# 2023 PWHL draft

The 2023 PWHL draft was the first draft in Professional Women's Hockey League history, and took place on September 18, 2023, at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Taylor Heise was the first player chosen in the draft, selected by Minnesota. In all, 90 players were selected over 15 rounds of drafting.

## List of Eligible Players

286 eligible players from 17 different countries declared for the inaugural PWHL draft.

### Top NCAA/U Sports prospects

    Source: The Hockey News ranking (September 5, 2023).
| Ranking | Player | School |
| 1 | Taylor Heise (F) | Minnesota Golden Gophers |
| 2 | Alina Muller (F) | Northeastern Huskies |
| 3 | Sophie Jaques (D) | Ohio State Buckeyes |
| 4 | Emma Maltais (F) | Ohio State Buckeyes |
| 5 | Emma Soderberg (G) | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |
| 6 | Grace Zumwinkle (F) | Minnesota Golden Gophers |
| 7 | Chloe Aurard (F) | Northeastern Huskies |
| 8 | Jesse Compher (F) | Wisconsin Badgers |
| 9 | Gabbie Hughes (F) | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |
| 10 | Ashton Bell (D) | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |

## Format

The draft consisted of 15 rounds. The order of picks in the first round was decided by using a computerized list randomizer during a video conference call with all 6 team's general managers. In the second round this order was reversed, so the team with the 6th pick would also receive the 7th pick, whilst the team with first overall pick would not pick again until the 12th pick (last pick in the second round). The order would continue alternating in each subsequent round, producing a 'snaking' order.
The final draft order was:
* Minnesota
* Toronto
* Boston
* New York
* Ottawa
* Montreal

## Selections by round

Picks from the 2023 Draft are listed below by round.

### Round one

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 1 | Taylor Heise (F) | United States | PWHL Minnesota | Minnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA) |
| 2 | Jocelyne Larocque (D) | Canada | PWHL Toronto | Team Adidas (PWHPA) |
| 3 | Alina Muller (C) | Switzerland | PWHL Boston | Northeastern Huskies (Hockey East) |
| 4 | Ella Shelton (D) | Canada | PWHL New York | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
| 5 | Savannah Harmon (D) | United States | PWHL Ottawa | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |
| 6 | Erin Ambrose (D) | Canada | PWHL Montreal | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |

### Round two

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 7 | Kristin O'Neill (F) | Canada | Montreal | Team Adidas (PWHPA) |
| 8 | Ashton Bell (D) | Canada | Ottawa | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA) |
| 9 | Jaime Bourbonnais (D) | Canada | New York | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
| 10 | Sophie Jaques (D) | Canada | Boston | Ohio State Buckeyes (WCHA) |
| 11 | Emma Maltais (F) | Canada | Toronto | Ohio State Buckeyes (WCHA) |
| 12 | Nicole Hensley (G) | United States | Minnesota | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |

### Round three

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 13 | Grace Zumwinkle (F) | United States | Minnesota | Minnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA) |
| 14 | Kristen Campbell (G) | Canada | Toronto | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
| 15 | Jamie Lee Rattray (F) | Canada | Boston | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |
| 16 | Jessie Eldridge (F) | Canada | New York | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |
| 17 | Jincy Roese (D) | United States | Ottawa | Team Adidas (PWHPA) |
| 18 | Maureen Murphy (F) | United States | Montreal | Northeastern Huskies (Hockey East) |

### Round four

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 19 | Dominika Laskova (D) | Czech Republic | Montreal | Toronto Six (PHF) |
| 20 | Gabbie Hughes (F) | United States | Ottawa | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA) |
| 21 | Chloe Aurard (LW) | France | New York | Northeastern Huskies (Hockey East) |
| 22 | Loren Gabel (F) | Canada | Boston | Boston Pride (PHF) |
| 23 | Natalie Spooner (F) | Canada | Toronto | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
| 24 | Maggie Flaherty (D) | United States | Minnesota | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA) |

### Round five

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 25 | Susanna Tapani (C) | Finland | Minnesota | Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays (ZhHL; 2021–22) |
| 26 | Jesse Compher (F) | United States | Toronto | Wisconsin Badgers (WCHA) |
| 27 | Hannah Brandt (C) | United States | Boston | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
| 28 | Elizabeth Giguere (RW) | Canada | New York | Boston Pride (PHF) |
| 29 | Hayley Scamurra (F) | United States | Ottawa | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |
| 30 | Kati Tabin (D) | Canada | Montreal | Toronto Six (PHF) |

