The Premier Women’s Hockey League held its inaugural draft in downtown Detroit on Thursday night, drawing a packed house at the Fox Theater and a buzz that echoed the city’s hockey heritage.
A Historic Night in Detroit
Caroline Harvey, a U.S. gold‑medalist and three‑time college champion, became the first American ever to be chosen first overall, landing with the Vancouver Goldeneyes.
Harvey, celebrated for her powerful skating and deft play‑making, joins a Vancouver blue line that already features Sophie Jaques and Sarah Nurse, a pairing that promises immediate impact.
The second overall pick went to Abbey Murphy, the Minnesota Gophers’ all‑time leading goal scorer, who will wear a Seattle uniform after a career that made her a standout in college hockey.
The draft also highlighted a wave of Minnesota‑tied talent, with Laila Edwards, a Badgers teammate of Harvey, selected fourth by San Jose, and Nelli Laitinen heading sixth to Hamilton.
Other notable selections included Tessa Janecke from Penn State, taken third by Las Vegas, and Emma Peschel, a Benilde‑St. Margaret’s graduate, drafted seventh by New York.
The expansion team in Ottawa chose Vivian Jungels eleventh, while the Minnesota Frost added Ohio State forward Sara Swiderski ninth, rounding out a class that blends collegiate excellence with international experience.
Brad Frost, former Gophers head coach, is working with the new franchise to shape its inaugural roster, underscoring the league’s deep roots in the college game.
The event’s atmosphere was punctuated by cheers whenever references to Detroit or the Knights — a nod to the city’s NHL heritage — filled the theater, reflecting the community’s excitement.