Winterhawks draft Morgan Stickney, first-ever female American selected in WHL Draft

The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club today selected goaltender Morgan Stickney with the 215th overall pick in the tenth round of the 2023 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft.

Stickney, 15, is the first-ever female American-born player to be selected in the WHL Prospects Draft.

“I’ve always been a fan of the Winterhawks and to now be a part of this organization is a dream come true,” Stickney said. “To be drafted in the same league (Canadian Hockey League) as Manon Rhéaume and drafted to a team with a history of goalie legacy is an honor. I want to thank everyone who has supported me to this point and I look forward to what’s to come.”

𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 💫

Welcome to the Winterhawks, Morgan! pic.twitter.com/iXHjRQZj9O

— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) May 11, 2023

One of the top 2008-born goaltenders in the country, Stickney dominated the 2022-23 season with Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U women’s program. She held a 23-4-3 record across 33 games with a sterling .928 save percentage and 1.52 goals-against average. The Redondo Beach, Calif. native finished as a runner-up at the 2023 USA Hockey Nationals, earning a .950 save percentage and allowing one goal per contest.

“Morgan has excelled at the highest levels of USA Hockey. Her play for the LA Jr. Kings and Shattucks St. Mary’s is well deserving of recognition with our selection in the WHL Draft,” said Winterhawks Assistant to the General Manager and Director of Scouting Mike Coflin. “We are already looking forward to hosting Morgan and all our new Winterhawks prospects at the Neely Cup training camp in late August, and this will be a very rewarding hockey experience for her.”

Before moving to Minnesota to play for Shattuck St. Mary’s, Stickney previously played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings AAA organization. She played on the boys 10U, 11U, 12U and 13U teams and helped the Jr. Kings rank top five nationally all four years she played, including a #1 ranking during the 2020-21 season.

Since 2017, Stickney has won 37 tournaments and collected numerous awards, including earning 2023 North American Elite Female Showcase Most Outstanding Goaltender honors. She was invited to skate at the CCM68 combine in 2022, one of North America’s most premier development camps.

Additionally, Stickney has maintained a 4.0 GPA through her freshman year of high school and was recognized as an honor roll student.

FEMALE PLAYERS OF NOTE IN THE CHL:

Last year, the Vancouver Giants selected 2007-born defenseman Chloe Primerano in the 13th round, #268 overall, of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

In 2021, Canadian-born goaltender Taya Currie became the first female player drafted to the Ontario Hockey League when the Sarnia Sting selected her in the 14th round, #267 overall.

Four female players have appeared in Canadian Hockey League games. Goaltender Shannon Szabados made history when she became the first female to play in a WHL regular season game, lacing up with the Tri-City Americans on September 22, 2002. Goaltenders Ève Gascon (Gatineau Olympiques, 2021-22), future three-time Olympic gold medalist Charline Labonte (Acadie-Bathurst Titan, 1999-2001) and eventual two-time World Champion gold medalist Manon Rhéaume (Trois-Rivieres Draveurs, 1991-92) all played at least one game in the Quebec Major Junior League.

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