2025 PWHL Draft to be held June 24 in Ottawa
On Tuesday, the Professional Women’s Hockey League announced that the 2025 PWHL Draft will be held in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 24.
The draft will take place inside the renovated Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. It will be the first event hosted inside the theatre at the facility, Hard Rock Live, which is in the midst of a $350 million expansion project. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino already has a connection to the league, as they are partnered with the Ottawa Charge.
The only question remaining is how the draft will be set up. The first draft, featuring a lottery, saw a “snake” draft, while last year was the traditional selection order based on standings, with the New York Sirens earning the first overall pick by earning the most draft points. However, with the impending decision coming on potential expansion, the league has yet to announce the format for this year’s draft.
In 2024, the six teams made picks through seven rounds, with teams being eligible to trade picks on draft day.
The league said information about the format will be announced “in the coming weeks.”
Currently, the Sirens have the best odds to have the first pick once again in Ottawa. With 33 points, they sit last in the PWHL. However, New York has yet to be eliminated from playoff contention, with three games to go in the regular season.
The PWHL Draft Declaration Period has been open since March. Players have until May 8 to declare in the draft.
This will be the second PWHL Draft held in Canada. The inaugural draft in September 2023 was held inside CBC’s Headquarters in Toronto. That year, stars like Taylor Heise (Minnesota Frost), Alina Muller (Boston Fleet) and Sophie Jaques (Minnesota Frost) heard their names called before the league’s first season.
Last year’s draft, albeit a controversial one, was held in St. Paul, Minnesota, weeks after Minnesota won the Walter Cup. Sarah Fillier, the odds-on pick to be named Rookie of the Year, was taken first overall by the Sirens. Other big names like Claire Thompson (Minnesota), Hannah Bilka (Boston) and Cayla Barnes (Montreal Victoire) were also called.
The first pick is scheduled to be announced shortly after 7 p.m. ET.