Professional Women's Hockey League Announces 2026 Expansion Draft and New Players

職業女子冰球聯賽宣布 2026 年擴軍選秀與新球員

Jun 17, 2026, 22:47
CanadaSports

Introduction

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) held its 2026 entry draft on June 17 in Detroit. This event allowed four new expansion teams to join the league and select 72 players from a total pool of 235 candidates.

職業女子冰球聯賽 (PWHL) 於 6 月 17 日在底特律舉行了 2026 年入隊選秀。此次活動讓四支新擴軍球隊加入聯賽，並從總共 235 名候選人中選出 72 名球員。

Main Body

The PWHL is growing rapidly with the addition of four new clubs in Hamilton, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Detroit. This expansion follows a period of great commercial success, as the league reported an average of over 9,300 fans per game and more than one million total spectators in a single season. The draft used a six-round format with a consistent selection order. Notably, the Vancouver Goldeneyes received the first pick through the 'Gold Plan,' a system designed to discourage teams from losing on purpose by rewarding those that stay competitive even if they miss the playoffs.

PWHL 隨著在漢米爾頓、拉斯維加斯、聖荷西與底特律增加四支新球隊而迅速成長。此次擴軍是基於巨大的商業成功，聯賽報告指出每場比賽平均有超過 9,300 名球迷，單一賽季總觀眾人數突破一百萬。選秀採用六輪制，選人順序一致。值得注意的是，溫哥華金睛隊透過「黃金計劃」獲得了首選權，該制度旨在防止球隊故意地輸球，而獎勵那些即使未能進入季後賽仍保持競爭力的球隊。

In terms of player acquisitions, the Vancouver Goldeneyes selected 23-year-old defender Caroline Harvey from the University of Wisconsin as the first overall pick. Harvey is highly decorated, having been named the IIHF Female Player of the Year and winning the Patty Kazmaier Award. She is known for her fast skating and offensive skills, which helped her earn the MVP and Best Defender titles at the 2026 Milan Olympics. Furthermore, the next three picks were also U.S. Olympic gold medalists: Abbey Murphy (Seattle), Tessa Janecke (Las Vegas), and Laila Edwards (San Jose).

在球員招募方面，溫哥華金睛隊在首輪第一順位選中了來自威斯康辛大學的 23 歲後衛 Caroline Harvey。Harvey 獲獎無數，曾被命名為 IIHF 年度最佳女球員並贏得 Patty Kazmaier 獎。她以快速滑行和進攻能力著稱，這使她在 2026 年米蘭奧運中贏得 MVP 和最佳後衛稱號。此外，接下來的三個選秀名額同樣是美國奧運金牌得主：Abbey Murphy (西雅圖)、Tessa Janecke (拉斯維加斯) 與 Laila Edwards (聖荷西)。

Several teams also made strategic trades to improve their rosters. For instance, the Detroit expansion team gave its third-overall pick to Las Vegas in exchange for forward Hilary Knight. Additionally, Detroit traded player Ella Huber and a third-round pick to the Boston Fleet to acquire second- and third-round selections. Meanwhile, Vancouver's General Manager, Cara Gardner Morey, kept a core group of protected players like Sarah Nurse and Emerance Maschmeyer, while trading to bring back forward Abby Boreen after she was picked by Las Vegas.

數支球隊也進行了策略性交易以強化陣容。例如，底特律擴軍隊將其第三個選秀權交易給拉斯維加斯，以換取前鋒 Hilary Knight。此外，底特律將球員 Ella Huber 及一個第三輪選秀權交易至波士頓艦隊，以獲取第二輪與第三輪的選秀權。同時，溫哥華總經理 Cara Gardner Morey 保留了 Sarah Nurse 和 Emerance Maschmeyer 等核心受保護球員，並在前鋒 Abby Boreen 被拉斯維加斯選中後，透過交易將其接回。

Conclusion

The 2026 draft concludes with the PWHL expanding to 12 teams and the Vancouver Goldeneyes strengthening their defense by signing Caroline Harvey.

2026 年選秀圓滿結束，PWHL 擴展至 12 支球隊，而溫哥華金睛隊透過簽下 Caroline Harvey 加強了防守。

Vocabulary Learning

🚀 From 'Simple' to 'Sophisticated'

At the A2 level, you describe things using simple verbs like get, give, or have. To reach B2, you need Precision Verbs. Look at how this article transforms basic ideas into professional language.

🛠 The 'Power-Up' Vocabulary

Instead of saying 'get players', the text uses Acquire.

  • A2: The team got a new player.
  • B2: The team sought to acquire a new player.

Instead of saying 'stop', the text uses Discourage.

  • A2: The rule stops teams from losing on purpose.
  • B2: The system is designed to discourage teams from losing on purpose.

Instead of saying 'make bigger', the text uses Expand.

  • A2: The league is getting bigger.
  • B2: The league is expanding to 12 teams.

🧠 The B2 Logic: 'The Result Link'

Notice the phrase: "...having been named the IIHF Female Player of the Year..."

An A2 student writes two sentences: "She was named Player of the Year. She is highly decorated."

A B2 student connects the cause and the status using the -ing form (Perfect Participle). This allows you to provide background information without starting a new sentence every time.

Try this logic switch:

  • A2: I studied for three years. Now I am a doctor.
  • B2: Having studied for three years, I am now a doctor.

⚡ Quick-Reference: Pro-Connectors

To stop sounding like a beginner, replace 'And' or 'But' with these transitions found in the text:

Instead of...Use this B2 WordExample from Text
And / AlsoFurthermoreFurthermore, the next three picks...
For exampleFor instanceFor instance, the Detroit expansion team...
While / ButMeanwhileMeanwhile, Vancouver's General Manager...

Vocabulary Learning

expansion (n.)
The action of becoming larger or the addition of new members to an organization.
Example:The company's expansion into the European market led to a significant increase in profits.
consistent (adj.)
Always behaving or happening in the same way, especially so as to be fair or accurate.
Example:The athlete's consistent performance throughout the season earned her the MVP award.
discourage (v.)
To try to persuade someone not to do something or to make something seem less attractive.
Example:High taxes are often used to discourage people from smoking cigarettes.
competitive (adj.)
As good as or better than others of a similar class; eager to win.
Example:The local business environment is highly competitive, forcing shops to lower their prices.
acquisition (n.)
The act of gaining possession of an asset, object, or person.
Example:The acquisition of the new player was seen as a vital move for the team's success.
decorated (adj.)
Having received many awards, medals, or honors, especially in a professional or military context.
Example:The decorated general was welcomed home with a grand parade.
strategic (adj.)
Relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.
Example:The company made a strategic decision to invest in renewable energy.
acquire (v.)
To buy or obtain an asset or object for oneself.
Example:The museum managed to acquire a rare painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
Practice B2 words in a crossword→