It’s never too early to talk about the next wave of elite women’s hockey talent, and Etobicoke Dolphins forward Adrianna Milani is a name to know. The Oakville, Ontario native has been turning heads with her ability to take over games and deliver in big moments.
Hockey has been a constant part of Milani’s life from an early age. Her dad, Cam, even built an outdoor rink in their backyard. “We would spend hours upon hours out there,” she said.
Her mom, Randi, works in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning as Director of Skills, and previously played NCAA hockey and in the CWHL with the Brampton Thunder. “I am so grateful to have her. Her commitment to my development and detail to my game is unmatched,” Milani said.
By U-15, she was already earning games with her hometown Hornets, the city’s junior team. At just 14 years old, she made the jump to the Etobicoke Dolphins junior program as a double underager and finished that season with 31 points in 41 games, including 19 goals.
“My first year was definitely an adjustment and finding my place in the locker room was tough, while also trying to prove to people that I can fit into this league,” Milani said.
“I wasn’t always playing in situations that I had envisioned myself playing in, but I think just focusing on the controllables and doing what I can with what I’m given was something I really relied on.”
Milani’s challenge helped her grow, and her success against older competition showed how quickly she could adapt.
Milani has become a player who impacts every shift. She skates well, finds space in coverage, and creates scoring chances in key moments. Always driven to improve, she also makes sure to pay close attention to how other young stars handle the jump to tougher competition.
“Somebody who’s definitely on the rise right now is Macklin Celebrini. I’ve been following his path quite a bit,” she said. “He’s proven that he can have an impact no matter what level he’s playing at or who he’s playing with. That’s something that I want to try and develop in my own game.”
Last season, she recorded 35 goals and 56 points in 36 games in the OWHL and also represented Team USA at the summer showcase, where she had two points in three games and scored a shootout winner that showed her ability to remain calm under pressure. That steady growth has earned her an invitation to this year’s U-18 selection camp with Canada ahead of a three-game series against the United States starting on August 13. With another season in Etobicoke and a national team opportunity ahead of her, Milani is well positioned to take another big step forward.
What sets Milani apart is her maturity, which goes far beyond her years, and commitment to improving her game, both are traits that have been there from the start. She and her twin brother, Camillo, have pushed each other from day one.
“I have a twin brother, so we’ve been able to kind of push each other,” she said. “From learning to skate to now shooting pucks together all the time in the basement. Honestly, just the competitive drive of it and being able to be a part of something bigger than yourself.”
With her speed, skill and hockey sense, Adrianna Milani is the kind of player who excites scouts and fans alike. As she continues her development, she’s one of the brightest young forwards to follow in Canadian women’s hockey. Milani has already shown that she can deliver in big moments, and each year, she looks more and more like a player ready to make her mark at the highest levels of the game.