PWHL Minnesota chose Claire Thompson, a left-handed defenseman from Canada who played collegiately at Princeton University, with the third overall pick in Monday’s draft. PHOTO BY PRINCETON ATHLETICS

PWHL Minnesota takes defenseman Claire Thompson with third overall pick;

Five Minnesota-born players drafted

The second annual Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft was held Monday in St. Paul at Roy Wilkins Auditorium. The draft consisted of the six franchises and seven rounds. A total of 42 players were drafted. Complete draft list here: https://www.thepwhl.com/en/2024-pwhl-draft

Sarah Fillier was the no. 1 overall pick in Monday’s draft.

PWHL New York selected forward Sarah Fillier with the No. 1 overall pick. Fillier was a star at Princeton University where she scored 30 goals last season. She was also a member of Team Canada in the World Championships. In 120 games for Princeton, she scored 93 goals and added 101 assists for 194 points.

PWHL Minnesota selected 26-year-old defenseman Claire Thompson with the third overall pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft held in St. Paul on Monday, June 10.

Thompson is a graduate of Princeton University where she played from 2016-2020 and recorded 87 points in 129 games. She was a member of Team Canada as recently as 2023 and also played for Toronto in the PWHPA.

She adds much-needed depth to the Minnesota blue line that also includes Lee Stecklein, Maggie Flaherty, Sophie Jaques, Nikki Nightengale and Natalie Buchbinder.

Minnesota had the first overall pick last season when they chose Taylor Heise. Heise, a Lake City, Minn. native, led the PWHL Minnesota squad to the Walter Cup title two weeks ago, earning Playoff MVP honors. This year’s draft was without former general manager Natalie Darwitz, who was dismissed from her duties last week. Head Coach Ken Klee and his staff made the picks Monday from the draft table at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in downtown St. Paul.

Minnesota chose all forwards with their next four picks. In the second round they drafted University of Wisconsin star Britta Curl who has won three national titles with the Badgers. In the third round, they chose St. Cloud State forward Klára Hymlárová. In the fourth round, they took Brooke McQuigge, a forward at Colgate University. In the fifth round, they went with another 200-foot forward in Dominique Petrie out of Clarkson University. They added to their blue line depth in the sixth round with Mae Batherson, a 23-year-old left-handed defenseman from St. Lawrence University. With their final pick they chose Katie Knoll, a forward from Northeastern University.

The team did not draft any Minnesota-born players, but five Minnesotans were drafted, six if you count Somerset, Wisc. native Abby Boreen, who played high school hockey at Hill-Murray.

Boreen went in the third round by Montreal. Boreen played for PWHL Minnesota this past season. Other Minnesota players drafted included Minneapolis native Izzy Daniel (3rd Round/18th Overall//PWHL Toronto), Blaine native Gabby Rosenthal (4th Round/19th Overall/PWHL New York), Maple Grove native Mannon McMahon (5th Round/26th Overall/PWHL Ottawa), former Centennial star Anneke Linser (6th Round/36th Overall/PWHl Toronto) and Madeline Wethington of Blake High School (7th round/38th Overall/PWHL Ottawa.

Mannon McMahon is a product of Maple Grove and went on to a great career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She was drafted Monday by Ottawa in the fifth round. LPH PHOTO BY JEFF ANDERSON

Curl is a native of Bismarck, North Dakota. Hudson, Wisc. native Anna Wilgren was also drafted in the fifth round and 29th overall by PWHL Montreal. Former Gopher and Madison, Wisc. native Amanda Kessel was drafted 41st overall by Montreal.

Here is a rundown of PWHL Minnesota’s picks, including Minnesotans chosen in the draft:

Round 1, Pick 3 – Claire Thompson, Defense

Claire Thompson played four years at Providence where she served as team captain before playing for Team Canada in international competition. The Toronto native last played professionally in the PWHPA for Toronto.

Hometown: Toronto, Canada

College: Princeton University

Age: 26 Height: 5’8″ Shoots: Left

Thompson, a 26-year-old from Toronto, ON, will join the PWHL after spending the last year as a full-time medical student at New York University. She won gold with Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2022 Olympics where she was a Tournament All-Star and won 2021 gold and 2023 silver medals representing her country at IIHF Women’s World Championships. The Princeton University graduate has two prior seasons of professional experience competing with the PWHPA.

