With the 215th overall pick in the 10th round of the 2023 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft, the Portland Winterhawks selected female goaltender Morgan Stickney.
Stickney, 15, is the second-ever female player to be drafted into the WHL, and the first-ever female American player.
Hailing from Redondo Beach, Calif., Stickney spent the 2022-23 season playing for Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U women’s program. In 33 games, she earned a 23-4-3 record, 1.52 goals against average and .928 save percentage.
“I’ve always been a fan of the Winterhawks and to now be a part of this organization is a dream come true,” said Stickney in a statement released by the team. “To be drafted in the same league (Canadian Hockey League) as Manon Rhéaume and drafted to a team with a history of goalie legacy is an honour. I want to thank everyone who has supported me to this point and I look forward to what’s to come.”
“Morgan has excelled at the highest levels of USA Hockey. Her play for the LA Jr. Kings and Shattucks St. Mary’s is well deserving of recognition with our selection in the WHL Draft,” said Winterhawks assistant general manager and director of scouting Mike Coflin. “We are already looking forward to hosting Morgan and all our new Winterhawks prospects at the Neely Cup training camp in late August, and this will be a very rewarding hockey experience for her.”
Defenceman Chloe Primerano made history as the first female to be drafted into the WHL when she was selected by the Vancouver Giants last year with the 286th overall pick. Shannon Szabados was the first (and so far, only) female to play in a WHL game, appearing in net for the Tri-City Americans on Sept. 22, 2002.
The Quebec Major Junior League has seen three female goaltenders play at least one game: Ève Gascon (Gatineau Olympiques, 2021-22), Charline Labonte (Acadie-Bathurst Titan, 1999-2001) and Manon Rhéaume (Trois-Rivieres Draveurs, 1991-92).
The Ontario Hockey League drafted its first female player in 2021, when the Sarnia Sting selected goaltender Taya Currie at 267th overall.
2:30
0:57
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.