Montreal Victoire add depth in PWHL draft
Posted June 18, 2026 5:50 pm.
The largest-ever PWHL draft since its inaugural season was completed Wednesday night, and the Montreal Victoire were able to add six new players to their roster.
For the first time in league history, twelve teams took part in the entry draft, which featured Olympians and college stars.
Throughout the night in Detroit, 72 picks were made over six rounds, and as champions, the Victoire were last to pick in each round and selected the following players:
| Pick | Player | Position | Previous Team | Previous League |
| 12 | Petra Nieminen | Forward | Luleå | SDHL |
| 24 | Avi Adam | Forward | Cornell University | NCAA |
| 36 | Zoe Uens | Defence | Quinnipiac University | NCAA |
| 48 | Hailey MacLeod | Goaltender | Ohio State University | NCAA |
| 60 | Erica Rieder | Defence | Luleå | SDHL |
| 72 | Emilie Lavoie | Forward | Concordia University | U Sports |
Petra Nieminen has been playing for Luleå in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL) for the last eight seasons. In 2025-26, the 27-year-old scored 24 goals and picked up 21 assists in 27 games, before adding five goals and an assist in six playoff games.
Nieminen also represented Finland at the Olympics, where she had one assist.
In the second round, the Victoire picked Avi Adam, a 21-year-old from Nova Scotia who played four seasons at Cornell University. In 2025-26, Adam scored 12 goals and picked up 17 assists in 33 games.
In the third round, Montreal selected Zoe Uens, a 22-year-old from Ontario who played four seasons at Quinnipiac University. In 2025-26, she scored 10 goals and picked up nine assists over 41 games.
In the fourth round, the Victoire added Hailey MacLeod, a 22-year-old goaltender from B.C. who played the last two seasons at Ohio State University. In 2025-26, MacLeod helped her team reach the NCAA finals, while posting a 26-4-0 record, with a 1.48 goals against average and 0.932 save percentage.
In the fifth round, the Victoire picked Erica Rieder, a 29-year-old defender from Saskatchewan who has played the last two seasons with Luleå. In 2025-26, she scored seven goals and had 13 assists in 34 games, before adding two assists in the playoffs.
With the final pick of the draft, Montreal selected Emilie Lavoie, a 24-year-old from Boloeil, Quebec, who played the last five seasons at Concordia University. In 2025-26, she scored six goals and 15 assists over 23 games.
Complete 2026 PWHL draft
Round 1
1. Vancouver Goldeneyes: Caroline Harvey, D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
2. Seattle Torrent: Abbey Murphy, F, University of Minnesota (NCAA)
3. PWHL Las Vegas (via Detroit): Tessa Janecke, F, Penn State University (NCAA)
4. PWHL San Jose: Laila Edwards, D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
5. PWHL Las Vegas: Lacey Eden, F, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
6. PWHL Hamilton: Nelli Laitinen, D, University of Minnesota (NCAA)
7. New York Sirens: Emma Peschel, D, Ohio State University (NCAA)
8. Toronto Sceptres: Kirsten Simms, F, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
9. Minnesota Frost: Sara Swiderski, D, Ohio State University (NCAA)
10. Boston Fleet: Grace Dwyer, D, Cornell University (NCAA)
11. Ottawa Charge: Vivian Jungels, D, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
12. Montréal Victoire: Petra Nieminen, F, Luleå (SDHL)
L’excellence finlandaise s’amène à Montréal ????????
— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) June 17, 2026
Finnish excellence is coming to Montréal! pic.twitter.com/JpIpl3pN9P
Round 2
13. PWHL Las Vegas (via Vancouver): Isabel Wunder, F, Princeton University (NCAA)
14. Seattle Torrent: Sydney Morrow, D, University of Minnesota (NCAA)
15. PWHL Detroit: Andrea Brändli, G, Frölunda HC (SDHL)
16. PWHL San Jose: Sloane Matthews, F, Ohio State University (NCAA)
17. Vancouver Goldeneyes (via Las Vegas): Thea Johansson, F, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)
18. PWHL Hamilton: Jade Iginla, F, Brown University (NCAA)
19. New York Sirens: Elisa Holopainen, F, Frölunda HC (SDHL)
20. Toronto Sceptres: Jamie Nelson, F, University of Minnesota (NCAA)
21. Minnesota Frost: Viivi Vainikka, F, Brynäs (SDHL)
22. PWHL Detroit (via Boston): Casey Borgiel, D, Colgate University (NCAA)
23. Ottawa Charge: Jordan Ray, F, Yale University (NCAA)
24. Montréal Victoire: Avi Adam, F, Cornell University (NCAA)
Kori Cheverie, de la Nouvelle-Écosse, accueille notre deuxième choix, Avi Adam, elle aussi originaire de la Nouvelle-Écosse, au sein de l’équipe ????
— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) June 17, 2026
Kori Cheverie, a Nova Scotian herself, welcoming fellow Nova Scotian Avi Adam! pic.twitter.com/n30zbsTJiA
Third Round
25. Vancouver Goldeneyes: Jules Constantinople, D, Northeastern University (NCAA)
26. Seattle Torrent: Emerson Jarvis, F, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)
27. Boston Fleet (via Detroit): Leah Stecker, D, Penn State University (NCAA)
28. PWHL San Jose: Tia Chan, G, University of Connecticut (NCAA)
29. PWHL Las Vegas: Josefin Bouveng, F, University of Minnesota (NCAA)
30. PWHL Hamilton: Elyssa Biederman, F, Colgate University (NCAA)
31. New York Sirens: Carina DiAntonio, F, Yale University (NCAA)
32. Toronto Sceptres: Brooke Disher, D, Ohio State University (NCAA)
33. Minnesota Frost: Madelyn Christian, F, Penn State University (NCAA)
34. PWHL Detroit (via Boston): MK O’Brien, F, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)
35. Ottawa Charge: Tereza Pištěková, F, SDE (SDHL)
36. Montréal Victoire: Zoe Uens, D, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)
Notre premier renfort à la ligne défensive du repêchage 2026 : Zoe Uens ????
— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) June 18, 2026
Our first defensive addition of the 2026 draft: Zoe Uens pic.twitter.com/IzUeWArZlN
Round 4
37. Vancouver Goldeneyes: Katelyn DeSa, G, Penn State University (NCAA)
38. Seattle Torrent: Grace Elliott, F, University of British Columbia (U Sports)
39. PWHL Detroit: Kyla Josifovic, F, University of Connecticut (NCAA)
40. PWHL San Jose: Lily Shannon, F, Northeastern University (NCAA)
41. PWHL Las Vegas: Saskia Maurer, G, SC Bern (SWHL)
42. PWHL Hamilton: Megan Woodworth, F, University of Connecticut (NCAA)
43. New York Sirens: Katelyn Roberts, F, Penn State University (NCAA)
44. Toronto Sceptres: Jane Kuehl, F, Princeton University (NCAA)
45. Minnesota Frost: Tova Henderson, D, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)
46. Boston Fleet: Jaden Bogden, F, Northeastern University (NCAA)
47. Ottawa Charge: Tory Mariano, D, Northeastern University (NCAA)
48. Montréal Victoire: Hailey MacLeod, G, Ohio State University (NCAA)
C’est au tour de Laura Stacey d’annoncer notre 4e choix au repêchage : la gardienne Hailey MacLeod! ????
— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) June 18, 2026
It’s Laura Stacey’s turn to announce our 4th pick: goaltender Hailey MacLeod! pic.twitter.com/aGHRRfgFfz
Round 5
49. PWHL Las Vegas (via Vancouver): Kendall Butze, D, Penn State University (NCAA)
50. Seattle Torrent: Gracie Gilkyson, D, Yale University (NCAA)
51. PWHL Detroit: Sena Catterall, F, Clarkson University (NCAA)
52. PWHL San Jose: McKenna Van Gelder, F, Cornell University (NCAA)
53. PWHL Las Vegas: Alexis Petford, F, Colgate University (NCAA)
54. PWHL Hamilton: Emma-Sofie Nordström, G, St. Lawrence University (NCAA)
55. New York Sirens: Grace Wolfe, D, St. Cloud State University (NCAA)
56. Toronto Sceptres: Emerson O’Leary, F, Princeton University (NCAA)
57. Minnesota Frost: Daria Gredzen, G, Birusa Krasnoyarsk (ZhHL)
58. Boston Fleet: Jenna Goodwin, F, Frölunda HC (SDHL)
59. Ottawa Charge: Neena Brick, F, MoDo (SDHL)
60. Montréal Victoire: Erica Rieder, D, Lulea (SDHL)
Round 6
61. Vancouver Goldeneyes: Ashley Messier, D, University of Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)
62. Seattle Torrent: Gabriella Durante, G, Real Torino (Italy)
63. PWHL Detroit: Georgia Schiff, F, Cornell University (NCAA)
64. PWHL San Jose: Reichen Kirchmair, F, Providence College (NCAA)
65. PWHL Las Vegas: Sydney Healey, F, Boston University (NCAA)
66. PWHL Hamilton: Mya Vaslet, F, Penn State University (NCAA)
67. New York Sirens: Naomi Boucher, F, Yale University (NCAA)
68. Toronto Sceptres: Alyssa Regalado, D, Cornell University (NCAA)
69. Minnesota Frost: Lara Beecher, F, Clarkson University (NCAA)
70. Boston Fleet: Maeve Kelly, D, Boston University (NCAA)
71. Ottawa Charge: Taylor Otremba, F, Minnesota State University (NCAA)
72. Montréal Victoire: Emilie Lavoie, F, Concordia University (U Sports)
