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National Post

Ottawa Charge add big American defender, high scoring Russian with first picks in PWHL draft

The Ottawa Charge focused on size and character with their first pick in Tuesday's PWHL draft. Article content Selecting fifth overall, the Charge took Rory Guilday, a 5-foot-11, left-shooting defender who was the captain of Cornell last season. Article content Article content As expected, Guilday was welcomed not just with a rousing roar but chants of 'Rory' by the 600 mostly Charge fans attending the draft in the sparkling Hard Rock Live theatre at Ottawa's new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Article content 'I think I might have blacked out for a second, it was quite surreal,' Guilday, a native of Chanhassen, MN, said of the moment. 'I needed to take a breath and hug my parents … and my agent, as well. It takes a village, and sharing that moment with them was very special.' Article content Guilday didn't have to think long when asked if she had ever heard so many people chant her name, Article content 'I can't say that I have,' she said. 'It's a pretty cool feeling. If you ask me.' Article content Guilday isn't expected to bring a lot of offence to the Charge — in 30 games last season, she had five goals, four assists and 22 penalty minutes, along with a — but she is known as strong defender who anchored the blue line of a Cornell team that was one of the best defensive teams in the NCAA. Article content She also won a gold medal with the U.S. at the 2024 women's world championships. Article content 'I like to play a physical and fast game and shut down (opponent's defensively,' she said. 'I like to be reliable.' Article content Guilday's character was evident at a young age when she overcame a serious life obstacle. Article content Article content Article content 'In eighth grade, I found out I had a tumor on my optic nerve that was impacting my vision in my right eye, and they didn't want it to affect my other eye and wipe out my vision completely,' she said. 'So I did nine months of chemotherapy, when I was playing hockey and soccer at the time, and I kind of had to put those on hold and take the year off and try to take care of myself. I think I came out stronger on the other side. I lost some of my vision in my right eye, but it's pretty incredible what the body can do. I don't even notice it these days, my left eye just took over.' Article content Article content In the second round, the Charge took Anna Shokhina, a 27-year-old forward regarded as one of Russia's premier hockey players. Playing with the Dynamo-Neva St. Petersburg 'A' team last season, Shokhina had 30 goals and 43 assists in 42 regular-season games, and nine goals and seven assists in 16 playoff games. Article content Shokhina, who doesn't speak English, did not attend the draft.