Player Recruitment and Draft Predictions for the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League Season
2026年職業女子冰球聯賽球員招募與選秀預測
Introduction
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is getting ready for its 2026 draft after growing from eight to twelve teams.
職業女子冰球聯賽 (PWHL) 在球隊數量從八支增加到十二支後，正準備進行 2026 年的選秀。
Main Body
This draft cycle is notable because many talented players from the University of Wisconsin are expected to be chosen in the top ten. For instance, Caroline Harvey, the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Award winner and Olympic MVP, is expected to be the first overall pick for the Vancouver Goldeneyes. Additionally, Laila Edwards, an Olympic gold medalist, is projected to be a top-three pick, while Kirsten Simms and Lacey Eden are also expected to be selected in the early rounds. Fans are interested to see if Harvey and Edwards will play together again, although this depends on the draft results or future trades between Vancouver and the Seattle Torrent.
這次選秀週期非常值得關注，因為許多來自威斯康辛大學的優秀球員預計將在前十名中被選中。例如，2026 年 Patty Kazmaier 獎得主兼奧運 MVP Caroline Harvey，預計將成為溫哥華金眼隊 (Vancouver Goldeneyes) 的首輪第一順位人選。此外，奧運金牌得主 Laila Edwards 被預測將在前三名中被選中，而 Kirsten Simms 和 Lacey Eden 預計也會在早盤輪次被選中。球迷們很期待看到 Harvey 和 Edwards 是否會再次共同作戰，儘管這將取決於選秀結果或溫哥華與西雅圖急流隊 (Seattle Torrent) 未來的交易。
In terms of organization, the PWHL has decided the draft order based on regular-season rankings and random draws for the new expansion teams. The Vancouver Goldeneyes have the first pick, followed by the Seattle Torrent and PWHL Detroit. Meanwhile, Detroit has recently filled its roster by signing forward Ella Huber and defenseman Nina Jobst-Smith. Jobst-Smith, who plays for the German national team, previously played for Vancouver. These changes are happening as the league gains more popularity, following a successful event at Madison Square Garden and the 2026 Milan Olympics.
在組織方面，PWHL 已根據常規賽排名及新擴軍球隊的隨機抽籤決定了選秀順序。溫哥華金眼隊擁有第一優先選擇權，其次是西雅圖急流隊和 PWHL 底特律隊。與此同時，底特律隊最近透過簽下前鋒 Ella Huber 和後衛 Nina Jobst-Smith 填補了陣容。Jobst-Smith 代表德國國家隊出賽，此前曾效力於溫哥華隊。隨著聯賽在麥迪遜廣場花園成功舉辦活動以及 2026 年米蘭奧運後知名度提升，這些變動正逐步發生。
Conclusion
The league is now moving into the 2026-27 season, and the draft will be the main way to distribute top talent among the increased number of teams.
聯賽現在正進入 2026-27 賽季，選秀將成為將頂尖人才分配給增加後的球隊之間的主要方式。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 Moving Beyond "Will": Predicting the Future
At the A2 level, you probably use will for everything in the future. But to sound like a B2 speaker, you need to describe expectations and probabilities using more nuanced phrases.
Look at how the text avoids saying "Harvey will be the first pick":
"Caroline Harvey... is expected to be the first overall pick." "Laila Edwards... is projected to be a top-three pick."
💡 The B2 Upgrade: "Be expected to" / "Be projected to"
Instead of a simple prediction, these structures show that the information comes from experts or data.
The Formula: Subject + be (am/is/are) + expected/projected + to + verb
Compare these two:
- A2 (Simple): "It will rain tomorrow." (Your opinion)
- B2 (Professional): "It is expected to rain tomorrow." (The weather report says so)
🛠️ Contextual Application
In the article, the author uses these phrases because sports drafts are not certain; they are based on projections.
- Expected: Used for general beliefs (e.g., Fans expect Harvey and Edwards to play together).
- Projected: Used for calculated guesses or numbers (e.g., She is projected to be a top-three pick).
⚠️ Pro Tip: The "Although" Pivot
To reach B2, you must connect your predictions to a reality check. The article does this perfectly:
"...this depends on the draft results... although this depends on the draft results or future trades."
By combining a projection (expected to) with a contrast (although), you create a complex thought that proves you are no longer a beginner.