The upcoming Professional Women’s Hockey League draft is generating considerable excitement, especially because two Michigan State alumni have earned spots among the prospects.
Printzen, a forward from Las Vegas, arrives with a 16‑point total in 18 games, while Gross‑Turkey, a goaltender from Hamilton, brings a .916 save percentage and a 2.57 goals‑against average to the mix.
A New Era for Women’s Hockey
Their participation comes at a time when the NHL remains the only long‑standing men’s professional league, and no woman has ever appeared in a regular‑season or playoff game there.
Manon Rhéaume, the pioneering goaltender who broke the NHL barrier in an exhibition, now serves as the General Manager of the PWHL’s Detroit franchise, guiding the league’s growth.
Both players developed in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, a club circuit that operates with far fewer resources than the university’s NCAA programs, underscoring the disparity in support for women’s hockey at Michigan State.
The draft pool comprises 236 prospects, including 23 recent Olympians and five members of the 2026 U.S. Olympic team, reflecting the deep talent reservoir competing for the limited 48 slots.
Should they go undrafted, the two athletes have outlined contingency plans: Gross‑Turkey is pursuing law school, while Printzen is open to European contracts but remains realistic about the challenges ahead.
The expansion of the PWHL, particularly the new Detroit team, could provide the catalyst Michigan’s hockey community has long needed, potentially paving the way for a Division I women’s program at the state’s flagship university.