PWHL Hockey Operations says: “A generational offensive talent from the back end with the entire package of skating, puck skills, shot, game sense, and size. She has a good stick and a steady defensive game, and transitions with speed with a well-timed ability to join the rush that will immediately enhance all aspects of a team’s offense.”

Claire Thompson: “I’m so honored and excited to join PWHL Minnesota! It is a dream come true to be a part of this league, and I couldn’t think of a better team to join than the defending Walter Cup Champions! I’m looking forward to moving to the State of Hockey and play in front of so many amazing fans!”

Stats according to www.eliteprospects.com:

YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM +/- GP G A PTS PIM +/-

2013-14	Toronto Aeros	Provincial WHL (W)	1	0	0	0	0	–	Playoffs	3	1	1	2	0	–
2014-15	Toronto Aeros	Provincial WHL (W)	38	5	19	24	24	–	Playoffs	14	0	5	5	4	–
2015-16	Toronto Aeros“A”	Provincial WHL (W)	34	5	13	18	14	–	Playoffs	11	1	4	5	12	–
2016-17	Princeton Univ.	NCAA (W)	33	6	14	20	12	7
2017-18	Princeton Univ.	NCAA (W)	32	9	7	16	30	12
2018-19	Princeton Univ.	NCAA (W)	33	9	19	28	28	13
2019-20	Princeton Univ.“C”	NCAA (W)	31	7	16	23	27	24
2020-21	PWHPA	Toronto	4	0	1	1	0	–
	Canada	WC (W)	7	0	4	4	0	7
	Canada (all)	International (W)	8	0	4	4	0	7
2021-22	Canada	OG (W)	7	2	11	13	2	23
	Canada (all)	International (W)	3	0	3	3	4	4
2022-23	Team Sonnet	PWHPA (W)	20	2	4	6	2	–
	Canada	WC (W)	7	0	2	2	10	2

Round 2 , Pick 9 – Britta Curl, Center

Britta Curl is a three-time NCAA champions for the Wisconsin Badgers (2019, 2021, 2023) and had 62 points in 41 games last season.

Hometown: Bismarck, ND

College: University of Wisconsin

Age: 24 Height: 5’9″ Shoots: Left

PWHL Minnesota went with a power forward with a heavy shot with their second pick in Britta Curl of Wisconsin. Curl racked up 22 goals in her senior season as a Badger and was part of three national championship teams for the University of Wisconsin. Curl is a native of Bismarck, ND and was a member of Team USA’s U18 squad in 2017 and played in the World Championships in 2021, 2023 and 2024. She averaged a point a game in college with 179 points in 180 games. Her 40 assists are a testament to her playmaking skills in addition to her physicality up front which should bode well in the PWHL going up against bigger, stronger defenders.

Stats according to www.eliteprospects.com:

YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM +/-

2013-14	Bismarck Blizzard	USHS (W)	26	31	23	54	14	–
2014-15	Bismarck Blizzard	USHS (W)	24	35	21	56	32	–
2015-16	Bismarck Blizzard	USHS (W)	26	45	32	77	30	–
2016-17	Bismarck Blizzard	USHS (W)	–	–	–	–	–	–
	Minnesota Revolution 19U	T1EHL 19U (W)	11	6	5	11	2	–
2017-18	USA U18	WJC-18 (W)	5	4	4	8	2	6
2018-19	Univ. of Wisconsin	NCAA (W)	41	22	11	33	16	32
2019-20	Univ. of Wisconsin	NCAA (W)	36	16	9	25	20	14
2020-21	Univ. of Wisconsin“A”	NCAA (W)	21	7	10	17	18	14
	USA	WC (W)	3	1	0	1	2	1
2021-22	Univ. of Wisconsin	NCAA (W)	–	–	–	–	–	–
2022-23	Univ. of Wisconsin“C”	NCAA (W)	41	19	23	42	22	42
	USA	WC (W)	2	0	0	0	2	0
2023-24	Univ. of Wisconsin	NCAA (W)	41	22	40	62	27	55
	USA	WC (W)	7	0	3	3	4	1

Round 3 – Pick 15 – Klára Hymlárová, Forward

Klara Hymlarova was a 2022 Olympian and is a two-time IIHF World Championships Bronze Medalist (2022, 2023), and six-time IIHF World Championships participant (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023).

