Sarah Fillier has a degree from Princeton, but sheB次元官网网址檚 opting for a pro hockey career by entering the PWHL draft on Monday.

The projected No. 1 pick from Canada took a moment to cherish her past six years in college.

On the ice, Fillier capped a four-year college career B次元官网网址� she took two seasons off to focus on helping Canada win gold at the 2022 Beijing Games B次元官网网址� by finishing among the TigersB次元官网网址� all-time scoring leaders in fourth with 194 points. Off the ice, the 23-year-old leaves the Ivy League with a degree in psychiatry.

B次元官网网址淚 just feel free to be honest. I loved my time at Princeton. It was a challenge academically for sure and a challenge athletically,B次元官网网址� Fillier told The Associated Press last week.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like getting a Princeton degree is so worth it. But now IB次元官网网址檓 home and the only thing on my mind is the pro league and draft and trying to be the best hockey player that I can be,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淎nd I feel like I earned that after these four years.B次元官网网址�

From suburban Toronto, Fillier tops a deep class of prospects B次元官网网址� filled out by a large crop of European veterans after the leagueB次元官网网址檚 first seasonB次元官网网址� entering the six-team, seven-round draft in St. Paul, Minnesota.

New York holds the first pick based on its last-place finish, followed by Ottawa. Newly crowned champion Minnesota goes third after its fourth-place finish. Boston, Montreal and Toronto round out the order.

Among the top-ranked prospects are players coming directly out of college, including Colgate centre Danielle Serdachny, who scored the gold medal-clinching goal in overtime for Canada at the world championships in April. The possibility of Serdachny going first escalated Friday when New York filled its head-coaching vacancy by hiring Greg Fargo, who was her coach at Colgate.

Then thereB次元官网网址檚 U.S. national players, forward Hannah Bilka and defender Cayla Barnes, who helped Ohio State win the NCAA championship in March. Also in the mix are more experienced players who either took last year off from hockey or come from Europe.

Three-time U.S. Olympian Amanda Kessel spent last season as a special assistant with the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins. Canadian defender Claire Thompson focused on her second year studying medicine at NYU. Both are timing their return with an eye on competing at the 2026 Olympics in Italy.

B次元官网网址淚 missed (playing) a lot. I think that this year was really excellent in putting things in perspective,B次元官网网址� the 26-year-old Thompson said. B次元官网网址淚 think that has motivated me and made me really truly want to come back to hockey. Not because itB次元官网网址檚 something that I should do, but because itB次元官网网址檚 something I really want to do.B次元官网网址�

Among Europeans, 28-year-old forward Noora Tulus ends her nine-year pro stint in Sweden to test her skills in the PWHL.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 super-excited but IB次元官网网址檓 also nervous. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be best against best and youB次元官网网址檙e around the best,B次元官网网址� said Tulus, a two-time Olympian for Finland. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking to see where (are) my limits.B次元官网网址�

The influx of talent increases the competition for what remains a limited number of roster spots B次元官网网址� 23 active plus a three-player reserve squad B次元官网网址� for a league that isnB次元官网网址檛 considering expansion until after the 2024-25 season.

Two of three PWHL general managers polled by The AP expect about 25 of the 42 players drafted to make the roster next season. The third GM projected the number to be 30.

Of the 167 players declaring for the draft, 35 are international players representing 19 countries, including Japan, Hungary and Italy.

Though spots are limited, the PWHL embraces attracting more Europeans to cement itself as the worldB次元官网网址檚 premier womenB次元官网网址檚 league. And Europeans are driven to come to North America to help develop their games in a bid to narrow the competitive gap.

Players from the Czech Republic, for example, rely on playing outside their home country because of a lack of a league and development program.

B次元官网网址淚n Czech, itB次元官网网址檚 a bad situation,B次元官网网址� said 21-year-old defender Daniela Pejsova, who spent the past six years in Sweden.

B次元官网网址淚 mean, IB次元官网网址檓 proud of the program with what we have with a national team, but there needs to be some more steps forward,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping that the Czech players are going to this league more to move womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey overall forward.B次元官网网址�

The growth of the sport is also apparent in the U.S. with players developing in non-hockey markets, such as Bilka, who is from Texas, and Barnes, from California.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 growing. More girls want to play. And now being able to see the PWHL, I think itB次元官网网址檚 skyrocketing even more,B次元官网网址� Barnes said. B次元官网网址淲hen we were younger, that was just a shot in the dark, a hope. So thatB次元官网网址檚 really exciting for the younger generations.B次元官网网址�

Defending champion Minnesota is in flux after the PWHL parted ways with GM Natalie Darwitz. Coach Ken Klee will oversee the teamB次元官网网址檚 draft selections.

In a twist, Abby Boreen is draft eligible despite being a member of MinnesotaB次元官网网址檚 championship team. Boreen is in this situation because she signed a reserve contract with Minnesota after not declaring for the draft last year.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely unique,B次元官网网址� said Boreen, who had five goals and seven points in 14 games, including five in the post-season. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 have the opportunity to experience the draft last year so, honestly, IB次元官网网址檓 super-excited.B次元官网网址�

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John Wawrow, The Associated Press