The WHL has had a historic first.
Chloe Primerano, a 15-year-old defender from the Burnaby Winter Club U-15 team, has become the first woman skater drafted to the CHL after getting selected 268th overall by the Vancouver Giants.
A native of North Vancouver, B.C., Primerano is described as a solid skater that moves the puck well and with good decision-making. In 30 games with the U-15 prep program against boys, she had 19 points in 30 games, good for second in defense scoring on her club.
“Chloe’s play this season in the top U15 league in Canada made her fully deserving of this selection today,” Giants GM Barclay Parneta said in a statement posted by the WHL. “The Vancouver Giants are happy to recognize her strong play by drafting her to the Western Hockey League.”
If Primerano plays in the WHL, she’ll be the first player since goaltender Shannon Szabados in 2002 to play in the WHL, and the first skater to play in any CHL league. Ève Gascon recently became the third woman to play in the crease in the QMJHL, while Taya Currie became the first woman ever drafted to the OHL last year.
Like all players taken in the WHL draft, Primerano will have the chance to play a handful of games in the WHL this season before potentially going full-time in 2023-24.
