Overview
- Vancouver Goldeneyes selected U.S. defender Caroline Harvey first overall at the PWHL Entry Draft in Detroit on Wednesday, capping a run of individual honours that included Harvey being named the IIHF Female Player of the Year.
- The draft ran six rounds with 72 selections and saw Americans dominate the top end, taking the top five picks and nine of 12 first‑round slots.
- Vancouver earned the first pick through the league’s Gold Plan, which awards draft position based on points earned after teams are eliminated from playoff contention.
- Boston Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel was voted the league’s most valuable player and also won goaltender of the year at the PWHL awards ceremony held the day before the draft.
- Expansion clubs used phased signings, exclusive negotiation lists and trades before the draft to assemble cores, and the combination of those moves plus this deep rookie class now directs how teams will complete rosters ahead of the 2026–27 season.