OTTAWA — The Professional Women’s Hockey League ushered in a new era Tuesday night, selecting 48 players from a global talent pool in its 2025 draft in Ottawa creating new opportunities for the next generation of players to make their mark on the pro stage.
Through six rounds 30 forwards, 13 defenders and five goalies were selected.
The New York Sirens made history selecting Kristyna Kaltounkova as the first overall pick.
The 23-year-old forward from Colgate University is the first Czech player ever taken first overall in the PWHL. She’s coming off a standout season, recording 26 goals and 48 points in 37 games. Kaltounkova leaves Colgate as the program’s all-time leading goal scorer with 111 goals and ranks second in career points with 233.
“What a great honour representing, not just myself, but my country and my folks,” said Kaltounkova. “I just hope that those little girls saw that were watching or see it on social media and see that it’s not just Americans or Canadians that get drafted high or at number one and it’s going to be hopefully motivation to all of them and it shows it's possible.”
This marked the second straight season the Sirens selected first.
Following the expansion draft to accommodate new franchises in Seattle and Vancouver — set to start play next season — teams looked to supplement and compliment its rosters.
American Haley Winn, who led Clarkson in scoring with 46 points (14G, 32A), went second overall to the Boston Fleet.
Toronto acquired defender Ella Shelton from the Sirens in exchange for the third and 27th overall pick in the draft. With the third pick New York selected Casey O’Brien from the University of Wisconsin.
“It’s so special and the fact that they traded up for me means even more,” admitted O’Brien, who led the NCAA in scoring with 88 points (26G, 62A) in 41 games.
After missing the playoffs the last two seasons, the Sirens were determined to shake things up and general manager Pascal Daoust feels fairly confident when he looks at his lineup following Tuesday’s draft and trades.
“We never felt that we were not performing,” said Daoust. “We were always in the game, always close to the game but never found a way to put the puck in.”
Nicole Gosling, a native of London, Ont., was the first Canadian drafted, taken fourth overall by the Montreal Victoire. The Ottawa Charge, who were looking to rebuild its depleted blue line, selected American defender Rory Guilday, from Cornell University. Guilday describes herself as a physical, shutdown defender. Defending champions Minnesota Frost added Canadian blueliner Kendall Cooper.
With its first ever draft pick Vancouver selected 35-year-old veteran Michelle Karvinen.
Karvinen, who spent four years playing at the University of North Dakota, 2010-2014, is a three-time Olympic bronze medallist, a Russian league champion and a four-time Swedish Women’s Hockey League champion and is excited at the prospect of helping Vancouver launch its new franchise.
“I’m very familiar with like starting from zero,” admitted Karvinen. “So, I feel like that would be one of the things I can definitely give to the team and then obviously on the ice I’ve pretty much been through any situation because I’ve played a long time.”
Karvinen will also be reunited with Vancouver head coach Brian Idalski, who recruited the Finish superstar to North Dakota 15 years ago.
Rounding out the top eight was Canadian forward Jenna Buglioni, Seattle’s first-ever selection. A native of Port Moody, B.C., Buglioni is looking forward to playing close to home and seeing the pro league expand out west.
Unlike other leagues that use the draft to develop young players most franchises were looking for players who can make an immediate impact.
With the final selection of the night Vancouver selected Chanreet Bassi, a forward for the University of British Columbia making her the lone player chosen from a Canadian university hockey program.
“USports doesn’t get the recognition it deserves,” said Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey. “They have a lot of really, really great players.”
A number of trades took place throughout the evening including Toronto sending goaltender Kristen Campbell to Vancouver for the 16th and 23rd overall picks.
Having already acquired goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer through the expansion draft, Gardner Morey now believes Vancouver has the best tandem in the league.
The Victoire acquired forward Abby Roque from New York in exchange for forward Kristin O’Neill and the 28th overall pick.
POKE CHECKS: Montreal Victoire general manager Daniele Sauvageau received a warm round of applause for her induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category. … Forward Abby Hustler, drafted 14th overall by the Minnesota Frost, became the first player drafted from P.E.I.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025.
Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press
