Ottawa Builds Its Inaugural Roster
Ottawa's entry in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) made history simply by existing, and the 2023 inaugural draft was the moment the franchise began to take shape player by player. Among those selections was Round 11, Pick #65 overall, a late-round choice that represented the kind of depth-building every new franchise needs when constructing a roster from scratch.
The Significance of the PWHL Draft
The PWHL draft was unlike any other in recent sports history. Launched in 2023 following the dissolution of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), the PWHL brought together six franchises, including Ottawa, to form what many are calling the most serious professional women's hockey league ever assembled in North America.
For Ottawa fans, the draft was a chance to start dreaming. Every pick, from the glamorous first-rounders to the grinders selected deep in the later rounds, was a building block for a team that would represent the nation's capital on the ice.
Late Rounds Matter
In any draft, the late rounds are where scouts earn their keep. Round 11 selections rarely make headlines, but they often become key contributors, players with elite skating ability, specialized defensive skills, or the kind of compete level that earns them a spot in a training camp and eventually a locker room.
For the Ottawa franchise, Pick #65 was one piece of a larger puzzle. Building a winning culture in a brand-new league means leaving no stone unturned, and late-round selections give organizations the flexibility to take calculated risks on players who might just surprise everyone.
Ottawa's PWHL Journey
Ottawa residents have embraced the PWHL with open arms. The city, long known as a passionate hockey market thanks to the Ottawa Senators, showed up in force when the local PWHL team hit the ice. Games at TD Place drew enthusiastic crowds, and the team quickly developed a loyal fanbase that spans all ages and backgrounds.
For many young girls playing hockey across Ottawa and the surrounding region, in Kanata, Nepean, Orleans, and beyond, seeing professional women's hockey played at the highest level right in their own city has been transformative. Every player on the roster, no matter when they were drafted, is a role model.
What's Next
As the PWHL continues to grow and Ottawa's franchise evolves, draft history becomes part of the fabric of the team's story. Round 11, Pick #65 may be a footnote in the grand arc of the franchise, or it may turn out to be one of those selections that scouts quietly celebrate years down the road.
Either way, it's part of the foundation on which Ottawa's professional women's hockey future is being built, one pick at a time.
Source: PWHL official draft records via PWHL.com
