PWHL Draft: Theresa Schafzahl picked by Boston at No. 39
It was a special kind of premiere, as it was the first draft in the history of the new North American Professional Women´s Hockey League, which consists of the teams Minnesota, Toronto, Boston, New York, Ottawa and Montreal. National team player Theresa Schafzahl was picked by Boston in round 7 at No. 39 and will receive a professional contract.
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The PWHL is the successor organisation to the Premier Hockey Federation. Theresa Schafzahl had been set to sign a contract with Montreal Force after a total of five years in the NCAA with the University of Vermont, but things have now turned out very differently. The PHF ceased operations at the end of June, while the PWHL began operations two months later.
“It was very turbulent,” reports Theresa Schafzahl who is currently in Montreal for her Master's degree. “At the start of the summer, we found out that the PHF would not continue. That was a huge shock. Then came the news that they were creating a new league. It is great that it is now here.”
The first draft in the history of the newly founded professional league took place in Toronto on Monday, local time. The PWHL comprises six teams in the 2023/24 season, which secured the rights to a total of 90 players over 15 rounds. Theresa Schafzahl was among them, having been picked in round 7 at No. 39, and will lace up her skates for Boston in future.
“I had been in contact with four teams before the draft, and Boston was not among them. So it came as a bit of a surprise to me when they picked me,” says the 23-year-old.
The first training camp is scheduled for November, while the championship is set to begin in January, with the league also seeking a partnership with the NHL.
At Boston, Theresa Schafzahl will receive her first professional contract, fulfilling a certain dream: “As a child, I would never have thought that I would one day play ice hockey professionally. It will be an incredible experience, especially as the standard in the league is enormously high and all six teams have signed only top players.”
She expects the inaugural season to be a fairly balanced championship.
Theresa Schafzahl last took to the ice in the national team jersey at the World Championship Division IA in spring 2022. She missed the World Championship in China last August due to back problems, which have now healed.