Hometown: Opava, Czech Republic

College: St. Cloud State University

Age: 25 Height: 5’4″ Shoots: Left

Hymlárová was a 2022 Olympian for the Czechia in 2022 and played five years at St. Cloud State University, serving as an alternate captain in 2022-23. She brings a wealth of both international and NCAA experience to the PWHL Minnesota squad and joins a roster of solid forwards that helped lead the team to the inaugural Walter Cup.

YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM +/-

2018-19	Ontario Hockey Acad Tardiff	EWHC (W)	8	11	12	23	12	–
	Czechia	WC (W)	5	1	3	4	0	3
	Czechia (all)	International (W)	14	3	3	6	0	1
2019-20	St. Cloud State Univ.	NCAA (W)	35	8	18	26	14	-6
	Czechia (all)	International (W)	7	2	5	7	0	–
2020-21	St. Cloud State Univ.	NCAA (W)	19	1	6	7	4	-12
	Czechia	WC (W)	6	0	1	1	2	3
	Czechia (all)	International (W)	13	2	2	4	2	3
2021-22	St. Cloud State Univ.	NCAA (W)	15	2	4	6	12	-4
	Czechia	OGQ (W)	3	3	3	6	0	4
	Czechia	OG (W)	4	1	0	1	0	0
	Czechia	WC (W)	7	4	1	5	2	2
	Czechia (all)	International (W)	8	5	4	9	0	7
2022-23	St. Cloud State Univ.“A”	NCAA (W)	37	17	9	26	15	-2
	Czechia	WC (W)	7	1	0	1	4	-3
	Czechia (women) (all)	International (W)	–	–	–	–	–	–
2023-24	St. Cloud State Univ.	NCAA (W)	36	8	16	24	12	1

Round 4 – Pick 21 – Brooke McQuigge, Forward

McQuigge scored 33 points last season at Clarkson.

Hometown: Ontario, Canada

College: Colgate University

Age: 24 Height: 5’8″ Shoots: Left

McQuigge is another strong forward to add to an already strong forward group expected to return for PWHL Minnesota. Considered a “tough” forward, she will be a strong two-way player if she makes the PWHL Minnesota roster, working both ends of the ice and being strong on the forecheck. She is also crafty, evidenced by her 33 points in 40 games last season.

Stats according to www.eliteprospects.com:

YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM +/-

2015-16	Whitby Wolves	Provincial WHL (W)	38	8	14	22	16	–	Playoffs	11	1	3	4	8	–
2016-17	Whitby Wolves“C”	Provincial WHL (W)	30	6	14	20	18	–	Playoffs	6	4	4	8	4	–
	Canada U18	WJC-18 (W)	5	0	0	0	2	-1
2017-18	Whitby Wolves“C”	Provincial WHL (W)	30	12	8	20	53	–	Playoffs	5	3	6	9	2	–
	Canada U18“A”	WJC-18 (W)	6	0	0	0	4	-1
2018-19	Whitby Wolves	Provincial WHL (W)	37	6	18	24	56	–	Playoffs	3	0	1	1	2	–
2019-20	Clarkson Univ.	NCAA (W)	37	8	9	17	32	20
2020-21	Clarkson Univ.	NCAA (W)	19	7	11	18	20	7
2021-22	Clarkson Univ.	NCAA (W)	37	16	13	29	34	16
2022-23	Clarkson Univ.“C”	NCAA (W)	29	9	5	14	37	6
2023-24	Clarkson Univ.	NCAA (W)	40	13	20	33	50	26

Round 5 – Pick 27 – Dominique Petrie, Forward

Petrie played at Harvard University before playing for Colgate last season.

Hometown: Hermosa Beach, CA

College: Colgate University

Age: 23 Height: 5’7″ Shoots: Right

Petrie is the second consecutive pick for PWHL Minnesota out of Colgate University where she scored 15 goals and 35 points in 40 games last season. She initially attended Harvard University where she played for four seasons before joining Colgate. She’s another two-way forward who adds a bit of scoring punch and playmaking ability to her game.

