Ella Shelton Drafted to Big Apple in new Women's Hockey League

Monday, 18 September 2023 17:07

By Robert Van Ryswyck

Photo Credit: Ella Shelton Instagram page @ellaashelton

Shelton made a note of thanking her family who helped bring her to this new chapter. She leaves Oxford with a message for young girls looking to play professional hockey one day.

FOLDENS - After yesterday's draft, Oxford County's Ella Shelton will be heading to New York City. Shelton told Heart FM News that she was very grateful and excited for the opportunity and the support she is receiving

"I know I'll also have the support of this small community behind me. Not only from my family and my friends but the people who stop me in the grocery store or recognize me as I'm walking into Shoppers Drug Mart or whatever it might be. It's all those people that I feel the love and support from that I'm going to carry with me to New York."

She hopes to see some friendly faces come to her games wearing New York Jerseys when her team is visiting Toronto next year.

New York selected Shelton as their first pick ever in the brand new Professional Women's Hockey League. She was drafted 4th overall. The new league is set to drop the puck for the first time in January with six teams: Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and New York City.

She is joined by two of her Team Canada teammates, Micah Zandee Hart and Jaime Bourbonnais who will be patrolling the back line along with her.

"I know exactly what I'm going to get out of those two. I know they are hard workers. I know they are willing to learn."

Shelton was quick to give praise to her fellow teamates and her new opponents.

"There's a player on each team that I go 'Oh I do not like playing against you. Especially when I think of Montreal and Marie-Philip Poulin... she is the greatest of all time. And then Ann-Renée (Desbiens) in net. She is a solid brick wall in that net so we are going to have to find ways to be creative to get the puck past her."

Shelton made a note of thanking her family who helped bring her to this new chapter. She leaves Oxford with a message for young girls looking to play professional hockey one day.

"Keep chasing your dreams and dream big. I hope that they look at me and see that they can grow now and be a professional women's hockey player."