Record-Breaking Draft Class
The Premier Women’s Hockey League is gearing up for a historic draft. With 235 players declaring for the 2026 selection, the talent pool eclipses the previous high set in 2023, signaling a deepening of the league’s competitive base.
At the center of the conversation is Caroline Harvey, a two‑time Olympian and NCAA champion who led the University of Wisconsin to back‑to‑back titles. Her performance earned her the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award and positioned her as the top prospect heading into the draft.
Harvey will be joined by fellow U.S. gold‑medalists Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms, Abbey Murphy and Tessa Janecke, each of whom is expected to feature near the top of the selection order. Their presence underscores the strength of the American program.
International flavor arrives via Sweden’s Thea Johansson, Finland’s Nelli Laitinen, and the Swiss duo of Andrea Braendli and Saskia Maurer, who bring diverse styles and experience to the mix.
Veteran presence is also notable, with four‑time Canadian Olympian Meghan Agosta, now 39, announcing her intent to resume playing, adding a seasoned storyline to the prospect list.
The draft itself will take place on June 17 in Detroit, where the league will also announce its expansion plans. Up to four new franchises are slated to join, with Vancouver holding the No. 1 pick, followed by Seattle, New York and Toronto in the early slots.
While the exact order beyond the first four remains fluid, the breadth of talent across North America and Europe suggests the upcoming season could reshape the competitive landscape of women’s professional hockey.