The first two rounds of the 2018 NWHL Draft

Annie Pankowski was the first overall pick of this year’s draft

Today, the picks for the first two rounds of the 2018 NWHL Draft were announced over Twitter and Instagram. Tomorrow, rounds three through five will take place tomorrow and teams will begin making their selections at 11 a.m. ET.

For the first time since the 2015 Draft, we saw a first round where only American-born players were selected. Clarkson University’s Loren Gabel was the sole Canadian-born player drafted in the first two rounds. We also saw three Boston College Eagles — including the only two defenders taken in the first two rounds — and two University of Wisconsin Badgers drafted today.

It’s also worth noting that 2018 Olympic gold medalist Kelly Pannek became the first pick in Minnesota Whitecaps franchise history. She was one of three Pyeongchang Olympians drafted in the first round of the draft.


ROUND ONE

1 - Metropolitan Riveters | Annie Pankowski, F, Wisconsin University

2 - Connecticut Whale | Melissa Samoskevich, F, Quinnipiac University

3 - Buffalo Beauts | Megan Keller, D, Boston College

4 - Minnesota Whitecaps | Kelly Pannek, F, University of Minnesota

5 - Boston Pride | Kali Flanagan, D, Boston College

ROUND TWO

6 - Metropolitan Riveters | Kendall Cornine, F, RIT

7 - Connecticut Whale | Makenna Newkirk, F, Boston College

8 - Buffalo Beauts | Loren Gabel, F, Clarkson University

9 - Minnesota Whitecaps | Sophia Shaver, F, Wisconsin University

10 - Boston Pride | Bailey Larson, F, Colgate University



Rounds 3-5 of the 2018 NWHL Draft