Dominance of OWHL Evident In Hockey Canada's U-18 Roster

The OWHL U-22 Elite loop is producing more top talents in Canada than any other league. If you look at Canada's U-18 roster, that fact becomes evident.

When you look at the invitees for this month's U-18 Summer Series against the United States, the dominance of one Canadian league, the OWHL's U-22 Elite, becomes evident.

Of the 26 forwards invited to skate with Canada's U-18 program this summer, 18 are set to play in Ontario's OWHL this season. Five of 14 defenders and two of six goaltenders will also play in the OWHL's U-22 Elite program.

Recently re-branded from the Provincial Women's Hockey League, OWHL alumni include current Canadian national team members including Sarah Nurse, Jessie Eldridge, Emma Maltais, Natalie Spooner, Laura Stacey, Brianne Jenner, Erin Ambrose, Jaime Bourbonnais, Claire Thompson, Ella Shelton, Renata Fast, Sarah Fillier, Jamie Lee Rattray, and Kristen O'Neill. At the NCAA and pro level, recent Patty Kazmaier winners Daryl Watts and Loren Gabel played in the league, as did PHF MVP's Gabel, Kennedy Marchment, and Mikyla Grant-Mentis.

The league is a breeding ground for Canada's elite players.

This season, some of those top stars include Caitlin Kraemer, Canada's top scorer from the U-18 World Championships last year who will play for the Waterloo Ravens this year alongside fellow U-18 national team standout Abby Stonehouse. Other OWHL returnees to Canada's U-18 roster include Hannah Clark (Etobicoke), Emma Venusio (Etobicoke), Mackenzie Alexander (Etobicoke), and Charlotte Pieckenhagen (Mississauga).

Even the U-18 national team's coaching staff, featuring head coach and former Canadian national team member Tara Watchorn, are entirely OWHL/PWHL products. Joining Watchorn on the bench are fellow national team alumni Vicky Sunohara and Haley Irwin, along with Canadian U-18 alumni Stefanie McKeough.

In terms of producing elite talent, few leagues in the world are doing it as consistently as the OWHL U-22 Elite.