Latest news with #RoryGuilday
CTV News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘It felt awesome': Newest Ottawa Charge players describe being drafted into the PWHL in front of hometown fans
The Ottawa Charge select defender Rory Guilday, centre, during the first round of the PWHL draft in Ottawa, Tuesday June 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Two of the newest members of the Ottawa Charge say they are looking forward to playing in front of fans at the Arena at TD Place next season. The Ottawa Charge drafted defender Rory Guilday from Cornell University with their first round pick during the PWHL draft Tuesday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa. Sarah Wozniewicz of the University of Wisconsin was picked in the third round by the Charge. 'The fans, the city here and the support it has around it; it's going to be something pretty special to be a part of,' Guilday told CTV Morning Live Wednesday morning. Wozniewicz added, 'We all heard it last night. They were chanting both of our names after we got drafted and it felt awesome.' The fans attending the draft chanted Guilday and Wozniewicz's names after they were drafted Tuesday night. 'Pretty surreal moment. I don't think I was able to process it right away. Lots of emotions,' Guilday said. 'It's pretty cool. It was electric in that building and feeling that love was pretty cool.' The Charge made six picks during the PWHL draft. Anna Shokhina of Russia was selected in the second round, Peyton Hemp from the University of Minnesota was picked in the fourth round, Finland goaltender Sanni Ahola from St. Cloud State University was selected in the fifth round and Fanuza Kadirova of Russia was picked in the sixth round. Wozniewicz won the national championship at the University of Wisconsin this past season. 'That was awesome to experience that. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity in such a team event, it takes a lot of hard work and adversity to achieve that,' Wozniewicz said. Wozniewicz will be reunited with head coach Carla McLeod, who coached her in high school in Alberta. 'I'm super excited to play under her again; she's a great coach,' Wozniewicz said. 'It's a definitely a familiar face to see, it's very comforting. 'It's a whole circle moment. I never thought she would be coaching the PWHL when I was on her high school team.' Guilday admits she hasn't seen 'much of Ottawa,' but is looking forward to exploring the city more ahead of the new season.
National Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Ottawa Charge add big American defender, high scoring Russian with first picks in PWHL draft
The Ottawa Charge focused on size and character with their first pick in Tuesday's PWHL draft. Article content Selecting fifth overall, the Charge took Rory Guilday, a 5-foot-11, left-shooting defender who was the captain of Cornell last season. Article content Article content As expected, Guilday was welcomed not just with a rousing roar but chants of 'Rory' by the 600 mostly Charge fans attending the draft in the sparkling Hard Rock Live theatre at Ottawa's new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Article content 'I think I might have blacked out for a second, it was quite surreal,' Guilday, a native of Chanhassen, MN, said of the moment. 'I needed to take a breath and hug my parents … and my agent, as well. It takes a village, and sharing that moment with them was very special.' Article content Guilday didn't have to think long when asked if she had ever heard so many people chant her name, Article content 'I can't say that I have,' she said. 'It's a pretty cool feeling. If you ask me.' Article content Guilday isn't expected to bring a lot of offence to the Charge — in 30 games last season, she had five goals, four assists and 22 penalty minutes, along with a — but she is known as strong defender who anchored the blue line of a Cornell team that was one of the best defensive teams in the NCAA. Article content She also won a gold medal with the U.S. at the 2024 women's world championships. Article content 'I like to play a physical and fast game and shut down (opponent's defensively,' she said. 'I like to be reliable.' Article content Guilday's character was evident at a young age when she overcame a serious life obstacle. Article content Article content Article content 'In eighth grade, I found out I had a tumor on my optic nerve that was impacting my vision in my right eye, and they didn't want it to affect my other eye and wipe out my vision completely,' she said. 'So I did nine months of chemotherapy, when I was playing hockey and soccer at the time, and I kind of had to put those on hold and take the year off and try to take care of myself. I think I came out stronger on the other side. I lost some of my vision in my right eye, but it's pretty incredible what the body can do. I don't even notice it these days, my left eye just took over.' Article content Article content In the second round, the Charge took Anna Shokhina, a 27-year-old forward regarded as one of Russia's premier hockey players. Playing with the Dynamo-Neva St. Petersburg 'A' team last season, Shokhina had 30 goals and 43 assists in 42 regular-season games, and nine goals and seven assists in 16 playoff games. Article content Shokhina, who doesn't speak English, did not attend the draft.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 PWHL Draft Profile: Nicole Gosling
The 2025 PWHL Draft has strong defensive depth, but it comes in multiple tiers. Among the top tier, only three blueliners look capable to immediately challenge for top four minutes in Rory Guilday, Haley Winn, and Nicole Gosling. Gosling is a back-to-back NCAA All-American from Clarkson. She was named the NCAA Defender of the Year in 2024. During her most recent two seasons with Clarkson, the blueliner has posted identical 39 point seasons playing 40 games both years. Gosling is a reliable two-way defender who can join the rush and does so effectively. She's positionally strong and makes a crisp first pass from her own zone and in transition. While Gosling can join the attack, she's equally adept at playing a more defensive, shutdown role. At the 2023 World Championships representing Canada, she was one of the teams more consistent defenders on both sides of the puck. At the offensive blueline, Gosling sees lanes well and has a strong shot that she can accurately find lanes to thread. A good skater, Gosling will not find herself out of place or outmatched physically or mentally in the PWHL. She likely won't show as much flash in the pros as Winn, but has more offensive upside than Guilday. How teams rank the trio will be based on their specific needs. Gosling has won gold at the U-18 and senior national level representing Canada, and also played for Canada national development team this season. She's as close to being pro ready as it gets.
