In the NHL, fans are already well accustomed to following the OHL, WHL, QMJHL, and USHL. From an early age these leagues have introduced the NHL to players like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.
On the women’s side, a similar league exists, although it receives almost none of the fanfare, and the top rising stars in the women’s game typically need to wait until they reach the U-18 World Championships and then NCAA to get any attention.
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That needs to change.
Located in Ontario, the Ontario Women’s Hockey League, known as the OWHL U-22 Elite league, is a league PWHL fans need to start following, now.
The OWHL, which was coincidentally known as the PWHL (Provincial Women’s Hockey League) until the 2021-22 season, has produced many of the world’s best players for decades.
Of the 155 players who suited up in at least one PWHL game this season, roughly 30% played in the OWHL. It’s a group that includes Sarah Fillier, Renata Fast, Daryl Watts, Ella Shelton, Sarah Nurse, Sophie Jaques, Laura Stacey, Natalie Spooner, Brianne Jenner, Erin Ambrose, Claire Thompson and dozens more.
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It’s not simply a league where the top Ontario based Canadians have played either. American national team member Hayley Scamurra, and American PWHL players Katy Knoll and Sydney Bard are also alumni of the league.
This year current members or alumni from the league also represented Slovakia, Poland, South Korea, Hungary, and Great Britain at the Olympic Games Qualifiers.
Similarly within Canada, players are flocking to the league from all corners of the country to find the best competition. That list includes players like Manitoba’s Sara Manness and Kate Manness, and New Brunswick’s Ava Wood who were members of Canada’s U-18 national team who moved away from home to join the OWHL this year.
Last season, the OWHL was filled with players the women’s hockey world should be watching with attention. Among those are players like 16-year-old Adrianna Milani of the Etobicoke Dolphins and 17-year-old Durham West Lightning forward Maddie McCullough. The league’s leading scorer this season, Maxine Cimeroni recorded 80 points in 37 games and is headed to Ohio State next season. The league’s top goal scorer was Charlotte Pieckenhagen who notched 39 goals, edging Cimeroni by two, in 37 games. Piekenhagen will joined the Wisconsin Badgers this Fall.
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While eyes in men’s hockey point to the Canadian Hockey League each year for the NHL draft, and to the NCAA each year for the PWHL draft, it’s high time the OWHL begins to get the dues the league deserves as the world’s top junior women’s hockey league and developer of talent.
Adrianna Milani of the Etobicoke Dolphins – Photo @ Ian Kennedy