Sirens select Czech star Kaltounkova first overall in PWHL draft
OTTAWA - The New York Sirens selected Kristyna Kaltounkova of Vlasim, Czechia, with the first pick in Tuesday's Professional Women's Hockey League draft, held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
The 23-year-old forward made her women's worlds debut for the host nation and was named a 2025 tournament all-star.
She became the first Czech to be named a Patty Kazmaier Award finalist, recording 48 points in 37 games for the Colgate University Raiders, and finished her NCAA tenure as the program's all-time leading goal scorer with 111, and second in career points with 233.
The Sirens finished last and missed the playoffs this past season with 37 points — eight wins, four overtime wins, five overtime losses and 13 losses.
The Boston Fleet selected defender Haley Winn of Rochester, N.Y., with the second pick. The 21-year-old Winn lead the Clarkson University Golden Knights in scoring this year and finished second among defenders with 14 goals and 32 assists. She recently played at her third straight worlds for Team USA, winning a second gold medal to go along with her 2024 silver.
The Sirens picked third after making a deal with the Toronto Sceptres and took forward Casey O'Brien of the University of Wisconsin. O'Brien capped an impressive NCAA career as a three-time national champion, Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipient, and First Team all-American.
The Badgers' co-captain set a program single-season record in 2024-25 with 88 points, including 26 goals, in 41 games. She finished her five years as Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer with 274 points — including 97 goals — in 182 games — a title previously held by Hilary Knight.
The Montreal Victoire selected defender Nicole Gosling of Clarkson University with the fourth pick. The 23-year-old from London, Ont., is the Golden Knights' all-time leading scorer among defenders with 148 points (including 104 assists) in 170 career games in five seasons.
Gosling won gold representing Canada at the 2024 women's world championship, alongside her cousin Julia Gosling, who just wrapped up her rookie season in the PWHL.
The Ottawa Charge picked Cornell University defender Rory Guilday with the fifth pick. The 22-year-old from Chanhassen, Minn., capped a four-year tenure with the Big Red producing 52 points in 106 games and earned All-Ivy League honours on three occasions including two straight First-Team nods.
In 2024-25, the two-year captain helped deliver her program's first ECAC title since 2014. The five-foot-11 defender is a three-time medallist with Team USA at the world championships, winning gold in 2023 and two silver medals in 2022 and 2024.
The Minnesota Frost selected Canadian defender Kendall Cooper of Quinnipiac University with the sixth pick. The 23-year-old from Oakville, Ont., recorded 116 points in 158 career games for the Bobcats. As captain in 2024-25, she finished third on the team with 26 points in 37 games, and was named the 2024-25 recipient of the Wayne Dean Sportsmanship Award.
Cooper was twice named one of Canada's top three players at the U18 Worlds, winning gold in 2019 and silver in 2020 as a tournament all-star and team captain.
The expansion Vancouver squad selected forward Michelle Karvinen of Frolunda HC with the seventh pick. The 35-year-old is a four-time Olympian (three Bronze) and an eight-time medallist in 12 world championships representing Finland.
In April, Karvinen became her country's all-time leading scorer in the world tournament with 62 points. The former North Dakota captain has won professional titles in Switzerland's SWHL, Russia's ZhHL, and four times in Sweden's SDHL including last year with Frölunda HC where she tallied 35 points in 32 games and added 12 points in 11 playoff games.
And the expansion Seattle squad, with the eighth and final pick of the first round, selected Canadian forward Jenna Buglioni. The 23-year-old from Port Moody, B.C., won two national championships in five seasons with the Ohio State University Buckeyes, with 166 points in 170 career games.
As captain in 2024-25, she had her most productive season with 20 goals, including a record seven game-winners, and 51 points in 44 games. She earned silver with Canada at the 2020 U18 worlds and was named a tournament all-star.
Forty-eight players will be selected by the league's eight teams over six rounds.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2025.
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