Coming from Cornell University, Grace Dwyer describes herself as “pretty calm and chill.” That didn’t stop her from “blacking out a little” when she was called up to the PWHL draft stage June 17 by the Boston Fleet in the first round, 10th pick overall. 

Dwyer is a powerful defender that will fill necessary holes after the Fleet lost four defenders during expansion. She captained the Big Red in her final season, notching 23 blocks, six goals and 14 assists, while also being a staple of the team’s special teams. 

“On the ice, I'm going to bring the compete, battle, you know, be tough,” she said at a press conference draft night.  

She’ll join Megan Keller, PWHL defender of the year, and defender Haley Winn, PWHL rookie of the year. 

“I think that's awesome, going on the rink and being challenged by people like that,” Dwyer said. “I just want to bring that competitive spirit too and definitely just learn from that.”

She hails from Wynnewood, Penn., where she overlapped with Leah Stecker, a third round draft pick for Boston, on the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers. for two seasons. The Dwyers were a hockey and sports focused family, her sister Rose is entering her junior season as a a defender at Cornell. 

Dwyer would visit Boston to see her mother’s alma mater, Harvard, and for hockey tournaments. She knows “the fans are passionate.” 

“Hockey's big in Massachusetts…so I'm super excited,” she said. 

Additionally, Dwyer represented the United States on the Collegiate Select Team and the 2022 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, notching one goal and three assists to win the team silver.

“I'm just really excited to get [to Boston] and work with the players, the coaches and learn a lot and definitely just add to it,” Dwyer said, “help the team anyway I can.”

The Fleet also drafted Penn State's Stecker, Northeastern's Jaden Bogden, Frölunda HC's Jenna Goodwin and Boston University's Maeve Kelly.