Yes, it's a puzzling situation with Darwitz and Klee, StPaulSam. I could tell on the YouTube stream that Jayna Hefford received a smattering of boos from the Minnesota crowd (after having a role in Darwitz being let go). That was when she was giving a speech at the end of the draft. Klee received boos once or twice when sitting at the draft table, and someone had a sign in support of Darwitz.
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Here is what I noticed. The draft had a few surprises in my view, though not a lot. New York picked Sarah Fillier first overall as generally expected, and they had 8 draft picks total in 7 rounds. They made a multi-pick trade with Boston at the start of the 2nd round. Boston had only 6 draft picks; so I assume they're sticking with more players from this past season. Surprisingly, Minnesota didn't pick any players from Minnesota, as the Minnesota Whitecaps often did and Minnesota did under Darwitz, in September. Minnesota did pick Claire Thompson early, probably a surprise too, in the 1st round. It's not as surprising, but Montreal didn't pick any players from Quebec.
In the other main surprise... draftee Abby Boreen was picked up by Montreal, after she appeared as much as possible this year for Minnesota. Her professional-school schedule had allowed her only to be a "practice/reserve player" and sign 10-day contracts. Amanda Kessel went very late, 41 of 42, to Montreal in the last round. Boston picked an even split of forwards and defenders with their 6 picks. The announcers dubbed Sydney Bard a great pick for Boston. There were cheers for Bard's girlfriend who came to the draft. A couple players' boyfriends attended, as well. Parents, friends, and coaches were shown hugging them too as in the inaugural draft.
Nadine Muzerall was interviewed twice - as was Greg Fargo, now coach of NY. (Muzerall announced a pick of a Buckeye for one team.) Mae Batherson's brother, an Ottawa Sen, was visible. The Purple Carpet before the game had some interviews too, though the production values went up during the draft itself. They were a bit low in the early event.
The interviews were good. Draftees were interviewed by Saroya Tinker - a retired young D who has a position in the PWHL with Diversity & Inclusion as well as commentating many games. (She also started the Canada branch of Black Girl Hockey Club.) When Minnesota picked Britta Curl, some boos no doubt applied to Curl's social-media activity negative toward trans people. Tinker asked Curl what it will be like to focus on hockey full-time after college. This is much like the questions for other draftees yet one that signals a productive way forward with that consideration.
The first player drafted this year who hasn't played in college or professionally in North America, Daniela Pejsova (picked 7th), emphasized playing for her teammates, in her comments to Tinker about what she would bring to Boston. The pick with which Boston took Pejsova was traded by NY to Boston. Gwyneth Philips, the first goalie drafted this year (going to OTT), was wearing a cape. When asked in the draft about her clothes she said they were from Anthropologie. NY draftee Elle Hartje wore a vintage Detroit Lions jacket and made a plug for expansion to Detroit after the PWHL's highly-attended game in Detroit.
NY did well. I liked NY GM Pascal Daoust's appearance in an "I (heart) NY" shirt. (He seemed in a better mood after supposedly punching a wall in his box during a NY loss this season per The
NY Times.) Here is hoping that the 6 teams received what they wanted. The season's
awards are coming up today, 6/11, at 12:30 central/1:30 eastern.
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Picks of each team by position and last name:
NY:
F - Emmy Fecteau, Sarah Fillier, Elle Hartje, Gabby Rosenthal, Noora Tulus
D - Maja Nylen Persson, Ally Simpson
G - Kayle Osborne
OTT:
F - Mannon McMahon, Anna Meixner, Danielle Serdachny
D - Stephanie Markowski, Ronja Savolainen, Madeline Wethington
G - Gwyneth Philips
MIN:
F - Britta Curl, Klara Hymlarova, Katy Knoll, Brooke McQuigge, Dominique Petrie
D - Mae Batherson, Claire Thompson
BOS:
F - Hannah Bilka, Shay Maloney, Ilona Markova
D - Sydney Bard, Hadley Hartmetz, Daniela Pejsova
MTL:
F - Abigail Boreen, Jennifer Gardiner, Dara Greig, Amanda Kessel
D - Cayla Barnes, Anna Kjellbin, Anna Wilgren
TOR:
F - Izzy Daniel, Julia Gosling, Anneke Linser, Noemi Neubauerova
D - Lauren Bernard, Megan Carter
G - Raygan Kirk
