Goldeneyes draft Harvey first in PWHL entry draft

Caroline Harvey - the standout NCAA defenseman and 2026 Olympic gold medalist - was selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the Professional Women's Hockey League entry draft on Wednesday. Harvey, 23, capped off a four-year collegiate career with the Wisconsin Badgers in March by being crowned the Patty Kazmaier Award Winner as the NCAA's best female hockey player. It was the latest in a long list of accolades for Harvey amid her incredible senior year captaining Wisconsin to another national championship - she paced all NCAA defenders with 18 goals and 64 points (setting a new record by a Badgers' blueliner) in 33 games and ranked second nationally in points per game (1.94) while collecting the most assists per game (1.39). Harvey also guided the USA to a gold medal victory at February's Olympic Games in Milan, where she grabbed nine points (tied for the tournament high) and was named Best Defender and MVP of the women's hockey field. The International Ice Hockey Federation also selected Harvey on Wednesday as its Female Player of the Year. Three more U.S. Olympians went with the next three picks, with Seattle selecting Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy, and Las Vegas picking Penn State forward Tessa Janecke. Las Vegas landed the pick from fellow expansion team Detroit in a trade that sent Hilary Knight to the Motor City. Expansion team San Jose selected Harvey's Badgers teammate Laila Edwards with the fourth pick. Harvey's success has made her one of the game's increasingly established stars at both ends of the ice, with an elite puck-moving capability from the backend that translates into play-driving offensive ability. That rare combination will make Harvey a top-pairing anchor for the Goldeneyes as a franchise-defining skater. That reputation will place immediate pressure on Harvey to perform. All her accomplishments to date have been in preparation for the inevitable expectations of now entering the professional ranks and leading Vancouver into its next chapter. She adds immediate offense to a Goldeneyes team that finished sixth and was the second team eliminated from contention in its inaugural season. "It does," Harvey said when asked if it seems like a blur. "It's been a special year. With all the experiences with the U.S. team and Wisconsin. I'm just so grateful for all my coaches, teammates and family. It really takes a village. I'm feeling really blessed right now." Vancouver was the PWHL's first-ever expansion team when they officially joined the league ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. The Goldeneyes landed third-last in PWHL standings last year among the then-eight team field but earned the coveted first pick in Wednesday's draft via the league's Gold Plan which was designed to reward clubs that remain competitive even after falling outside the postseason picture. The PWHL has announced four new expansion teams - in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose - that will compete at the outset of the 2026-27 season. That influx of teams meant more talent than ever would coming off the board at Wednesday's event, where a six-round draft will see 72 players (from more than 235 declared women) being slotted with new clubs.