Abbotsford’s Hailey MacLeod selected by Montreal at PWHL Draft

Published 10:25 am Thursday, June 18, 2026

Abbotsford’s Hailey MacLeod was introduced into the professional hockey by Canadian hockey royalty at the PWHL Draft in Detroit on Wednesday (June 17).

Three-time Olympic gold medallist and 2026 Walter Cup champion Laura Stacey announced MacLeod as the Montreal Victoire’s fourth round pick, 48th overall and also welcomed the former Yale Secondary student as her new teammate on the defending champion team.

MacLeod become the first-ever Abbotsford hockey product to be chosen in the PWHL Draft and the goalie out of Ohio State University will look to solidify her role behind starting goalie and Olympic champion Ann-Renée Desbiens on Montreal later this year.

“It’s amazing, I am just in awe – it’s an unbelievable feeling,” she told media after being picked. “She’s one of the best in the game so to have her [Stacey] read my name out is incredible.”

Avec le 48e choix au total, la Victoire de Montréal sélectionne la gardienne Hailey MacLeod de l’Université d’État de l’Ohio.

With the 48th-overall selection, the Montréal Victoire have drafted goaltender Hailey MacLeod from the Ohio State University. pic.twitter.com/A13S6mZjQY

— Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) June 18, 2026

MacLeod said she’s looking forward to joining her new teammates.

“They just won the Walter Cup and these are girls we’ve looked up to our whole careers so to be in that locker room – it’s surreal,” she said. “I’m thrilled, I wish we could start tomorrow. To be back in Canada is incredible.”

She said she will bring a steady influence in between the pipes for the Victoire.

“I think I bring a calm presence in the crease,” she said, when asked to describe her game. “That’s something I like to have in my game – just having an even keel presence for the team.”

That demeanour led to significant success at the college level with OSU and the University of Minnesota-Duluth during her four years at the NCAA level.

MacLeod had a strong senior season for the OSU Buckeyes in 2025-26 and posted a record of 26-4-0, a goals against average of 1.48 and a save percentage of .932 in 30 games. They advanced to the NCAA title game, but fell 3-2 to the Wisconsin Badgers on March 22.

MacLeod accumulated good numbers in fewer appearances with the Buckeyes in 2024-25 and had a record of 8-1-1, a GAA of 1.63 and a save percentage of .907. Prior to her time with OSU, she spent two seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs before entering the NCAA transfer portal in 2024.

She said this past season was big for her development.

“I think getting in consistent games really helped,” she said of 2025-26. “It helps grow your confidence as a goalie and obviously you have to believe in yourself to be in that position. You kind of are isolated, but I had an incredible team behind me to support me and get me to where I needed to be.”

MacLeod joins a Montreal team that finished first in the regular season and won 22 of 30 games. They also allowed the fewest goals at just 41. The Victoire eliminated the two-time champion Minnesota Frost 3-2 in the semifinal and then earned a 3-1 series victory over the Ottawa Charge to win the Walter Cup on May 20.

Montreal’s home rink is the Place Bell, which has a capacity of more than 10,000. The Victoire ranked third in the league for attendance with an average of 9,950 per game in 2025-26.

The PWHL regular season typically runs from November to April.

Other B.C. players chosen on Wednesday included: Langley’s Sara Swiderski (ninth overall to Minnesota), Lake Country’s Jade Iginla (18th overall to Hamilton), White Rock’s Grace Elliott (38th to the Seattle Torrent) and Richmond’s Tova Henderson (45th to Minnesota).

OUR GOLDEN GIRL 🤩

With the 1st overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft, we’ve selected defender KK Harvey! pic.twitter.com/NgNBePmcxB

— Vancouver Goldeneyes (@PWHL__Vancouver) June 17, 2026

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Goldeneyes made headlines by choosing defender Caroline Harvey first overall. Harvey starred for the University of Wisconsin last season and helped the Badgers win the NCAA title. She scored 64 points in 33 games with Wisconsin and also helped Team USA win gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Vancouver’s other picks included: forward Thea Johansson (17th overall), defender Jules Constantinople (25th overall), goalie Katelyn DeSa (37th overall) and defender Ashley Messier (61st overall).

For full draft results, visit thepwhl.com/en/draft.