Three former London Devilettes chosen in inaugural PWHL draft
From the hamlet of Foldens, Ont. to the bright lights of New York City.
Ella Shelton is headed to the Big Apple after being chosen in the first round of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) draft Monday.
“Just to be selected in the fourth pick in the first round was I think just blacked out at that point,” said Shelton, 25, an Olympic gold medal defender for Team Canada. “I don't even remember much, I just remember hugging my mom and my dad and my brother.”
After the honour of shaking hands with Billie Jean King on stage, Shelton is about to join New York in the inaugural season of the six-team PWHL.
The league has sponsorship backing, investors, and a goal of being sustainable for years.
Salaries haven't been disclosed, but players are expected to make between USD$35,000 to $80,000, but there are other incentives built into the contracts.
“This will be best league in the world in terms of the talent on the ice,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL senior VP of hockey operations. “We have an ownership group that includes some of the most prominent sport owners in the world.”
Hefford added, “We have a CBA (collective bargaining agreement) in place in advance of launching this league which is incredibly unique. The CBA provides a lot of certainty to players around working conditions and player safety and meals and housing, so this is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the women’s game, so the best players in the world want to be part of this league.”
Over the years, the best women’s players in the world have been living paycheck to paycheck. They know making millions is not realistic, but they want to make enough money to not need a second job to make ends meet, or pay for training and living expenses while trying to win Olympic medals.
“Now to able to be a part of this league that grows and will be there for generations I hope that I’m doing it justice,” said Shelton. “To all the little girls out there, they know now that they can grow up and this is their profession. They can be a professional hockey player, and that they don't have to worry about anything else but do what they love.”
Two women from St. Thomas, Ont. also heard their name called on draft day.
Brittany Howard, 27, who finished fifth in league scoring in the PHF last season for the Toronto Six, will remain in the big smoke after being chosen in the eighth round.
Lexie Adzija, 23, will make her professional debut after being drafted by Ottawa in the eleventh round. Adzija is coming off a five-year career at NCAA Quinnipiac University.
Shelton, Howard and Adzija are all former London Devilettes junior players.
Play will begin in January and Shelton can't wait to get started on her newest adventure.
“The only New York I've ever been to as Potsdam, New York for Clarkson University, so this will be a big change,” said Shelton.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.