Anne Cherkowski discusses making her Team Canada debut, her skill set, and the future of pro women's hockey. When Hockey Canada's national development team hits the ice this month, there will be several PWHL Draft prospects on the ice to open their draft year campaigns. While any player on the ice could technically declare for the 2025 PWHL Draft [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/early-look-at-the-top-prospects-for-the-2025-pwhl-draft], here's a look at the older players on the roser likely to make the jump net season. ANNE CHERKOWSKI - F - CLARKSON Likely the top prospect from Canada's national development team, Cherkowski is a tenacious two way player who uses her on-ice intelligence, speed, and compete to win pucks. She's shown she can score at the NCAA level, but also has the skill set to enter the PWHL as a third line checker who can contribute secondary scoring. Her versatility will make her a top contender to steal a spot with Canada's national team this year. Cherkowski had a strong showing at last year's Rivalry Series [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/international/a-debut-to-remember-for-anne-cherkowski]. She's projected to go in the opening three rounds of next year's draft. KENDALL COOPER - D - QUINNIPIAC Cooper is probably closer to ready for the PWHL and Canada's national team blueline than any defender here. She's consistently produced for Quinnipiac in the NCAA last season hitting a career high of 11 goals and 33 points in 37 games sitting among the highest scoring blueliners in the NCAA. Cooper also won gold with Canada's U-18 team, and served as captain for Canada's silver medal winning team the following season, where she was named a tournament All-Star. She'll be a surefire PWHL pick, projecting somewhere between rounds 3-5. JENNA BUGLIONI - F - OHIO STATE Ohio State's captain this season has put up solid numbers in four NCAA seasons and looks like she'll project as a middle six forward capable of providing offense in the PWHL. This season she'll take on a bigger scoring role with Ohio State, and should garner plenty of interest in the second half of the PWHL Draft, if not sooner. HANNAH MURPHY - G - COLGATE It's extremely difficult to predict how PWHL teams will approach goalies next season. With no expansion on the horizon next year, and most teams with goaltenders under contract, there just isn't a lot of room in the league for goalies, even those as talented as Murphy. At 5-foot-10, Murphy has size making her a new wave women's hockey goalie, and she's averaged a 1.44 GAA, .935 save percentage, and posted 15 shutouts in her three seasons at Colgate. ASHLEY MESSIER - D - CORNELL Messier is a smooth defender who has flown under the radar for some time with Cornell due to the fact she doesn't post the biggest numbers. PWHL teams will need to begin focusing in on two-way blueliners who can contribute not only offensively, but in ending rushes and starting transitions from their own zone. Messier could fit that bill in the second half of the PWHL Draft. SARA WOZNIEWICZ - F - WISCONSIN Not a big offensive producer on a stacked Wisconsin team, Wozniewicz does everything else you'd want a forward to do. She might be a player who could benefit from going to Europe for a season to score more, but she's also an ideal bottom six forward for any PWHL team. She'd fit well into a depth role where she could grow into her offense. SARAH PAUL - F - PRINCETON Paul missed the entire 2022-2023 season, so she's likely to return for another NCAA campaign, but her cohort will be heading to the PWHL which could change her plans. If she declares, the shoot first scorer could draw plenty of interest, and might be a tempting piece to re-unite with Sarah Fillier.
