USports Influence Evident In PWHL New York

Between the PWHL Draft and free agent invites following, PWHL New York could have six or more USports alumni, and their head coach, in training camp.

When the puck drops in the bright lights of New York, the franchise will likely have the largest USports impact of any PWHL team. USports is the top Canadian university league, as NCAA Division I is in the United States. 

At the draft, New York selected Jade Downie-Landry, a McGill University graduate, and Alexandra Labelle, a University of Montreal alumni.

It was not surprising, given the team's hiring of long time University of Alberta head coach Howie Draper, to see New York continue this trend into free agent invitations.

Two players Draper coaches at the University of Alberta joined the invitation list for New York's training camp in Lindsey Post and Megan Eady.

When looking to fill out blueline spots at training camp, New York also invited former University of Ottawa captain Christine Deaudelin and recent All-Canadian defender Carley Olivier from the University of Waterloo.

Two other former USports standouts in Audrey-Anne Veillette and Ann-Sophie Bettez were also selected in the PWHL Draft by Ottawa and Montreal respectively.

In finalizing training camp rosters across the league, there are still plenty of USports talents not confirmed including another Howie Draper coached athlete, Alex Poznikoff, and other USports athletes like Swiss national team member Kaleigh Quennec who could be fielded an invite.