Latest news with #HaleyWinn
Washington Post
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Hard work and 35,000 practice shots pay off for Clarkson defenseman Haley Winn entering PWHL draft
As accustomed as Matt Desrosiers was to seeing defenseman Haley Winn take one attempt after another at the RapidShot machine inside Clarkson's training facility during her freshman season four years ago, the Golden Knights coach was stunned upon learning the final tally. How does 35,000 shots sound? 'We actually had people from RapidShot grab us at the coaches' convention and tell us they hadn't seen anything like it,' Desrosiers said. 'And that's not including the pucks she went on the ice and shot extra, too. She's just the most dedicated athlete we've been fortunate enough to have.'
Associated Press
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Hard work and 35,000 practice shots pay off for Clarkson defenseman Haley Winn entering PWHL draft
As accustomed as Matt Desrosiers was to seeing defenseman Haley Winn take one attempt after another at the RapidShot machine inside Clarkson's training facility during her freshman season four years ago, the Golden Knights coach was stunned upon learning the final tally. How does 35,000 shots sound? 'We actually had people from RapidShot grab us at the coaches' convention and tell us they hadn't seen anything like it,' Desrosiers said. 'And that's not including the pucks she went on the ice and shot extra, too. She's just the most dedicated athlete we've been fortunate enough to have.' The 21-year-old Winn laughed at the memory. 'Yeah, that sounds pretty accurate,' she said. 'I could stay at the rink all day just because that's what I enjoy doing. I don't have to force myself to do it.' The relentless work translated into Winn completing her college career ranking second among Clarkson defensemen with 130 career points (37 goals, 93 assists), seven behind Erin Ambrose at the school in upstate New York. It helped Winn, at 19, land a spot on the U.S. national team, with her already winning two gold medals in three world championship appearances. And she's considered a top-three pick entering the eight-team, six-round PWHL draft in Ottawa on Tuesday. 'It doesn't even feel real that my name should be up there,' said Winn, who got her start at 3 on her father's backyard rink in Rochester, New York. 'When I was that young, really, all I wanted to do was go to the Olympics,' added Winn, who has an opportunity to achieve that dream at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February. 'As I grew older, I realized the steps to get there and what it was going to take. So yeah, it's just awesome.' Sirens have No. 1 pick The New York Sirens hold the No. 1 pick for a second straight year, followed by the Boston Fleet and Toronto Sceptres. Next year's expansion teams, Vancouver and Seattle, pick seventh and eighth, respectively.. Rounding out the top prospects are Colgate forward Kristyna Kaltounkova, who is from the Czech Republic and could be the first European chosen first; and Wisconsin forward Casey O'Brien, this season's Patty Kazmaier Award winner as women's college hockey's MVP. The prevailing consensus has the Sirens looking for a forward to complement last year's No. 1 pick, Sarah Fillier, who finished tied for the PWHL lead with 29 points. New York's offense took a hit in the PWHL's expansion process by losing forwards Alex Carpenter and Jessie Eldridge. They combined for 20 of the team's PWHL-low 71 goals last season. Meantime, New York is deep at defense with the return of Ella Shelton, Maja Nylan Persson and Micah Zandee-Hart. Not ruling out D New York GM Pascal Daoust acknowledged a need at forward, while refusing to rule out targeting a defenseman at No. 1. 'Thinking that it automatically means we go forward is probably not covering all the angles, knowing me,' Daoust said, referring to potential trade opportunities. 'There's still a lot that can still be done between June and November.' Sirens coach Greg Fargo previously coached Kaltounkova at Colgate, where he also faced Winn in ECAC competition. At 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, the 23-year-old Kaltounkova brings a physical style with offensive flair. She finished her five-year college career with 233 points (111 goals, 122 assists) and 218 penalty minutes in 171 games. The only potential blemish was the ECAC assessing Kaltounkova a two-game suspension for an undisclosed reason in February 2024, after which she missed two more games to, as the school put it, 'step away from the team.' Kaltounkova staying grounded Kaltounkova told the Rinkside Rundown podcast last week she's doing her best to stay grounded in approaching the draft. 'There's moments where I'm like, `Oh my god, what if this and what if that?′ And then I pause and just like, `I can't think about that.′ Like, that would just bring me down a rabbit hole,' she said. 'It kind of fuels me because it's either people hyping you up and cheering you on, or it's people criticizing you. And both things motivate me so much.' Kaltounkova had four goals and six points in her world championship tournament debut on home ice in April. 'She's coming with speed, she's coming with physicality, she's coming with a great shot — a PWHL shot-level quality,' Daoust said of Kaltounkova. As for Winn, Daoust noted her puck-moving ability and defensive presence. 'Great person, great leader, so a lot of positives under her name,' he said. Winn reflected on her younger days in joining her three older brothers on the family's rink. 'They never wanted me to play because I was the little sister. But I think I've earned my spot now,' Winn said. 'Obviously, they were pretty tough on me. But that's what made me who I am today.' ___ AP women's hockey:
New York Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
PWHL draft ranking 2025: Casey O'Brien, Haley Winn highlight the list
The 2025 Professional Women's Hockey League draft is fast approaching. On Tuesday night, 48 of the best available players will be selected by the league's eight teams — which now includes Seattle and Vancouver — across six rounds. Nearly 200 players declared for this year's draft, hoping to join the PWHL from the NCAA, USports, European leagues and more. Advertisement Unlike the last two years, with national team stars Taylor Heise and Sarah Fillier, the class of 2025 doesn't quite have an undisputed No. 1 pick. Instead, the draft is led by a trio of elite college players: Patty Kazmaier Award winner Casey O'Brien, U.S. defender Haley Winn and Czech national team forward Kristýna Kaltounková. The margins are razor thin between the three, and one could reasonably make a case for each to go No. 1 to the New York Sirens. The team needs a top center to replace Alex Carpenter (O'Brien), but also seems intent on building a superteam on the blue line (Winn). And we can't forget New York's head coach left Colgate — where he coached Kaltounková for four years — for the PWHL. We have our own opinion on who is the top prospect, but it's still anyone's guess what New York GM Pascal Daoust might do, which adds plenty of intrigue to draft night. Other top players include a pair of defenders in Nicole Gosling and Rory Guilday, as well as Finnish star forward Michelle Karvinen. The consensus around the league is that the draft starts to thin outside of the top two rounds. There's still talent to be had into the later rounds, especially for teams that need depth after the expansion draft, but selections will quickly come down to GM preference. The Athletic canvassed several coaches, general managers and agents from the PWHL and the NCAA when compiling this list, but the evaluations and rankings are strictly our own. Here's a look at the top 40 players available in the 2025 PWHL Draft. O'Brien was the No. 1 center on the best team in the NCAA last season and was 'the best player in college hockey,' according to Wisconsin Badgers coach Mark Johnson. She won the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award, was named WCHA Player and Forward of the Year, and led the NCAA in scoring with 88 points in 41 games, all en route to a third national championship. It was the highest-scoring season in almost a decade – since Alex Carpenter scored 88 points in 2016 for Boston College – and set a new Badgers' single-season points record, passing Meghan Duggan's 87 points in 2010-11. O'Brien is an excellent playmaker who reads the game at an advanced level and has phenomenal vision and hands as a passer – she had more assists last season (62) than most players in the country had points. O'Brien is defensively responsible, can play in all situations, is strong in the faceoff circle, and is able to make an impact on every shift. She might not have ideal size for the PWHL game, but she's a strong skater and athlete who can attack defenders with her speed and skill. Winn is the top defender available in the draft and a dynamic offensive talent. She was a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award this season and was named ECAC Player and Defender of the Year. Winn was the second-highest scoring defender in the nation — behind Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey — set career highs in goals (14) and assists (32) and led the Golden Knights in scoring with 46 points in 38 games. Winn has been a regular on Team USA's blue line over the last three years and is considered one of the top young defenders in the women's game. Winn is an excellent skater and really gifted with the puck when she makes plays on the offensive blue line. She makes a good first pass, but also carries a ton of pucks out of the zone. She likes to use her skating to activate into the rush or jump off the line into the high slot. She's not the most physical defender, but she defends with her footwork, stick and timing at a very high level. She projects as a top-four defender who can drive offense and transition play in the PWHL. Kaltounková is a physically dominant forward with the hardest shot in the draft class. She was top-10 in goals in the NCAA this season and tied for the scoring lead for Czechia in her women's world championship debut in