Sarah Fillier has a degree from Princeton, but she91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� she took two seasons off to focus on helping Canada win gold at the 2022 Beijing Games 91裸聊视频� by finishing among the Tigers91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚 just feel free to be honest. I loved my time at Princeton. It was a challenge academically for sure and a challenge athletically,91裸聊视频� Fillier told The Associated Press last week.

91裸聊视频淚 feel like getting a Princeton degree is so worth it. But now I91裸聊视频檓 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,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淎nd I feel like I earned that after these four years.91裸聊视频�

From suburban Toronto, Fillier tops a deep class of prospects 91裸聊视频� filled out by a large crop of European veterans after the league91裸聊视频檚 first season91裸聊视频� 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 there91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 missed (playing) a lot. I think that this year was really excellent in putting things in perspective,91裸聊视频� the 26-year-old Thompson said. 91裸聊视频淚 think that has motivated me and made me really truly want to come back to hockey. Not because it91裸聊视频檚 something that I should do, but because it91裸聊视频檚 something I really want to do.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 super-excited but I91裸聊视频檓 also nervous. It91裸聊视频檚 going to be best against best and you91裸聊视频檙e around the best,91裸聊视频� said Tulus, a two-time Olympian for Finland. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 looking to see where (are) my limits.91裸聊视频�

The influx of talent increases the competition for what remains a limited number of roster spots 91裸聊视频� 23 active plus a three-player reserve squad 91裸聊视频� for a league that isn91裸聊视频檛 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 world91裸聊视频檚 premier women91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚n Czech, it91裸聊视频檚 a bad situation,91裸聊视频� said 21-year-old defender Daniela Pejsova, who spent the past six years in Sweden.

91裸聊视频淚 mean, I91裸聊视频檓 proud of the program with what we have with a national team, but there needs to be some more steps forward,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 hoping that the Czech players are going to this league more to move women91裸聊视频檚 hockey overall forward.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 growing. More girls want to play. And now being able to see the PWHL, I think it91裸聊视频檚 skyrocketing even more,91裸聊视频� Barnes said. 91裸聊视频淲hen we were younger, that was just a shot in the dark, a hope. So that91裸聊视频檚 really exciting for the younger generations.91裸聊视频�

Defending champion Minnesota is in flux after the PWHL parted ways with GM Natalie Darwitz. Coach Ken Klee will oversee the team91裸聊视频檚 draft selections.

In a twist, Abby Boreen is draft eligible despite being a member of Minnesota91裸聊视频檚 championship team. Boreen is in this situation because she signed a reserve contract with Minnesota after not declaring for the draft last year.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 definitely unique,91裸聊视频� said Boreen, who had five goals and seven points in 14 games, including five in the post-season. 91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 have the opportunity to experience the draft last year so, honestly, I91裸聊视频檓 super-excited.91裸聊视频�

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John Wawrow, The Associated Press