Abbotsford\u2019s Hailey MacLeod selected by Montreal at PWHL Draft<\/p>\n
Published 10:25 am Thursday, June 18, 2026<\/p>\n
Abbotsford\u2019s Hailey MacLeod was introduced into the professional hockey by Canadian hockey royalty at the PWHL Draft in Detroit on Wednesday (June 17).<\/p>\n
Three-time Olympic gold medallist and 2026 Walter Cup champion Laura Stacey announced MacLeod as the Montreal Victoire\u2019s fourth round pick, 48th overall and also welcomed the former Yale Secondary student as her new teammate on the defending champion team.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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-Ren\u00e9e Desbiens on Montreal later this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing, I am just in awe \u2013 it\u2019s an unbelievable feeling,\u201d she told media after being picked. \u201cShe\u2019s one of the best in the game so to have her [Stacey] read my name out is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avec le 48e choix au total, la Victoire de Montr\u00e9al s\u00e9lectionne la gardienne Hailey MacLeod de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 d\u2019\u00c9tat de l\u2019Ohio.<\/p>\n
With the 48th-overall selection, the Montr\u00e9al Victoire have drafted goaltender Hailey MacLeod from the Ohio State University. pic.twitter.com\/A13S6mZjQY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Victoire de Montr\u00e9al (@PWHL_Montreal) June 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n MacLeod said she\u2019s looking forward to joining her new teammates.<\/p>\n \u201cThey just won the Walter Cup and these are girls we\u2019ve looked up to our whole careers so to be in that locker room \u2013 it\u2019s surreal,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled, I wish we could start tomorrow. To be back in Canada is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n She said she will bring a steady influence in between the pipes for the Victoire.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI think I bring a calm presence in the crease,\u201d she said, when asked to describe her game. \u201cThat\u2019s something I like to have in my game \u2013 just having an even keel presence for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n She said this past season was big for her development.<\/p>\n \u201cI think getting in consistent games really helped,\u201d she said of 2025-26. \u201cIt 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Montreal\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The PWHL regular season typically runs from November to April.<\/p>\n Other B.C. players chosen on Wednesday included: Langley\u2019s Sara Swiderski (ninth overall to Minnesota), Lake Country\u2019s Jade Iginla (18th overall to Hamilton), White Rock\u2019s Grace Elliott (38th to the Seattle Torrent) and Richmond\u2019s Tova Henderson (45th to Minnesota).<\/p>\n OUR GOLDEN GIRL \ud83e\udd29<\/p>\n With the 1st overall pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft, we\u2019ve selected defender KK Harvey! pic.twitter.com\/NgNBePmcxB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Vancouver Goldeneyes (@PWHL__Vancouver) June 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Vancouver\u2019s other picks included: forward Thea Johansson (17th overall), defender Jules Constantinople (25th overall), goalie Katelyn DeSa (37th overall) and defender Ashley Messier (61st overall).<\/p>\n For full draft results, visit thepwhl.com\/en\/draft.<\/a><\/p>\n