April. Kaltounková finished her career at Colgate with program records in goals (111) and game-winning goals (19), and finished just six points shy of the record in points, which is held by Danielle Serdachny, who was drafted second overall last season. She establishes her presence over the course of a game by winning battles along the wall, playing through contact, getting her shot off from the slot and going to the net, where she has good hands and uses her frame to take away goalies' eyes. She's also a strong skater and excellent on the breakout. Kaltounková fits the pro mold and her physical style of play will likely benefit from the PWHL's rules. Gosling has been a top-pair defender at Clarkson alongside Winn, and one of the best defenders in college hockey over the last few seasons. She finished her college career as the highest-scoring defender in Clarkson Golden Knights history, and ranks second in points-per-game (.84) only behind 2024 PWHL Defender of the Year Erin Ambrose. The gap between Gosling and Winn isn't huge, as they're both elite two-way, point-producing defenders, but they go about the game a bit differently. Winn is the more dynamic skater, while Gosling plays a more cerebral, heads-up game and can control the pace of the game from the back end — similar to Ambrose. Gosling closes gaps well with her positioning and active stick, and can play with a bit of snarl and physicality when she's defending the net front or battling for pucks along the walls. She projects to be a good top-four defender in the PWHL. Guilday is an excellent defensive defender who projects to be a very good pro. As captain at Cornell last season, Guilday anchored the blue line on one of the best defensive teams in the nation (1.46 goals against). She also won three medals at women's worlds, including gold in 2024, as a member of Team USA. Guilday has good size and defends at an elite level. She plays good gaps, keeps stick-on-puck, and defends the rush well. She does well to take away time and space from opposing forwards and isn't afraid to play the body. Guilday doesn't offer a ton of offense, but moves pucks well enough and can contribute with a strong shot. Cherkowski is a versatile forward who can play center and both wings and was an impact player at Clarkson. She's a good penalty killer, could play the net front or flank on the power play and finished fifth in points among college players in this year's draft, with 45 in 40 games. Cherkowski's game does not lack dimension. She skates well and can get up and down the ice in transition. She's smart on and off the puck and can handle physicality in the tough areas of the ice. Cherkowski could be a Swiss Army Knife-type player for a PWHL team, with the ability to play a top-six role or be a reliable third-line checking center. Mlynkova is a gifted goal scorer with big-time international experience, having represented Czechia at six women's world championships and the 2022 Olympics. After four solid seasons at the University of Vermont, she transferred to the University of Minnesota for her fifth year of eligibility and proved herself at the WCHA level with 16 goals and 34 points — good for second and third on the Golden Gophers. Mlynkova and teammate Ella Huber are pretty close on the ranking, and will likely come down to a general manager's preference. Mlynkova is a talented goal scorer who is agile, slippery with the puck and can escape small areas. She's a smaller forward, but isn't afraid to go to the net and get bumped by larger defenders. She plays hard and smart off the puck and would fit well on a team that needs a top-six scoring winger. Huber is a versatile 200-foot forward and the third-highest scoring college player in the draft after scoring a career-high 48 points this season. She might not be a star herself but she can be a reliable center beside one, which she's shown over almost a decade playing beside Abbey Murphy. Huber has good speed and finish to her game and has no problem going to the dirty areas of the ice to gain possession and make plays. She's a smart player who reads the game at an advanced level and knows how to play off of her linemates. Huber is strong on faceoffs and should be able to play up and down the lineup in the PWHL. Cooper's offensive ability, at least for some teams, could push her ahead of Rory Guilday, who only scored nine points last season, but they would be giving up some size and shutdown ability in return. Cooper, the third-highest scoring college defender in the draft, isn't quite as dynamic as Winn or Gosling, but has decent individual skill, walks the line well and is willing to jump into the rush. She gets her shots through from the offensive blue line and makes a good first pass out of the zone. She can defend well and uses her stick to break up a lot of plays. Cooper projects as a solid two-way depth defender. Karvinen is one of the best European forwards of all time, and will add a (skilled) veteran presence to a team's top nine. She became Finland's leading scorer at women's worlds, ahead of Hockey Hall of Fame forward Riikka Sallinen, and