shay Maloney Sidney Morin Maggie Flaherty Jaime Bourbonnais Gabbie Hughes Julia Gosling Kali Flanagan Izzy Daniel
Abby Newhook Lee Stecklein Lina Ljungblom Maja Nylén Persson Fanuza Kadirova Mikyla Grant-Mentis Emma Gentry Jenn Gardiner
Susanna Tapani Grace Zumwinkle Kati Tabin Micah Zandee-Hart Sarah Wozniewicz Danielle Serdachny Natalie Spooner Hannah Miller

Source:[6][7]

Signed players

PWHL Hamilton PWHL Detroit PWHL San Jose PWHL Las Vegas
Player Former team Player Former team Player Former team Player Former team
Brianne Jenner Ottawa Charge Daryl Watts Toronto Sceptres Corinne Schroeder Seattle Torrent Mae Batherson Minnesota Frost
Kayle Osborne New York Sirens Cayla Barnes Seattle Torrent Rory Guilday Ottawa Charge Kendall Cooper Minnesota Frost
Alina Müller Boston Fleet Hannah Bilka Seattle Torrent Anne Cherkowski New York Sirens Erin Ambrose Montreal Victoire
Nicole Gosling Montreal Victoire Britta Curl-Salemme Minnesota Frost Kristin O’Neill New York Sirens Hayley Scamurra Montreal Victoire
Emily Clark Ottawa Charge Jesse Compher Toronto Sceptres Maddi Wheeler New York Sirens Megan Carter Seattle Torrent
Zoe Boyd Boston Fleet Sydney Bard Vancouver Goldeneyes Hadley Hartmetz Boston Fleet Nicole Hensley Minnesota Frost
Riley Brengman Boston Fleet Taylor Girard New York Sirens Maggie Connors Toronto Sceptres Maureen Murphy Montreal Victoire
Allyson Simpson New York Sirens Shiann Darkangelo Montreal Victoire Mariah Keopple Seattle Torrent Katy Knoll Minnesota Frost
Abby Hustler Minnesota Frost Nina Jobst-Smith Vancouver Goldeneyes Natálie Mlýnková Montreal Victoire
Peyton Hemp Ottawa Charge Hilary Knight Seattle Torrent (via PWHL Las Vegas[8]) Daniela Pejšová Boston Fleet

Source:[9][10][11]

Format

The top selection in the draft was determined by the Gold Plan, where standings points accumulated by a team that can no longer make the playoffs count as draft order points, and the team with the most draft order points received the first overall selection.[12]

Draft order

On June 15, 2026, the PWHL announced the draft order of selection.[13]

Order Team
1 Vancouver Goldeneyes
2 Seattle Torrent
3 PWHL Detroit
4 PWHL San Jose
5 PWHL Las Vegas
6 PWHL Hamilton
7 New York Sirens
8 Toronto Sceptres
9 Minnesota Frost
10 Boston Fleet
11 Ottawa Charge
12 Montreal Victoire

Selections by round

Round one

# Player Nationality PWHL team School/club team
1 Caroline Harvey (D)  United States Vancouver Goldeneyes Wisconsin (NCAA)
2 Abbey Murphy (F)  United States Seattle Torrent Minnesota (NCAA)
3 Tessa Janecke (F)  United States PWHL Las Vegas (from Detroit) [Trade 1] Penn State (NCAA)
4 Laila Edwards (D)  United States PWHL San Jose Wisconsin (NCAA)
5 Lacey Eden (F)  United States PWHL Las Vegas Wisconsin (NCAA)
6 Nelli Laitinen (D)  Finland PWHL Hamilton Minnesota (NCAA)
7 Emma Peschel (D)  United States New York Sirens Ohio State (NCAA)
8 Kirsten Simms (F)  United States Toronto Sceptres Wisconsin (NCAA)
9 Sara Swiderski (D)  Canada Minnesota Frost Ohio State (NCAA)
10 Grace Dwyer (D)  United States Boston Fleet Cornell (NCAA)
11 Vivian Jungels (D)

f|  United States

Ottawa Charge Wisconsin (NCAA)
12 Petra Nieminen (F)  Finland Montreal Victoire Luleå (SDHL)

