In just one week, recent Michigan State graduates Asher Printzen and Jullia Gross-Turkey will attend the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft with hopes of hearing their names called.
Growing up, that was never a plausible dream.
Printzen, a forward from Las Vegas, and Gross-Turkey, a goaltender from Hamilton, Ontario, only watched competitive women’s hockey once every four years during the Winter Olympics broadcast. Their game was modeled after NHL players like Tuukka Rask and Shea Theodore.
“I did not ever think that I would be declaring for the PWHL draft,” Printzen said. “I didn't even think this would be possible growing up. I think delusionally growing up, we all have dreams, and growing up, I was like I'm definitely going to be in the NHL or something. I didn't know better.”
The NHL has been the only long-standing professional hockey league, and while there’s no rule barring women from competing, the only woman to have ever played in an NHL exhibition game is Manon Rhéaume, a former goaltender. No woman has ever competed in a regular-season or playoff game.
Rhéaume was recently named General Manager of the PWHL’s Detroit team, one of four expansion teams for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Detroit will host the draft at the Fox Theatre at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17.
Both Prinzten (16 points in 18 games) and Gross-Turkey (.916 SV%, 2.57 GAA) hold solid statistics. Printzen even competed in Spain (6 points, 7 games) for CHH Necso Txuri Urdin to round off last season.
But the strength of statistics is influenced by how competitive a league is. Lower statistics can mean more if they are against stronger competition, and vice versa. It’s hard to compare Prinzten and Gross-Turkey to other candidates because they’ve been competing in a different league.
The pool of 236 prospects includes 23 recent Olympians and five gold medalists from the 2026 U.S. Olympic team. Printzen and Gross-Turkey are two of just four club hockey players in the mix.
Only 48 players will be drafted, but more spots may become available. Players with expiring contracts may not be re-signed, resulting in an open position. Current players may be dismissed and expansion teams need to fill a complete 23-woman roster, requiring more than just the six draft picks allotted.