remained highly productive in the SDHL with 21 goals and 35 points in 32 games this season. Where most players slow down noticeably as they get older, Karvinen skates well enough for the PWHL level, playing with pace on the forecheck and in pursuit of the puck. She's a smart, heady player with a nose for the net and good hands in tight. She could be drafted anywhere in the first few rounds as teams look to fill holes at the top of their lineup. At 35, she won't play as long as the majority of 2025 draft picks, but general managers will know exactly what they get in Karvinen, unlike some of the depth players coming out of the NCAA. Buglioni is a cerebral player and a hard-working center who can be relied upon in all three zones. She won two national championships with the Buckeyes and leaves OSU as the program's leader in game-winning goals and tied for the record in shorthanded goals. Her numbers didn't always pop on deep teams, but she broke 40 points twice and finished her college career right around a point per game. Buglioni plays with pace and is a competitor who finds ways to make things happen, despite being on the smaller side. She should be able to play up and down a PWHL lineup. Hustler was named a top 10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award after a breakout 2024 season, where she led the Saints in goals (24), assists (31) and points (55) — and outscored Toronto Sceptres first-rounder Julia Gosling. This season, Hustler led the team in scoring by 14 points (39 to her nearest teammate's 25). She has good size, protects pucks well and should be able to play through the extra contact in the PWHL. She's got a pro shot and good feel around the net. And while she's not the quickest skater, it's not a major concern. Hustler projects as a middle-six power forward. Zanon started her college career at Penn State, where she was the 2021 National Rookie of the Year and became the first Nittany Lion to be named a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. She finished her career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, winning a national championship in 2024, and as a more than point-per-game player. She also played for Team USA at the December Six Nations tournament, and scored two massive goals to get to the gold medal game. Zanon is a crafty player with evasiveness on the puck and a deceptive release. And though she's not the biggest, she plays a determined game and should be able to contribute in the PWHL. Webster is easily a top-15 player based on merit, with two national championships and an NCAA tournament MVP under her belt. But she's also an elite field hockey player and a member of the U.S. National Team with her eyes on the 2028 summer Olympics. If she were to play in the PWHL, it could be for as little as one season before fully committing to field hockey training, which could move her down some draft boards. On the ice, though, Webster has high-end speed that helps her track, get to pucks, win foot races, and create off the rush. She plays on strong instincts, jumps on opportunities, works hard and can catch your eye when she's bursting around the ice. After Guilday and Cooper are off the board, there won't be a ton of top — pro ready — defenders remaining. Jobst-Smith is one of them, though, which could make her a riser on draft-day. She's a smart, well-rounded defender, puck moving defender who can skate and has top-level international experience, playing for Germany at women's worlds and Olympic qualifiers. Jobst-Smith walks the line well and can make plays on outlets or zone exits. She's not super physical but she defends hard and smart. Irving was the Huskies' No. 1 center and leading scorer in each of the last two seasons, putting together back-to-back 30-plus point campaigns. She's a strong skater with an ability to drive down the ice and attack, win races, and track pucks inside the offensive zone. She can score in the slot with a good mid-range shot and can finish plays with good hands around the net. Irving is a hard-worker and could be an elite bottom-six checking forward who could add valuable secondary scoring in the PWHL. Van Wieren is a physically imposing center, fiercely competitive and coming off a career-high 17 goals and 40 goals as a fifth-year, tying for the UMD lead in scoring. She's poised with the puck, has a heavy shot and wins a lot of puck battles. Van Wieren was a huge part of both of Minnesota-Duluth's special teams this season, and was first over the boards in moments that mattered most, playing 24 minutes a night. Her size and well-rounded toolkit gives her a solid bottom-six profile in the PWHL. Murphy has been one of the cornerstones of Colgate's program for the last four years and was named co-captain of the team this year. In her first three seasons, she challenged Kayle Osborne, who was drafted 28th overall in last year's PWHL draft, for starts and turned the depth chart into a tandem. This year, the starters crease was hers, and she was outstanding with a .939 save percentage that is consistent with Murphy's career .937 save