Defenseman Chloe Primerano became the first skater to be drafted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League team on Thursday when the Vancouver Giants made her their 13th-round pick (268th overall) in the WHL Draft.
Primerano was the first woman selected in the WHL draft and the fourth woman selected in the draft in Canadian major junior hockey. Three goalkeepers preceded him: in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Charline Labonté was selected by Acadie-Bathurst Titan in 1999, then Jenny Lavigne of Rimouski Océanic in 2002, and Taya Currie was drafted by Sarnia Sting of OHL in 2021.
Along with the Burnaby Winter Club U-15 team, the athlete from North Vancouver, British Columbia, has amassed 2 goals and 17 assists in 30 games.
He knows how to move the puck and stays calm when under pressure from an opponent’s forecheck, said WHL hockey operations director Taylor Green. He provides accurate passes out of the zone and on the move. His gathering of information allows him to make the right decision in all three areas.
” Chloe had a great season with Burnaby, and she got this historic draft pick. “
Two other goaltenders, Manon Rhéaume (1991) and Ève Gascon (2022), also played in the QMJHL, without being recruited during the draft. In the WHL, goaltender Shannon Szabados defended the net for the Tri-City Americans in 2002.
Source: Radio-Canada
