The Professional Women’s Hockey League released its 2025 Draft eligibility list on May 15. Included on the list are Rory Guilday ’25, Lily Delianedis ’25 and Katie Chan ’25, three recent Cornell graduates who this winter helped lead the Red to its first ECAC title since 2014 and the Frozen Four. The draft — which will begin at 7 p.m. on June 24 and last six rounds — is the PWHL’s second entry draft and will be the first to include Vancouver and Seattle, the league’s first expansion teams.
Rory Guilday, Defender
2024-2025: five goals, four assists
Collegiately: 19 goals, 33 assists
Accolades: ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team; US College Hockey Online All-Rookie Team; All Ivy-League second team; Two-time First Team All-Ivy; Third Team All-ECAC Hockey.
Like Izzy Daniel ’24, Cornell’s lone pick in last year's PWHL entry draft, Guilday is projected to be taken at the end of the first round or the start of the second. However, Daniel ended up sliding to pick No. 18 over concerns around her smaller stature and lack of national team experience. Guilday, meanwhile, checks both of those boxes. At 5’11, Guilday is able to dominate forwards with her physical playstyle, a skill that will translate well in the PWHL. Plus, her 38 games with Team USA have given her plenty of experience competing with the best players in the world.
Guilday’s only weakness might be her lack of offensive output compared to other top defensive prospects, such as Clarkson graduates Haley Winn and Nicole Gosling. And yet, her powerful slap shot should be enough to generate offense at the next level. A dominant blueliner on one of the best defenses in the nation, Guilday easily projects as a top pick in this year’s draft and a rotation constant in the PWHL.
Best Fits: Ottawa or Boston (lost key defenders in the PWHL expansion draft); Vancouver (Vancouver General Manager Cara Gardner Morey was previously the head coach at Princeton, which is in the ECAC with Cornell, so she should have the best scouting report on Guilday).
The Hockey News Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 5 Ottawa Charge
Rinksiders.com Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 5 Ottawa Charge
Eli’s Projection: Round 1, Pick 5 Ottawa Charge
Lily Delianedis, Forward
2024-2025: 12 goals, 10 assists
Collegiately: 53 goals, 57 assists
Accolades: ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year; ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team; Second Team All-Ivy.
A key cog in Cornell’s offensive machine all four of her years on East Hill, Delianedis never failed to post double digit goals and assists with her lowest point total — a still impressive 22 — coming during her senior season. While Delianedis isn’t afraid to work from behind the goal on offense, this year she scored most of her goals with her wrist shot around the circles or in the high slot. Delianedis is also a hard worker on the defensive end of the ice, a trait which should boost her draft stock in a league where all-around ability is prioritized.
While Delianedis’ lack of goal scoring (especially in her senior season) would seemingly limit her draft upside, analytically she is among the best forwards in the draft class. Delianedis ranks sixth among PWHL draft declared forwards in Corsi — an advanced stat that measures the difference in shot attempts for or against a player’s team when they are on the ice. While Delianedis projects as a mid to late round pick, it would not be a big surprise if a team decides to draft the Minnesotan in an earlier round after falling in love with her advanced analytics and well-rounded play style.
Best Fits: Tough to determine, but possible candidates include Boston (needs forward depth); New York (also needs forward depth); Minnesota (hometown pick); Vancouver (General manager was head coach at Princeton).
The Hockey News Mock Draft: Not drafted in the first two rounds
The Hockey News PWHL Draft Player Rankings: 36
Rinksiders.com Mock Draft: Not drafted in first three rounds, first player listed in “Just Missed”
Eli’s Projection: Likely the fourth or fifth round. Round 4, Pick 2 Boston Fleet
Katie Chan, Forward
Stats (2021-2023 at Colgate, 2023-2025 at Cornell)
2024-2025: 9 goals, 10 assists
Collegiately: 34 goals, 42 assists
A scrappy, hardworking forward who featured on Cornell’s most dangerous line during her senior season, Chan endeared herself to the Lynah Faithful despite spending just two years on East Hill after transferring from Colgate. The British Columbian’s greatest strength is her effort — at any given moment Chan is usually found pestering an opposition’s defenders while forechecking or trying to shovel the puck into the net from around the crease any way she can.
Like Delianedis, the analytics think Chan is underrated. She ranks in the top-20 nationally in Corsi, despite failing to make an All-Ivy team. The biggest issue for Chan when it comes to the PWHL is her size and playstyle. At 5’2, Chan has spent her entire collegiate career successfully playing as an undersized forward. Still, her small frame and the PWHL’s physical nature makes her a risky pick. Similarly, her gritty style of play could have trouble adapting to the highly skilled professional level. So while Chan helped anchor Cornell’s offense, it’s not likely she will be drafted come Tuesday.
The Hockey News PWHL Draft Player Rankings: 82
Eli’s prediction: Undrafted, offered training camp invite as an Undrafted Free Agent
A final note: The Sun’s 2024 Female Athlete of the Year — Izzy Daniel ’24 — was selected with the eighth pick of the PWHL expansion draft last week by Vancouver. The selection of the 2024 Patty Kazmaier award winner was a bit of a surprise, but makes sense considering that Vancouver General Manager Cara Gardner Morey was previously the head coach at Princeton. Daniel scored two goals and registered eight assists in eight games against the Tigers while playing for Cornell.
The second PWHL entry draft will last six rounds and begin on June 24 at 7 p.m. It can be streamed live for free on the league's YouTube channel or on The Sports Network in Canada.
Eli Fastiff is a senior editor on the 143rd editorial board and a member of the class of 2026 in the College of Arts and Sciences. You can follow him on X @Eli_Fastiff and reach him at efastiff@cornellsun.com.