percentage. Murphy is a good sized, athletic, and technically sound goalie who plays sharp angles, controls her rebounds well, and can go post-to-post or low-to-high with her quickness. Goalies are hard to project, but with the expansion goalie shuffle, Murphy could be a solid mid-round pick — and is our No. 1 goalie in this class. Hjalmarsson went undrafted last season, but with so many holes on original six rosters after the PWHL Expansion draft, she's more likely to hear her name called this time around. She was Linköping's captain as a rookie in 2023-24 playing to above a point per game and centering their top line. This season, she was less productive in the SDHL but had her best showing at women's worlds scoring five points in six games while wearing an 'A' for Sweden. Hjalmarsson is good at the net front with an ability to take pucks on her forehand or backhand and quickly put them upstairs. She handles and protects the puck really well for a taller player and shows good offensive instincts. Hjalmarsson should get picked up and we could see her having a good career in the PWHL. Mobley had an interesting college career. She spent her first three seasons at Quinnipiac and led the Bobcats in scoring as both a sophomore and junior. She then transferred to Ohio State, won a national championship in more of a depth role, and transferred again to play her fifth year of eligibility closer to home at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. At UMD, she led the Bulldogs in with a career-high 19 goals, which is tied for fourth (with Hustler) among college players in the draft. Mobley has good size, speed and a good shot. She wins battles and protects pucks well and could fit in nicely as a bottom-six secondary scorer. Gentry is a pro-sized two-way center with a nose for the net and a knack for banging home chances around the crease. She plays to her identity as a physical competitor, with a hard game that should be well suited for the PWHL. She gets to the net front, battles for pucks, and is a reliable defensive player who can take a lot of draws. Her feet are a little heavy but she's strong on her skates, she outmuscles opponents on the cycle, and she plays a simple, effective game. Gentry could find herself in the top-20 mix in this relatively shallow draft class, given her skillset fits a desirable depth mold in the PWHL. And if teams want someone who can bang around in their bottom-six, they probably won't find anyone better than Gentry. Hemp was a consistent top-six forward at Minnesota and a two-year captain, averaging around 30 points per season. She played all situations for the Golden Gophers and generated offense while mostly playing without the dynamic Huber-Murphy at five-on-five. Hemp is a natural right-shot, but can play both wings and take faceoffs. She's a smart player and tied with Mlynkova — a potential top-10 pick — with 16 goals last season. She played on the U.S. collegiate team and could move up closer to Tier 3 if GMs see her as a comparable forward to Buglioni, Zanon and Co. While Newhook's production at BC doesn't jump off the page, she was one of their three leading scorers in four straight seasons, was a successful linemate of Boston Fleet star Hannah Bilka early in her college career, and was a co-captain of the Eagles in her final two seasons. Newhook is a really smart player with good skill. She was a prominent penalty killer for the Eagles and plays a committed two-way game at the center-ice position, though the faceoff circle isn't a major strength. She projects as an effective bottom-sixer. Wallin is the third in a trio of forwards from UMD last season and finished tied for the team lead in scoring with Van Wieren (40 points). She might be the most natural goal scorer out of the UMD forwards, with a nice shot and ability to find pucks in the slot, but there's a bigger question mark on how she might progress at the next level than her teammates. Still, she's a good player who worked to get into her scoring positions last season and could be a pro. Upson is only 21 years old and had four very productive years at Mercyhurst, registering 147 points in 148 games. She led the Lakers in scoring with 43 points in 38 games last season, which is sixth among college players in the draft and more than Tier 3 players — such as Buglioni and Hustler — above her. The AHA conference is on the weaker side compared to the WCHA, but Mercyhurst and Penn State are solid programs, and she was one of the top players in the conference during her time with the Lakers. Upson's game is all about two-way smarts. She's excellent in the faceoff circle. She sees the ice really well with and without the puck. She's got a natural release and very good feel as a passer. She was consistent shift-to-shift and game-to-game in our viewings. She's not a burner as a skater, but she can play with pace. Neitzke put up good numbers on a bad Lindenwood team and is one of the more intriguing forwards in the bottom 15. Her 26 points in 32 games led her team in scoring by 12 points last year — her nearest teammate had just 14 points, the same