The Future Is Now For Top PWHL Draft Prospect Sarah Fillier

NEW HAVEN, CT -- Just over four months ago, then Princeton University forward Sarah Fillier spoke of the incredible honor it would be to hear her name called before anyone else's at the start of this year's Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) draft.

Leaving The Whale (aka Ingalls Rink) at Yale University after a hard-fought and gruelling 1-1 tie against the host Bulldogs on that cold Jan. 27 afternoon, Fillier shared her thoughts with The Hockey News Women's about her dreams and aspirations as her collegiate season fast forwarded toward the post-season tournament.

The multi-sports standout as a young girl attending Christ the King Catholic Secondary School in her Georgetown, Ontario hometown, Fillier was thinking about the present task at hand with the Tigers but couldn't help imagining her future.

And after reading about her being ranked No. 1 on The Hockey News Women's list of potential PWHL draft picks just days earlier, she couldn't help but be in awe of what is now the rapidly approaching day when she'll be sitting with her family in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota awaiting selection into the PWHL.

According to all indications, she won't have to wait very long. In fact, she likely will be the first one on the podium.

For the team fortunate enough to be at the receiving end of her walk up the steps and onto the stage, Fillier will bring exceptional talent, drive, determination and willpower from her very first day of walking into training camp this fall.

Her resume is packed with positives, including perhaps her main claim to fame as a part of Team Canada's gold-medal performance at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China. But that's only part of her international fanfare.

"(The) opportunity to come out of college at the perfect time and transition into this draft is super special and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Filler during a video conference call on Thursday afternoon that included seven other likely draft picks when the ceremony begins at 6 p.m. (central time) on Monday, June 10 at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

Having been an Olympian and a veteran of four World Championships, Fillier doesn't anticipate a major adjustment to her game although she does expect somewhat of a learning curve.

"(The PWHL) will be uncharted territory for sure but the biggest thing I'm going to have to adapt to is the physicality of the league," she said. "That is one thing that's really ramped up and I don't think it's going away."

Regardless of what comes her way along her PWHL journey that begins on Monday night, the soon-to-be 24-year-old who will celebrate her birthday the day before the draft is ready for the challenge and the spotlight.

And the possibility that she could be picked No. 1 has her beyond ecstatic.

"It's what you dream of," said Fillier, who amassed 93 goals and added 101 assists during her stellar four-year career at Princeton. "It's an honor ... to go first overall would be a complete dream come true."

And where might the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow be for that young girl who grew up playing rec hockey on a boys' team in Halton, Ontario?

It might be only a short distance from where she played collegiately in New Jersey.

PWHL New York, which is expected to play at least a portion of its 2024-25 schedule at The Prudential Center in Newark, has the first pick.

"No matter where I go it will be something I'll remember forever and a really special moment to spend with my family," she said. "It will be kind of surreal to know that I made it as a pro athlete."

Although not likely to be teammates with either, Fillier is most looking forward to playing against Marie-Philip Poulin (Montreal) and Maggie Connors (Toronto).

"(Connors) is one of my best friends from Princeton and we love playing together. We played together (at Princeton) and in summer leagues," Fillier said. "It would be really cool to be on a pro stage as best friends and face off against each other in different jerseys for the first time."

And Fillier's anticipation to be across the red line from Poulin is off the charts.

"She's obviously been a huge role model to me in my hockey career," Fillier said. "I've had a chance to play with her at past Worlds ... it will be cool playing in a professional league with someone I idolize."

As far as her role on her new PWHL team is concerned, Fillier said she's a natural center but is more than willing to adapt to that team's system and game plans. An example of that came in her settling into a wing -- predominantly left wing -- position when needed at Princeton.

Come draft day, Fillier admitted she might not be the picture of calmness and poise that she exudes on the ice.

"(There's definitely some nerves surrounding (the draft) for sure, " she said. "I've had my life planned out and knew what I was going to do the past six years. There was never any uncertainty about where I would end up or where I would have to live so it's a little stressful."

But she's also extremely confident and optimistic in her future.

"It's exciting. My parents are going to be with me and beside me the whole draft so that will be cool," Fillier said. "All the work they've put in behind the scenes to get me here is super special."

For Fillier and her family, Monday, June 10 will mark the culmination of several whirlwind days leading up to the big event.

"This moment is not just going to be about me but about my family ... and I hope they soak everything in," Fillier continued. "It's been really fun picking out their draft outfits, getting our nails done and everything so it's been a really cool experience."