The goaltending depth entering the PWHL Draft is cavernous. While teams may fill their crease at the draft, the pool of goalies free to compete for back up or third goaltender roles post draft, will remain filled with talent.
The goaltending depth entering the PWHL Draft is cavernous. While teams may fill their crease at the draft, the pool of goalies free to compete for back up or third goaltender roles post draft, will remain filled with talent.
Three PWHL teams have already secured their starting goalies. Ottawa signed Emerance Maschmeyer, Montreal inked Ann-Renee Desbiens, and Boston secured Aerin Frankel.
Toronto, Minnesota, and New York will certainly select a goaltender at the draft, but following those three selections, there's no guarantee each team will fill their back up positions at the draft, and without a developmental loop in place, clubs will certainly carry a third goaltender as a reserve player.
At the draft, netminders like Nicole Hensley, Kristen Campbell, and Emma Soderberg will certainly be selected. Future Hockey Hall of Fame netminder Noora Raty and PHF goaltender of the year Corinne Schroeder, as well as Team USA's third stringer Abbey Levy are likely to be chosen as well. Similarly, there will be teams looking at Sandra Abstreiter and Maddie Rooney.
Should that group all be chosen, it leaves only one goaltending position open in the league, a position with leading contenders like PHF standouts Amanda Leveille and Elaine Chuli. If Alex Cavallini intends to play this season, she's also one of the best in the world as a former PWHPA member and Team USA goalie.
Behind this group of 14 netminders, there's an even larger group of high quality goaltenders.
From the PHF, Abbie Ives, Katie Burt, Carly Jackson, Kassidy Sauve, and Tricia DeGuire could all play roles in the PWHL. Lindsey Post and Lauren Bench who played in Sweden last year, could have been contributors in the PHF this coming season as well, and have strong resumes that will interest teams looking for depth in net.
With Genevieve Lacasse out of the picture in the PWHPA, the six remaining netminders from the tour played a combined 17 games. In a position where starts are crucial, it will likely serve as a detriment to these netminders' chances in the league, but Shea Tiley (PWHPA), Lindsay Browning (PWHPA), Sydney Scobee (PWHPA), Marlene Boissonnault (PWHPA), and Erica Howe (PWHPA) are all in the mix.
It's a 25 goaltender pool for 12 spots, that will create great intrigue at the draft. As important, the moves to secure PWHL creases will not end on September 18 with the goaltending talent that will exist post-draft.