number of goals she had. Neitzke can create her own offense at a high rate and has a big-time shot — and should benefit from playing with a better cast around her where she can focus on getting open and going to the net as a secondary scorer. She's also got the competitiveness and the jam needed to play in the PWHL. Ross is a good defensive defender coming out of a strong St. Cloud system that prioritizes being hard on pucks and a pain to play against. She's an ultra-competitive, physically involved and effective right-shot D who has been one of the country's top shot blockers. Ross is strong for her size and wins a lot of battles with her strength and power. She can also, at the very least, chip in on offense thanks to a very hard point shot. Ross projects as a sturdy third-pairing defender who can be relied upon in all three zones. Wozniewicz's stats don't stand up against the other NCAA players ranked here but she was one of the best checking forwards in college hockey and played that role so effectively that there's some belief out there that she can be a good fourth-liner in the PWHL — similar to Gentry but with slightly more skill. Wozniewicz can skate well and uses her size and feet to be an effective, high-energy forechecker. She wins battles, can play the physical game and has a hard shot. Wozniewicz scored the game-winning goal with 24.5 seconds left in the WCHA Finals for the Wisconsin Badgers, which proved not only her finishing ability, but also the trust her coaching staff had in her in a massive moment. Her game lacks dimension and playmaking, but she's effective at what she does and could be worth a mid-to-late-round selection. Reilly did not play hockey last year, but was one of the most productive defenders in the country in 2023-24, and was among our favorite players before realizing she didn't declare for the draft. She's in the mix this year, and should be considered now that she's ready to return to her playing career. Reilly wore the 'C' for Quinnipiac, played big minutes and scored a career-high 10 goals as the team's leading scorer in 2023-24. Her 39 points in her final year were more than double her previous career high (19) in college. So, whether it was a new trend for Reilly or just one highly productive season is a fair question. But she's a hard worker with good offensive instincts and a big one-timer, which gives her some offensive upside at the next level. Her play defensively isn't as strong as some of the other defenders in this tier and comes with some leaks. She projects as a depth defender and potential second-unit power-play type in the PWHL. Labad was a consistent producer for Quinnipiac over the last three seasons and played for Canada's national collegiate team at Six Nations. She's a good skater who is fast in straight lines and can win races and capitalize on opportunities to attack down ice. She protects pucks well and can put the puck in the net with a natural and hard release. She's probably not going to be a penalty killer at the next level and she's not a natural playmaker, so she'll have to carve out a niche as a secondary scorer if she wants to play in the PWHL. But she has the tools and the makeup to be that type of player — a bottom-six shooter who can provide depth offense as a scorer and play well off of a pass-first linemate. Brengman won two national titles with the Buckeyes and was a veteran leader on the team as a fifth-year senior after eight teammates were drafted in 2024. Brengman scored a career-best 19 points in 40 games and averaged around 24 minutes per game, including more than three minutes per game on the penalty kill, which led all Buckeyes. Brengman is a strong skater, especially going forward, which helps her get up into the play in transition. She doesn't have a ton of skill on the puck, but plays a smart two-way game that should make her a capable third-pairing D option in the PWHL. Baskin was a go-to player in all situations for the Bulldogs over the last two years. She was a top penalty killer for the team and led all UMD defenders in points as a junior and senior. Baskin is a smooth skater and comfortable puck handler who can side-step pressure and play on her toes in the offensive zone. Defensively, while she's not the strongest or most physical player, Baskin has a good stick, uses her edges to maintain a good gap and plays a smart all-around game. She should be in the mix to get picked and has several pro qualities. Lobdell leaves the Nittany Lions as the program's all-time leader in games played (168), goals by a defender (20), points by a defender (84) and penalty minutes by a defender (139). In her final year of eligibility last season, she led Penn State in plus-minus (plus-36) and blocked shots (46), and set a new career high with 21 points in 38 games. Lobdell averaged 22 minutes a night, was first over the boards on the penalty kill and contributed on the power play as the team's second-most productive D. Lobdell plays a physical, competitive, hard-nosed defensive style, playing the body and challenging opposing players in battles. She also has