Round two

# Player Nationality PWHL team School/club team
13 Issy Wunder (F)  Canada PWHL Las Vegas (from Vancouver)[Trade 2] Princeton (NCAA)
14 Sydney Morrow (D)  United States Seattle Torrent Minnesota (NCAA)
15 Andrea Brändli (G)  Switzerland PWHL Detroit Frölunda HC (SDHL)
16 Sloane Matthews (F)  United States PWHL San Jose Ohio State (NCAA)
17 Thea Johansson (F)  Sweden Vancouver Goldeneyes (from Las Vegas)[Trade 2] Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)
18 Jade Iginla (F)  Canada PWHL Hamilton Brown (NCAA)
19 Elisa Holopainen (F)  Finland New York Sirens Frölunda HC (SDHL)
20 Jamie Nelson (F)  United States Toronto Sceptres Minnesota (NCAA)
21 Viivi Vainikka (F)  Finland Minnesota Frost Brynäs (SDHL)
22 Casey Borgiel (D)  United States PWHL Detroit (from Boston)[Trade 3] Colgate (NCAA)
23 Jordan Ray (F)  United States Ottawa Charge Yale (NCAA)
24 Avi Adam (F)  Canada Montreal Victoire Cornell (NCAA)

Round three

# Player Nationality PWHL team School/club team
25 Jules Constantinople (D)  United States Vancouver Goldeneyes Northeastern (NCAA)
26 Emerson Jarvis (F)  Canada Seattle Torrent Quinnipiac (NCAA)
27 Leah Stecker (D)  United States Boston Fleet (from Detroit)[Trade 3] Penn State (NCAA)
28 Tia Chan (G)  China PWHL San Jose Connecticut (NCAA)
29 Josefin Bouveng (F)  Sweden PWHL Las Vegas Minnesota (NCAA)
30 Elyssa Biederman (F)  United States PWHL Hamilton Colgate (NCAA)
31 Carina DiAntonio (F)  Canada New York Sirens Yale (NCAA)
32 Brooke Disher (D)  Canada Toronto Sceptres Ohio State (NCAA)
33 Madelyn Christian (F)  United States Minnesota Frost Penn State (NCAA)
34 MK O'Brien (F)  United States PWHL Detroit (from Boston)[Trade 3] Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
35 Tereza Pištěková (F)  Czech Republic Ottawa Charge SDE Hockey (SDHL)
36 Zoe Uens (D)  Canada Montreal Victoire Quinnipiac (NCAA)

Round four

# Player Nationality PWHL team School/club team
37 Katie DeSa (G)  United States Vancouver Goldeneyes Penn State (NCAA)
38 Grace Elliott (F)  Canada Seattle Torrent University of British Columbia (U Sports)
39 Kyla Josifovic (F)  Canada PWHL Detroit Connecticut Huskies (NCAA)
40 Lily Shannon (F)  United States PWHL San Jose Northeastern Huskies (NCAA)
41 Saskia Maurer (G)  Switzerland PWHL Las Vegas SC Bern (Switzerland)
42 Megan Woodworth (F)  Canada PWHL Hamilton Connecticut Huskies (NCAA)
43 Katelyn Roberts (F)  United States New York Sirens Penn State (NCAA)
44 Jane Kuehl (F)  United States Toronto Sceptres Princeton Tigers (NCAA)
45 Tova Henderson (D)  Canada Minnesota Frost Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)
46 Jaden Bogden (F)  Canada Boston Fleet Northeastern Huskies (NCAA)
47 Tory Mariano (D)  United States Ottawa Charge Northeastern (NCAA)
48 Hailey MacLeod (G)  Canada Montreal Victoire Ohio State (NCAA)

Round five

# Player Nationality PWHL team School/club team
49 Kendall Butze (D)  United States PWHL Las Vegas (from Vancouver)[Trade 2] Penn State (NCAA)
50 Gracie Gilkyson (D)  Canada Seattle Torrent Yale (NCAA)
51 Sena Catterall (F)  Canada PWHL Detroit Clarkson (NCAA)
52 McKenna Van Gelder (F)  Canada PWHL San Jose Cornell (NCAA)
53 Alexis Petford (F)  Canada PWHL Las Vegas Colgate (NCAA)
54 Emma-Sofie Nordstrøm (G)  Denmark PWHL Hamilton St. Lawrence (NCAA)
55 Grace Wolfe (D)  United States New York Sirens St. Cloud State (NCAA)
56 Emerson O'Leary (F)  United States Toronto Sceptres Princeton (NCAA)
57 Darya Gredzen (G)  Russia Minnesota Frost Biryusa Krasnoyarsk (ZhHL)
58 Jenna Goodwin (F)  Canada Boston Fleet Frölunda HC (SDHL)
59 Neena Brick (F)  Canada Ottawa Charge MoDo (SDHL)
60 Erica Rieder (D)  Canada Montreal Victoire Luleå (SDHL)

