Draft Brings Buckeyes to the Forefront
The 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League draft turned into a showcase of Ohio State’s rising power, with six Buckeyes hearing their names called across the league’s newest franchises.
Emma Peschel, who earned an All‑WCHA First Team nod last season with 10 goals and 29 assists, was selected seventh overall by the New York Sirens, a milestone that follows her silver‑medal performance with the U.S. at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.
Sara Swiderski, whose breakout senior year produced eight goals, 19 assists and 27 points in 33 games, went ninth overall to the Minnesota Frost; she also represented Canada at the 2022 IIHF U18 tournament, adding international experience to her résumé.
A Goaltender’s Rise
Goaltender Andrea Braendli, a four‑year Buckeye who transferred to Boston University for the 2022‑23 season, was drafted 15th by Detroit, the league’s latest expansion club. Her standout performances in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics — 40 saves in a 1‑0 quarterfinal win over Finland and 31 stops in a bronze‑medal game against Sweden — earned her the tournament’s Best Goaltender award.
Braendli’s professional journey has already spanned the Swedish Women’s Hockey League, and her Olympic pedigree signals a promising start for Detroit’s roster as the PWHL continues its rapid expansion into markets such as San Jose, Toronto, and Montréal.
The influx of Buckeye talent reflects a broader trend of collegiate programs feeding the professional ranks, a development that league officials and fans alike hope will accelerate the growth of women’s hockey in North America and beyond.