### Round six

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 31 | Kennedy Marchment (RW) | Canada | Montreal | Connecticut Whale (PHF) |
| 32 | Daryl Watts (C) | Canada | Ottawa | Toronto Six (PHF) |
| 33 | Corinne Schroeder (G) | Canada | New York | Boston Pride (PHF) |
| 34 | Jessica Digirolamo (D) | Canada | Boston | Team Adidas (PWHPA) |
| 35 | Kali Flanagan (D) | United States | Toronto | Boston Pride (PHF) |
| 36 | Clair DeGeorge (F) | United States | Minnesota | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |

### Round seven

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 37 | Natalie Buchbinder (D) | United States | Minnesota | Wisconsin Badgers (WCHA) |
| 38 | Victoria Bach (F) | Canada | Toronto | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
| 39 | Theresa Schafzahl (F) | Austria | Boston | Vermont Catamounts (Hockey East) |
| 40 | Jill Saulnier (F) | Canada | New York | Team Adidas (PWHPA) |
| 41 | Aneta Tejralova (D) | Czech Republic | Ottawa | Boston Pride (PHF) |
| 42 | Tereza Vanisova (F) | Czech Republic | Montreal | Toronto Six (PHF) |

### Round eight

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 43 | Madison Bizal (D) | United States | Montreal | Ohio State Buckeyes (WCHA) |
| 44 | Katerina Mrazova (C) | Czech Republic | Ottawa | Connecticut Whale (PHF) |
| 45 | Brooke Hobson (D) | Canada | New York | Modo Hockey Dam (SDHL) |
| 46 | Emily Brown (D) | United States | Boston | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
| 47 | Brittany Howard (F) | Canada | Toronto | Toronto Six (PHF) |
| 48 | Denisa Krizova (F) | Czech Republic | Minnesota | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |

### Round nine

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 49 | Sidney Morin (D) | United States | Minnesota | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |
| 50 | Allie Munroe (D) | Canada | Toronto | Connecticut Whale (PHF) |
| 51 | Taylor Girard (F) | United States | Boston | Connecticut Whale (PHF) |
| 52 | Jade Downie-Landry (F) | Canada | New York | Montreal Force (PHF) |
| 53 | Zoe Boyd (D) | Canada | Ottawa | Quinnipiac Bobcats (ECAC) |
| 54 | Gabrielle David (C) | Canada | Montreal | Clarkson Golden Knights (ECAC) |

### Round ten

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 55 | Maude Poulin-Labelle (D) | Canada | Montreal | Northeastern Huskies (Hockey East) |
| 56 | Kristin Della Rovere (C) | Canada | Ottawa | Harvard Crimson (ECAC) |
| 57 | Paetyn Levis (F) | United States | New York | Ohio State Buckeyes (WCHA) |
| 58 | Emma Söderberg (G) | Sweden | Boston | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (WCHA) |
| 59 | Mellissa Channell (D) | Canada | Toronto | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |
| 60 | Sophia Kunin (F) | United States | Minnesota | Team Harvey's (PWHPA) |

### Round eleven

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 61 | Amanda Leveille (G) | Canada | Minnesota | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |
| 62 | Maggie Connors (F) | Canada | Toronto | Princeton Tigers (ECAC) |
| 63 | Sophie Shirley (F) | Canada | Boston | Wisconsin Badgers (WCHA) |
| 64 | Abbey Levy (G) | United States | New York | Boston College Eagles (Hockey East) |
| 65 | Lexie Adzija (F) | Canada | Ottawa | Quinnipiac Bobcats (ECAC) |
| 66 | Jillian Dempsey (F) | United States | Montreal | Boston Pride (PHF) |

### Round twelve

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 67 | Claire Dalton (C/RW) | Canada | Montreal | Yale Bulldogs (ECAC) |
| 68 | Sandra Abstreiter (G) | Germany | Ottawa | Providence Friars (Hockey East) |
| 69 | Olivia Zafuto (D) | United States | New York | Boston Pride (PHF) |
| 70 | Shiann Darkangelo (LW) | United States | Boston | Toronto Six (PHF) |
| 71 | Rebecca Leslie (F) | Canada | Toronto | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
| 72 | Michela Cava (C) | Canada | Minnesota | Toronto Six (PHF) |

