Goldeneyes Set to Select Caroline Harvey First Overall in Upcoming PWHL Draft

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Langley blue liner Sara Swiderski, who starred at Ohio State, is also expected to be a first‑round selection

The general manager of the Vancouver Goldeneyes, Cara Gardner Morey, has not explicitly confirmed that the team will select Caroline Harvey with the first overall pick in the upcoming PWHL entry draft scheduled for Wednesday.

Harvey, a 23‑year‑old American defender from Pelham, New Hampshire, is widely regarded as the top prospect in this year’s draft, according to her profile on the PWHL website.

Gardner Morey has indicated that she will reveal the final selection shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Fox Theatre, noting that the draft features several impact players and that she will evaluate all options to strengthen the Goldeneyes for their second season and beyond.

The 2026 PWHL draft class is especially deep, with American prospects including forward Abbey Murphy and defender Laila Edwards receiving considerable attention.

Harvey, who will be a rookie in the league next season, brings extensive international experience, having earned two Olympic appearances and five World Championship medals, and was named most valuable player of the women’s tournament at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.

In addition to her defensive skills, Harvey is known for her speed and ability to contribute offensively, embodying the modern defensive archetype that can act as a fourth attacker.

Harvey’s standout performance came when she helped Team USA secure a 6‑3 victory over Canada in the 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship gold‑medal game.

She was a member of three NCAA championship teams at Wisconsin and captured the Patty Kazmaier Award this season as the nation’s top collegiate player, finishing second in the NCAA with 1.94 points per game, behind only Murphy’s 2.13.

A recent ranking by The Hockey News placed Harvey second overall among the world’s best women’s players, behind Marie‑Philipp Poulin and ahead of Alina Muller, Hilary Knight and Sarah Fillier, with Laila Edwards positioned at fifth.

Harvey describes her role as evolving, emphasizing that she views herself as an offensive contributor as well as a defensive specialist, capable of playing on the power play, penalty kill, and driving rushes.

Vancouver finished sixth in the eight‑team PWHL last season as an expansion franchise, but secured the Gold Plan standings that earned them the first overall pick after being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, winning their final four games of the campaign.

The Seattle Torrent, the league’s last‑place team with an 8‑1‑5‑16 record, hold the second overall selection, while the expansion clubs Detroit, San Jose, Las Vegas and Hamilton will receive the next four picks; Detroit traded the third overall slot to Las Vegas for the rights to Hilary Knight.

Vancouver possesses the first pick in each of the six draft rounds.

Among Canadian prospects, Langley’s Sara Swiderski, a 21‑year‑old blue‑liner who helped Ohio State reach the NCAA championship game, is projected as the first Canadian selected, potentially at tenth overall.

Kyle Cushman of The Score predicts Swiderski will be the top Canadian prospect, lauding her skating ability and defensive strength; she recorded eight goals and 27 points in 33 games for Ohio State last season.

Swiderski previously played for the Fraser Valley Rush and Greater Vancouver Comets before attending Kelowna’s Rink Academy for two years, and she expressed excitement about the growing west‑coast presence in the PWHL.

She noted that attending a Goldeneyes game during the Christmas break deepened her appreciation for the team’s fan support, with average attendance of 11,235 at the Pacific Coliseum, second only to the Torrent’s 12,875.

Swiderski highlighted the importance of the league’s expansion into western markets, stating that women’s hockey is increasingly visible on the West Coast and that the new teams will further accelerate its growth.

SEwen@postmedia.com

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