The Women’s Professional Hockey League held its second annual amateur draft last month. Next year’s draft lineup could have a bit of a Rochester flavor.

In The Hockey News’ latest article predicting the 2025 PWHL draft, Clarkson University’s Haley Winn and Ohio State’s Kiara Zanon, both from the Rochester area, were named among the top prospects in women’s hockey.

Winn, who already has an award-winning college and international resume, was ranked third in THN’s top 15 prospects. In the absence of a specific ranking, Zanon was among dozens of other college players to watch.

With draft eligibility intact, the duo could follow in the footsteps of Fairport native Natalie Buchbinder, who was selected in the seventh round last September in the first PWHL draft, going 37th overall. No local players were selected in the 2024 draft last month.

Winn recently completed his junior season at Clarkson, where he scored 39 points in 38 games as a defenseman and helped the Golden Knights reach the NCAA national semifinals. He was also named to the United States national team for the second consecutive world championship, winning a silver medal with the Americans. Prior to his time at Clarkson, Winn competed in the Bishop Kearney High School selection program.

After three seasons at Penn State, Zanon will play the 2023–24 season at Ohio State. Another Bishop Kearney graduate, Zanon scored 14 goals and 41 points to help the Buckeyes win their second national championship in three seasons. She was a two-time finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top female college player in the United States.

What is PWHL?

The Women’s Professional Hockey League is the premier women’s hockey league in North America. The league, which began competition this January, consists of six franchises and a 24-game schedule for each. Three teams reside in the United States (Boston, Minnesota, New York), while the remaining teams play in Canada (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto).

Women’s professional hockey has existed in North America for nearly 25 years, but many previous organizations lacked the necessary funding to sustain competition.

The PWHL is owned and operated by the Mark Walter Group, which takes its name from the same team that also co-owns the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Who is eligible for the PWHL draft?

The newly formed league held two amateur drafts last calendar year, including the 2024 season. The first draft, held in Toronto in September, featured 15 rounds and 90 picks. A second draft, held in St. Paul, Minnesota, in June, featured seven rounds and 42 picks.

The PWHL has not announced a date or location for the 2025 draft. However, if the timeline mimics the 2024 event, players must declare for the draft by mid-May. Any player not under contract with a PWHL team (including those competing in previous women’s professional leagues) is eligible to participate in the draft if they declare.

Players who are not drafted can sign with any team they choose.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Two Rochester natives listed among 2025 PWHL draft prospects