Five notable players on PWHL draft eligibility list

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The draft is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, in Ottawa, Ontario, with an expansion draft for both PWHL Seattle and PWHL Vancouver to be held prior.

In no particular order, here’s a look at some of the notable players on the draft list:

Allie Thunstrom

Forward | 37 years old | Maplewood, MN
This season: did not play

Thunstrom is an interesting, if somewhat unexpected, name on the draft eligible list. On one hand, there are plenty of reasons why we could see her selected in the draft. Known for her offensive prowess and skating speed, Thunstrom was an Isobel Cup Champion with the NWHL’s Minnesota Whitecaps in 2019. She led the league in goals the following two seasons and was named MVP in 2020, then an All-Star in 2023. She averaged nearly a point-per-game at both the NCAA (Boston College) and PHF/NWHL levels.

On the flip side, at 37, she is one of the older players looking to enter the league. She’s also been out of the pro game since 2023, though she never officially retired. Earlier this year, she won bronze at the world championship with the U.S. women’s national bandy team. With the sheer amount of talent out there, it’s going to be hard for anyone who hasn’t been actively playing to crack the roster — but if anyone can do it, Thunstrom is the one.

Michelle Karvinen

Forward | 35 years old | Rødovre, Denmark
This season: 21-14–35 in 32 games with Frölunda (SDHL)

Karvinen is an offensive forward and one of several notable European players potentially looking to make the jump to the PWHL. She’s represented Finland for years at the national team level at various tournaments, including the Olympics in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. Overall, she has 289 points, including 128 goals, in 283 international games, with 23 points in 24 Olympic games and 62 points in 74 World Championships games.

Her accolades are many; from medals to all kinds of top marks at various levels. Now Finland’s captain, she was the best forward at the 2014 Olympics, is a multi-time SDHL champion and previously registered 131 points in 87 NCAA games at North Dakota (2011-2014). Karvinen would be an asset to any PWHL team.

Kristýna Kaltounková

Forward | 23 years old | Vlasim, Czechia
This season: 26-22 (48) in 37 games with Colgate (NCAA)

Kaltounková finished her NCAA career with 233 points, including 111 goals, in 171 games over five years. She also wore an ‘A’ in her final season. Like many others, she has also represented her country internationally in recent years. She recorded six points, including four goals, in seven games at World Championships this year. Overall, she had 10 points in 11 international games.

This season, she was named an NCAA Second Team All-American as well as a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award. She was also named to the World Championships All-Star Team and recognized as one of the top three players for Czechia.

Casey O’Brien

Forward | 23 years old | Milton, MA
This season: 26-62 (88) in 41 games with Wisconsin (NCAA)

O’Brien is one of the most highly-touted PWHL prospects heading into this year’s draft, coming off an impressive five-year career at Wisconsin. It’s no surprise that she won the Patty Kazmaier Award this year as the top female college hockey player in the United States, averaging more than a point per game and finishing the year as a plus-65.

An offensively dynamic player, O’Brien finished her NCAA career with a whopping 274 points in 182 games, good for 1.51 points-per-game on average. In addition to winning the award in her final year, she was also a two-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier and a three-time NCAA champion.

Sanni Ahola

Goalie | 24 years old | Helsinki, Finland
This season: 8-8-3, 2.22 GAA, .917 sv% in 19 games with St. Cloud State (NCAA)

One of Finland’s top young goaltenders, Ahola would make a great addition to any PWHL team looking to add or bolster its net presence. She just finished five years at St. Cloud State, ending her NCAA career with 10 shutouts and a record of 35-43-5 with a 2.61 GAA and .917 save percentage.

In the past 10 years, Ahola has been part of the national team at the U18, U23 and senior levels. This year, she skated in four games at Worlds, going 3-1-0 and earning her second bronze medal in as many years. Last year, she was also named to the Worlds All-Star Team and named one of the top three players on the team. She previously had the best GAA and best save percentage at the 2023 Worlds.

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