Click on the video player above to watch live coverage of the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) draft from CBC headquarters in downtown Toronto.
Former University of Minnesota star Taylor Heise is staying home to begin her professional hockey career.
The Lake City native, who topped the NCAA in scoring in each of her last two years with the Gophers, was selected first overall by Minnesota in the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League draft on Monday at CBC headquarters in Toronto.
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“Everyone I love is there [in Minnesota],” Heise, 22, told CBC Sports’ Anastasia Bucsis. “I’m honoured to be able to play and excited to get started.”
Heise, considered the most skilled player available with a nose for the net, is familiar to Minnesota general Natalie Darwitz, a former Gophers assistant coach.
When considering her options after Minnesota won the draft lottery on Sept. 1, Darwitz focused on a player who could remain with the organization long-term.
“Not only that, [a player] who can grow the game and grow the market in Minnesota, who has great visibility,” Darwitz, former captain of the U.S. women’s team, said recently.
And who better than a homegrown player?
The 23-year-old Heise scored a combined 58 goals the past two seasons in college and in 2022 won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the best female player in NCAA Division 1.
Last September, the smart five-foot-nine centre scored seven goals and 18 points to help the United States women win a world championship silver medal.
Defenceman Jocelyne Larocque of Ste. Anne, Man., was the first drafted player to join one of the three PWHL’s Canadian-based teams, going second to Toronto.
Boston chose Swiss forward Alina Müller with the third selection. The five-time Patty Kazmaier Award finalist has been on the Swiss national team for nearly a decade.
Müller returns to Massachusetts, where she starred at Northeastern University. She signed to play with the Boston Pride before the Premier Hockey Federation was sold and shut down.
“Unbelievable. It’s pretty emotional,” said Müller, fighting back tears. “I’m super happy. Boston does so much for women’s sports.”
New York GM Pascal Daoust picked defenceman Ella Shelton of Ingersoll, Ont., fourth overall.
Defender Savannah Harmon went fifth to Ottawa.
Montreal GM Daniele Sauvageau completed Round 1 by drafting blue-liner Erin Ambrose, who made her Olympic debut at the Beijing Games in 2022.
Ninety players among a pool of 268 will be chosen for the original six franchises — including Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa — during a 15-round selection period. Each general manager will build a roster ahead of a scheduled January 2024 puck drop.
WATCH | Jayna Hefford discusses PWHL with CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux:
CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux sits down with the PWHL’s SVP of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford after their announcement of the founding six franchises.
