Morgan Stickney becomes second woman drafted to WHL

With the 215th overall pick in the 10th round, the Portland Winterhawks selected goaltender Morgan Stickney, making her the second woman drafted to the league.

The 15-year-old is the first American woman drafted to the league, with defender Chloe Primerano becoming the first woman taken when the Vancouver Giants took her 286th overall last year.

“Morgan has excelled at the highest levels of USA Hockey. Her play for the LA Jr. Kings and Shattucks St. Mary’s is well deserving of recognition with our selection in the WHL Draft,” Winterhawks director of scouting Mike Coflin said. “We are already looking forward to hosting Morgan and all our new Winterhawks prospects at the Neely Cup training camp in late August, and this will be a very rewarding hockey experience for her.”

Stickney grew up playing boys hockey in Los Angeles, and even helped the Los Angeles Jr. Kings become the top-ranked youth team during the 2020-21 season. Stickney joined the Shattuck St. Mary’s U-16 women’s program for this year and was one of the best prep goalies in the United States, posting a 23-0-3 record with six shutouts and a .928 save percentage.

Legendary Canadian national team goaltender Shannon Szabados is the only woman to play in the WHL, appearing in a regular season game with the Tri-City Americans in 2002. The QMJHL has had three women play at some point, including Manon Rheaume, Charline Labonte and, most recently, Eve Gascon a year ago.

“I’ve always been a fan of the Winterhawks and to now be a part of this organization is a dream come true,” Stickney said in a Winterhawks news release. “To be drafted in the same league (Canadian Hockey League) as Manon Rhéaume and drafted to a team with a history of goalie legacy is an honor. I want to thank everyone who has supported me to this point and I look forward to what’s to come.”