Ste Anne’s Kirk taken with final pick of PWHL draft

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This article was published 22/06/2024 (244 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Raygan Kirk had to wait until the very end of the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) 2024 draft to hear her name called, but the wait was worth it for the Ste Anne goalie.

The Toronto franchise selected the Ohio State standout with the 42nd pick, which was the last pick of the seventh and final round of the draft.

“It was phenomenal,” Kirk said a couple days after the draft, noting she was still “on cloud nine.”

“It was definitely a long night, especially for me… I was speechless getting on that stage. I’m honestly so grateful for the opportunity.”

Kirk said she had a good pre-draft meeting with PWHL Toronto general manager Gina Kingsbury, so wasn’t completely shocked by her selection. The two know each other from their time with Hockey Canada.

“(Toronto) is a great organization and market,” Kirk said.

Kirk was in attendance for the draft, which took place in Saint Paul, Minn. Eight players from the NCAA champion Ohio State, including Kirk, were selected in the draft.

“I was just going there for the experience,” Kirk said, adding the Buckeyes contingent sat together at the draft.

“It was a convenient location for us to go. It’s obviously an added bonus hearing my name called.”

There will be at least two friendly faces in Toronto when Kirk joins the team, as her roommate at Ohio State, Lauren Bernard was drafted by the franchise in round four.

“We’re kind of stuck together again,” Kirk quipped.

“I’m excited for that though. She’s amazing, for me to help transition for sure.”

The Toronto team may also need to play an exhibition game in Ste Anne. Kirk will be joining a roster which already features star defender Jocelyne Laroque, who also grew up in Ste Anne.

The selection prompted former Team Canada player and Ste Anne minor hockey alumnus Bailey Bram to joke about a potential professional reunion.

“Last but not least — We love to see it Ray Ray,” Bram tweeted in response to the selection.

“I think it’s time (Shelby Bram) and I start training for a comeback in 2025 to get the full Ste Anne crew activated.”

Kirk was just the third goalie selected in the draft, following Gwyneth Philips (round 3) and Kayle Osborne (round 5).

Finding playing time could be tough in Toronto, as she’ll be competing to back up the reigning PWHL goaltender of the year in Brandon’s Kirsten Campbell.

“(Campbell) is someone I’ve always looked up to,” Kirk said.

“There’s a lot of really great talent in that league and I can’t wait to watch the PWHL grow and be a part of it now.”

Schedules for Toronto’s training camp have not been released, but Kirk is expecting to see some hard work in the off-season pay off when it kicks off this fall, as she trains with Gord Woodhall.

“I’m definitely going to be working my butt off this summer,” Kirk said.

“It’s a long, long off-season, probably the longest one I’ve had… I’m going to give it my all at camp and put a good showing out.”

By all metrics, the six-team PWHL had a successful inaugural season, with the draft capping off a year of milestones for the league.

Toronto was defeated in the fifth and final game of the semi-finals by Minnesota this year. More than 450,000 people attended PWHL games this season, with games regularly needing to move into larger arenas to keep up with ticket demand.

When Toronto and Montreal April 20, over 21,000 fans packed into the Bell Centre to watch the game, setting the record for women’s hockey attendance.