Round six

# Player Nationality PWHL team School/club team
61 Ashley Messier (D)  United States Vancouver Goldeneyes Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)
62 Gabriella Durante (G)  Italy Seattle Torrent Real Torino (IHLW)
63 Georgia Schiff (F)  United States PWHL Detroit Cornell (NCAA)
64 Reichen Kirchmair (F)  Canada PWHL San Jose Providence (NCAA)
65 Sydney Healey (F)  Canada PWHL Las Vegas Boston University (NCAA)
66 Mya Vaslet (F)  Canada PWHL Hamilton Penn State (NCAA)
67 Naomi Boucher (F)  Canada New York Sirens Yale (NCAA)
68 Alyssa Regalado (D)  Canada Toronto Sceptres Cornell (NCAA)
69 Lara Beecher (F)  United States Minnesota Frost Clarkson (NCAA)
70 Maeve Kelly (D)  United States Boston Fleet Boston University (NCAA)
71 Taylor Otremba (F)  United States Ottawa Charge Minnesota State (NCAA)
72 Émilie Lavoie (F)  Canada Montreal Victoire Concordia (U Sports)

Trade notes

  1. ^ Detroit → Las Vegas. Detroit's first-round pick went to Las Vegas as the result of a trade on June 15, 2026, that sent a first-round pick (3rd overall) to Las Vegas in exchange for Hilary Knight.
  2. ^ a b c Vancouver → Las Vegas. Vancouvers second-round pick went to Las Vegas as the result of a trade on June 17, 2026, that sent a second-round pick (13th overall) and fifth-round pick (49th overall) to Las Vegas in exchange for a second-round pick (17th overall) and Abby Boreen.
  3. ^ a b c Boston → Detroit. Boston's second-round pick went to Detroit as the result of a trade on June 16, 2026, that sent a second-round pick (22nd overall) and third-round pick (34th overall) to Detroit in exchange for a third-round pick (27th overall) and Ella Huber.

References

  1. ^ "PWHL announces details for 2026 draft, awards ceremony in Detroit". thepwhl.com. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  2. ^ Kennedy, Ian (May 7, 2026). "2026 PWHL Draft To Be Held At The Fox Theatre In Detroit". The Hockey News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Kennedy, Ian (April 25, 2026). "2026 PWHL Draft Rankings: April Top 100". The Hockey News. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  4. ^ Donkin, Karissa (June 9, 2026). "Setting a foundation: What we've learned about the PWHL's 4 newest expansion teams". Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  5. ^ "PWHL Announces 2026 Expansion Player Distribution Process". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. May 27, 2026. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  6. ^ "PWHL Announces Player Protection Lists for Phase 1 of 2026 Expansion Roster Building Process". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  7. ^ "PWHL Completes Stage 3 of 2025 Expansion Player Distribution Process with Protections and Signings". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. June 12, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  8. ^ "PWHL Detroit and PWHL Las Vegas complete trade". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  9. ^ "PWHL Completes Phase 2 of 2026 Expansion Player Distribution Process with Expansion Team Foundational Signings". www.thepwhl.com. June 9, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  10. ^ "PWHL Completes Stage 3 of 2025 Expansion Player Distribution Process with Protections and Signings". ThePWHL.com. Professional Women's Hockey League. June 12, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  11. ^ "PWHL Completes Phase 4 of 2026 Expansion Player Distribution Process with Expansion Team Signings and Selections". www.thepwhl.com. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  12. ^ Salvian, Hailey (April 26, 2026). "Vancouver Goldeneyes secure No. 1 pick in 2026 PWHL Draft, right to select Caroline Harvey". yahoo.com. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  13. ^ "PWHL announced 2026 draft order of selection". Professional Women's Hockey League. June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.