a hard shot and is comfortable attacking past the first layer into the zone. Her feet could stand to be a little quicker, but she's an average skater who could be a sturdy depth defender. A star in Russia, Shokhina has led their top level in scoring six times, has been named league MVP once, and led their regular season and playoffs in scoring again this season with 30 goals and 73 points in 42 games. She's a bit tricky to evaluate due to the varied quality of the ZhHL and the PWHL, so there's a question about how her game might translate to North America. She also hasn't played at a best-on-best international event since Russia's last international competition at the 2022 Olympics. Shokhina played in three U18 worlds, racking up 14 goals and 19 points in 16 games and once led the tournament in goals as a 15-year-old. But that was also 12 years ago. All that said, Shokhina looks like a skilled attacking winger, who plays quickly, skates well, has great hands and can really shoot it. Drafting her comes with some risk but her talent level makes her a worthwhile late-round bet. After four years at Bemidji, Hunt transferred to Minnesota Duluth and led the Bulldogs in scoring with 18 goals and 34 points in 39 games in her fifth year of eligibility in 2023-24. She started 2024-25 on a tear with Lulea in the SDHL, ripping off five goals, 21 shots, and eight points before tearing both her ACL and MCL in just her sixth game to end her first pro season. Still, it wouldn't be surprising to see a team take a late-round flier on Hunt. She's a strong skater who can round corners quickly, attack into space, and really shoot the puck. She plays quickly and intentionally on offense and can push pace and challenge defenders. Hunt should be ready for next season and is worth a look as a potential up-and-down-the-lineup player who could be a shooter on a team's second power play and a potential contributor at five-on-five. Ahola has been Finland's No. 1 goalie at women's worlds the last few years and won back-to-back bronze medals. She looked human this year, but was unbelievable at 2024 worlds, making the third-most saves (169) in the tournament to get Finland back on the podium. She was named WCHA Goalie of the Year in 2023-24 after posting five shutouts and a .935 save percentage. Ahola had a down year at St. Cloud this season, with a .917 save percentage, but she leaves the program as its all-time wins leader and should be a solid pick for a team looking to shore up its goalie depth chart. Poniatovskaia's numbers on a low-scoring Yale team don't tell the full story of her skill level. She's an individually skilled defender who is confident with the puck on her stick, has slick hands, likes to take opposing players one-on-one, and can attack into the slot and make plays around the net. She's more of an individual playmaker than a facilitator, but she's got legit skill and offensive instincts. Defensively, she also has good size, breaks up her fair share of plays, and can move well. Her challenge at the pro level is going to come down to opportunity. She's probably not going to quarterback most teams' top power plays over the stars in the PWHL. And she's not a natural penalty-killing type, so she may just have to be a depth five-on-five defender who can make some plays with the puck. Bargman, Yale's captain this season, is a two-way forward who can be counted upon in all situations. She works, she's reliable defensively, she plays the net front well and scores a lot of goals right at the top of the crease. She doesn't have dynamic skill, playmaking or speed, but Bargman is a smart, well-rounded player who could play a bottom-six role. Segedi was captain of St. Lawrence as a fifth-year senior this season and has international experience playing for China at women's worlds and at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. She's an extremely smart center who makes her linemates better and is elite in the faceoff circle — she often took 20-25 faceoffs a game in college and won upwards of 60 percent of them. She has good hands and touch on the puck. And while she lacks size, Segedi uses her smarts to anticipate and support the play at a high level off the puck. She warrants draft consideration. After four seasons and two national championships at Wisconsin, Wheeler played her fifth year of eligibility at Ohio State and lost in the national championship to her old school. Her production in college doesn't leap off the page at you, but she has been an important player on deep teams and still finished her NCAA career with four consecutive seasons above 20 points. She played on both special teams for the Buckeyes and Badgers and was a consistent game-to-game contributor at five-on-five who logged 19-20 minutes per game as a forward. Wheeler is on the small side, but she's more skilled than her point totals indicate. She's got quick feet, she tracks pucks and she plays a smart, heady game. She could be a decent depth option worth a late-round pick. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos: Chris Tanouye, Gil Talbot / Getty Images)