Stats according to www.eliteprospects.com:

YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM +/-

2015-16	Anaheim Jr. Ducks 14U AAA	T1EHL 14U	8	0	1	1	0	–	Playoffs	4	0	0	0	2	–
	Anaheim Jr. Ducks 14U AAA	14U AAA	48	7	7	14	24	–
	Anaheim Lady Ducks 16U AAA	16U AAA (W)	1	0	0	0	0	–
2016-17	Anaheim Jr. Ducks 15U AAA	T1EHL 15U	17	2	5	7	6	–	Playoffs	1	0	0	0	0	–
	USA U18	WJC-18 (W)	5	0	1	1	2	1
2017-18	San Diego Jr. Gulls 16U AAA	ECEL 16U	15	5	5	10	0	–
	USA U18	WJC-18 (W)	5	3	5	8	8	7
2018-19	Harvard Univ.	NCAA (W)	22	9	6	15	10	3
	USA U18	WJC-18 (W)	5	2	1	3	2	5
2019-20	Harvard Univ.	NCAA (W)	28	12	23	35	32	15
2020-21	Harvard Univ.	NCAA (W)	0	0	0	0	0	–
2021-22	Harvard Univ.	NCAA (W)	26	9	12	21	31	14
2022-23	Clarkson Univ.	NCAA (W)	–	–	–	–	–	–
2023-24	Clarkson Univ.	NCAA (W)	40	15	20	35	26	24

Round 6 – Pick 33 – Mae Batherson, Defense

Mae Batherson played at Syracuse University before transferring to St. Lawrence University.

Hometown: New Minas, Nova Scotia

College: Syracuse University and St. Lawrence University

Age: 23 Height: 5’7″ Shoots: Left

Batherson is the second defenseman for the PWHL Minnesota squad off the board, joining first-round pick Claire Thompson. In her graduate year for St. Lawrence, she put up impressive numbers as a skilled offensive defenseman with 8 goals and 29 assists in 39 games.

Stats according to www.eliteprospects.com:

YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM +/-

2016-17	King’s-Edgehill School U18	NAPHA	13	0	2	2	10	–
	King’s-Edgehill School (women)	CAHS (W)	13	0	2	2	10	–
2017-18	King’s-Edgehill School U18	NAPHA	–	–	–	–	–	–
2018-19	Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves	Provincial WHL (W)	38	7	22	29	14	–	Playoffs	12	4	7	11	4	–
2019-20	Syracuse Univ.	NCAA (W)	36	6	16	22	18	-2
2020-21	Syracuse Univ.	NCAA (W)	22	4	7	11	10	13
2021-22	Syracuse Univ.	NCAA (W)	30	0	7	7	4	-10
2022-23	Syracuse Univ.“A”	NCAA (W)	34	5	16	21	12	-18
2023-24	St. Lawrence Univ.	NCAA (W)	39	8	29	37	18	8

Round 7 – Pick 39 – Katy Knoll, Forward

Katie Knoll from Northeastern University was PWHL Minnesota’s final pick of the draft.

Hometown: Amherst, NY

College: Northeastern University

Age: 23 Height: 5’7″ Shoots: Right

PWHL Minnesota snagged another two-way forward in Katy Knoll from Northeastern. The New York native scored at least 10 goals in each of her five seasons at Northeastern.

Stats according to www.eliteprospects.com:

YEAR TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM +/-

2016-17	Nichols School	USHS (W)	13	13	2	15	2	–
2017-18	Nichols School	USHS (W)	–	–	–	–	–	–
	Toronto Aeros	Provincial WHL (W)	34	16	24	40	18	–	Playoffs	12	0	2	2	8	–
	USA U18	WJC-18 (W)	5	2	0	2	2	-1
2018-19	Toronto Aeros	Provincial WHL (W)	32	11	13	24	28	–	Playoffs	13	2	2	4	14	–
	USA U18	WJC-18 (W)	5	3	2	5	10	5
2019-20	Northeastern Univ.	NCAA (W)	38	10	16	26	37	28
2020-21	Northeastern Univ.	NCAA (W)	25	12	10	22	14	23
2021-22	Northeastern Univ.	NCAA (W)	37	10	11	21	39	26
2022-23	Northeastern Univ.	NCAA (W)	38	18	16	34	21	23
2023-24	Northeastern Univ.“A”	NCAA (W)	39	11	17	28	16	14

Minnesotans Drafted in the PWHL Draft

Abby Boreen – Round 3/17th Overall – Montreal

Hill-Murray High School • University of Minnesota

Boreen is from Somerset, Wisc. but played high school hockey at Hill-Murray before becoming a Golden Gopher.