### Round thirteen

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 73 | Liz Schepers (C/LW) | United States | Minnesota | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |
| 74 | Hannah Miller (F) | Canada / China | Toronto | Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star (ZhHL) |
| 75 | Emma Buckles (D) | Canada | Boston | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
| 76 | Kayla Vespa (F) | Canada | New York | Team Adidas (PWHPA) |
| 77 | Amanda Boulier (D) | United States | Ottawa | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |
| 78 | Elaine Chuli (G) | Canada | Montreal | Toronto Six (PHF) |

### Round fourteen

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 79 | Ann-Sophie Bettez (F) | Canada | Montreal | Montreal Force (PHF) |
| 80 | Caitrin Lonergan (F) | United States | Ottawa | Connecticut Whale (PHF) |
| 81 | Emma Woods (F) | Canada | New York | Toronto Six (PHF) |
| 82 | Tatum Skaggs (F) | United States | Boston | Team Scotiabank (PWHPA) |
| 83 | Alexa Vasko (F) | Canada | Toronto | Team Sonnet (PWHPA) |
| 84 | Minttu Tuominen (D) | Finland | Minnesota | Kiekko-Espoo Naiset (NSML) |

### Round fifteen

| # | Player | Nationality | PWHL team | College/university/club team |
| 85 | Sydney Brodt (F) | United States | Minnesota | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |
| 86 | Olivia Knowles (D) | Canada | Toronto | Minnesota Whitecaps (PHF) |
| 87 | Jessica Healey (D) | Canada | Boston | Buffalo Beauts (PHF) |
| 88 | Alexandra Labelle (F) | Canada | New York | Montreal Force (PHF) |
| 89 | Audrey-Ann Veillette (F) | Canada | Ottawa | Montreal Carabins (RSEQ) |
| 90 | Lina Ljungblom (C) | Sweden | Montreal | Modo Hockey Dam (SDHL) |

## Draftees based on nationality

| Rank | Country | Selections | Percent | Top selection |
| | North America | 77 | 85.6% | |
| 1 | Canada | 49 | 54.4% | Jocelyne Larocque, 2nd |
| 2 | United States | 28 | 31.1% | Taylor Heise, 1st |
| | Europe | 13 | 14.4% | |
| 3 | Czechia | 5 | 5.6% | Dominika Lásková, 19th |
| 4 | Finland | 2 | 2.2% | Susanna Tapani, 25th |
| 4 | Sweden | 2 | 2.2% | Emma Söderberg, 50th |
| 6 | Switzerland | 1 | 1.1% | Alina Müller, 3rd |
| 6 | France | 1 | 1.1% | Chloé Aurard, 21st |
| 6 | Austria | 1 | 1.1% | Theresa Schafzahl, 39th |
| 6 | Germany | 1 | 1.1% | Sandra Abstreiter, 68th |

### North American draftees by state/province

| Rank | State/province | Selections | Percent | Top selection |
| 1 | Ontario | 27 | 30.0% | Ella Shelton, 4th |
| 2 | Minnesota | 11 | 12.2% | Taylor Heise, 1st |
| 3 | Quebec | 8 | 8.9% | Élizabeth Giguère, 28th |
| 4 | Manitoba | 5 | 5.6% | Jocelyne Larocque, 2nd |
| 4 | New York | 5 | 5.6% | Maureen Murphy, 18th |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 3 | 3.3% | Kali Flanagan, 35th |
| 7 | Illinois | 2 | 2.2% | Savannah Harmon, 5th |
| 7 | Nova Scotia | 2 | 2.2% | Jill Saulnier, 40th |
| 7 | Saskatchewan | 2 | 2.2% | Brooke Hobson, 45th |
| 7 | Michigan | 2 | 2.2% | Taylor Girard, 51st |
| 7 | British Columbia | 2 | 2.2% | Hannah Miller, 74th |
| 12 | Colorado | 1 | 1.1% | Nicole Hensley, 12th |
| 12 | Missouri | 1 | 1.1% | Jincy Dunne, 17th |
| 12 | Alaska | 1 | 1.1% | Clair DeGeorge, 36th |
| 12 | Newfoundland and Labrador | 1 | 1.1% | Maggie Connors, 62nd |
| 12 | Connecticut | 1 | 1.1% | Amanda Boulier, 77th |
| 12 | Wisconsin | 1 | 1.1% | Tatum Skaggs, 82nd |
| 12 | Alberta | 1 | 1.1% | Jessica Healey, 87th |