If There Were A Women’s Draft For U16 Hockey Players… Here Are The Prospects

If there were a women’s hockey draft equivalent of the OHL Draft, to enter a league like the PWHL, there would be an abundance of prospects from Chatham-Kent.

The OHL Draft for 2004 born male hockey players ended this week with Brady Stonehouse (Blenheim), Zander Veccia (Ridgetown), and Ryan Gagner (Chatham) being chosen.

Taking a look at the 2004 female age group in Chatham-Kent, the talent pool is deep.

Most notably, the young and talented trio already competing in the PWHL this season with the Southwest Wildcats, Taryn Jacobs (Walpole Island), Brenna Dittmer (Chatham), and former Chatham Outlaws player Brooke Campbell (Essex) would be locks for a draft. Natalie Bray (Chatham) who played for the Bluewater Hawks PWHL team, would be another sure thing.

We expect these players to get serious looks from NCAA teams soon.

Another selection would undoubtedly be Kate Martin, a blueliner for the Bluewater Hawks Midget ‘AA’ team, who also saw some PWHL action as a call up. She’s a good skater, and intelligent, two keys for higher level hockey.

After that, the Chatham-Kent Crush have a large list of local players in their first year of Midget ‘AA’ including Abby Balan, Ella Altiman, Samara Whiteye, Sophie Coristine, Hailee Schepens, Kayla Renaud, and Jaelynn Daigneau who would have all been eligible for a draft of 2004 born players.

Hopefully some day we get to the point where the girls have the same excitement of a draft day as the boys.