A Milestone for Female Athletes
The Edmonton Oilers have opened their development camp to three of the world’s most promising women’s hockey players, a move that marks a significant shift in how the NHL is engaging with female talent.
General manager Stan Bowman, inspired by the intensity he witnessed at the recent Milan Olympic women’s tournament, personally invited Chloe Primerano, Abbey Murphy and Caitlin Kraemer to the week‑long camp after contacting them in May.
Primerano made history as the first female skater ever selected in a Canadian Hockey League draft, while Murphy captured Olympic gold in Milan and was drafted second overall by the PWHL’s Seattle Torrent. Kraemer, a standout forward at the University of Minnesota‑Duluth, was named the 2025 NCAA rookie of the year in her debut season.
The camp blends on‑ice skill work with off‑ice activities such as fitness testing, mental‑performance sessions and analytics workshops, giving the athletes a taste of NHL‑level resources and support.
On the ice, the trio has taken part in drill‑focused sessions and will conclude the camp with a three‑on‑three tournament, a showcase that underscores their readiness for the upcoming 2028 PWHL Draft.
Beyond the immediate experience, the initiative reflects a broader ambition to provide elite women’s players with exposure and support networks that have long been absent, signaling a potential turning point for the sport’s development pipeline.