Abby Newhook following her brother into pro hockey, drafted by Boston of PWHL
Abby Newhook of St. John's was drafted 34th overall in the fifth round of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) draft by the Boston Fleet on Tuesday.
That makes her only the second player from Newfoundland and Labrador to be drafted into the PWHL, joining Maggie Connors who plays for the Toronto Sceptres.
"I'm feeling super excited. The past 24 hours has just been crazy, you know, something I've dreamed of my whole life and now it's finally here," Newhook told CBC News from Montreal on Wednesday.
"I think it will take a little bit of time to sink in."
Newhook said she's looking forward to a friendly rivalry with Connors, given that they are close friends and are eager to support one another.
Boston is a fitting destination for Newhook as she makes the leap to the pro level. She played her collegiate career at Boston College, scoring nine goals and 17 assists last season.
She said it's an exciting opportunity to be able to stay.
"Boston is a place that's become home for me," Newhook said. "I love the support from back home, [and] from Boston. And I'm just super excited to get started there."
She said making the jump from collegiate to professional hockey will be a challenge, but it's something she's ready to take on. She's already preparing with local coaches, and has gotten advice from her brother — Alex Newhook of the Montreal Canadiens.
Their mother, Paula Newhook, said the family is overwhelmed to now have two professional players to cheer for.
"It's pretty exciting, I got to say. You'd never really think when the kids were growing up and just playing minor hockey that both of their dreams would come true," she said.
"It certainly shows that [with] hard work and effort, it is possible for their dreams to come true. So we're ecstatic."
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CTV News
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18 minutes ago
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CTV News
18 minutes ago
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Judge delivering ruling in hockey players' sex assault trial
Warning: This article contains graphic content. LONDON — An Ontario judge is delivering her ruling in the sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team, saying she did not find the complainant's testimony to be credible. Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said Thursday that the Crown cannot meet its onus of proof for the charges in the case. She is still reading the reasons for her decision and hasn't officially ruled on the charges against each player. Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in an encounter that took place in a London, Ont. hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018. McLeod, who prosecutors allege was the 'ringleader' that night, has also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault. 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Formenton is alleged to have had vaginal sex with the complainant in the bathroom without her consent, and Foote is accused of doing the splits over her face and 'grazing' his genitals on it without her consent. Lawyers for McLeod, Hart, Formenton and Dube argue the woman consented to sexual acts with their clients, while Foote's lawyer argued he was fully clothed while doing partial splits over her body and didn't touch her at all. Court heard McLeod sent a text to a team group chat shortly after 2 a.m. asking if anyone wanted a 'three-way' and listing his room number. Hart replied he was 'in,' according to screenshots shown at trial. He also texted another teammate, Taylor Raddysh, telling him to come to the room if he wanted a 'gummer,' which Raddysh testified meant oral sex. McLeod made a similar comment to Boris Katchouk, another player who briefly stopped by his room, court heard. 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The trial began in late April and was initially heard by a jury, but Carroccia twice discharged the panel and eventually the trial was switched to a judge alone to avoid having to start over a second time. Nine witnesses testified, most of them remotely – including the complainant, who testified via CCTV from another room in the courthouse. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis: If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911. A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found on the website for Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada. Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here. National Residential School Crisis Line:+1 866 925 441924-hour crisis line:416 597 8808 Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline:+1 833 900 1010 Trans Lifeline:+1 877 330 6366 Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces:+1 844 750 1648 Read about your rights as a victim here.