She played last season with PWHL Minnesota, appearing in 14 games.

Izzy Daniel – Round 3/18th Overall – Toronto

Blake High School • Cornell University

Daniel starred at Blake before heading to Cornell University where she won the Patty Kazmaier Award as college hockey’s top player. She is a Minneapolis native.

Gabby Rosenthal • Round 4/19th Overall • New York

Blaine High School • Ohio State University

Rosenthal is a native of Blaine, Minn. where she starred for the Bengals before having a stellar career at Ohio State University.

“I am so excited to get back to the game,” Rosenthal said. “I am excited to play for them and the city of New York.”

Mannon McMahon • Round 5/26th Overall • Ottawa

Maple Grove High School • University of Minnesota-Duluth

Mannon McMahon will join Ottawa after being selected in the fifth round. She is a mark of resiliency having set the record at UMD with 173 consecutive games played.

“It’s so amazing just to be in the room with so many amazing athletes,” McMahon said after hearing her name called. “It’s a dream come true. I couldn’t be happier.”

McMahon’s toughness that allowed her to stay in the lineup will bode well in a more physical professional league. She was also captain of the Bulldogs.

“The physicality piece is a big part of the game,” she said when asked what she brings to her new team. “And my creativity and good character in the locker room and being a good teammate.”

Anneke Linser • Round 6/36th Overall • Toronto

Centennial High School • University of Minnesota-Duluth

Linser was a Ms. Hockey Finalist in 2018 out of Centennial High School before having a solid career at UMD.

She is another player that fits the model of professional women’s hockey – tough and skilled.

“I am so overwhelmed with emotion,” she said after being drafted by Toronto. “I am incredibly grateful to be in a room with such great talent.”

When asked what she brings to the table as a player, she said:

“I think I bring a blue-collar play. I’m a 200-foot player and I like to play physically so hopefully that translates well into the league.”

Madeline Wethington • Round 7/38th Overall • Ottawa

Blake High School • University of Minnesota

Wethington was the Ms. Hockey winner in the State of Hockey in 2019 and went on to play five seasons for the University of Minnesota as a stay-at-home defenseman.

Wethington said she is excited to play in Ottawa.

“I’m excited for a new market,” she said. “Ottawa seems like a great place. I am looking forward to the great fans. I heard they’re fantastic there.”

2024 PWHL Draft Fast Facts:

42 players selected including 24 forwards, 15 defenders, 3 goaltenders.
28 players selected from NCAA, 13 from professional teams, 1 from U SPORTS.
28 NCAA players selected represent 12 programs including Ohio State (8), Colgate (5), Northeastern (3), Clarkson (2), St. Lawrence (2), Wisconsin (2), Cornell (1), Minnesota (1), Minnesota-Duluth (1), Princeton (1), St. Cloud State (1), Yale (1).
13 professional players represent 4 leagues including SDHL (9), PWHPA (2), PWHL (1), and ZhHL (1).
1 U SPORTS player represents Concordia University.
7 countries were represented including the United States (20), Canada (13), Czechia (3), Finland (2), Sweden (2), Austria (1), Russia (1).
18 players selected have Senior National Team experience.
20 United States players represent 10 states including Minnesota (5), Wisconsin (3), California (2), New York (2), Ohio (2), Texas (2), Illinois (1), Michigan (1), North Dakota (1), Pennsylvania (1).
13 Canadian players represent 6 provinces including Ontario (6), Alberta (3), British Columbia (1), Manitoba (1), Nova Scotia (1), Quebec (1).
Birth years include 2002 (3), 2001 (14), 2000 (12), 1999 (7), 1998 (1), 1997 (1), 1995 (1), 1994 (2), 1991 (1).