A hockey first was witnessed at the OHL priority draft this week, as 16 year old netminder Taya Currie became the first female to be drafted in league history. Currie, who hails from Parkhill, ON has been playing AAA boys hockey with the Elgin-Middlsex Chiefs for the past seven years. Her outstanding play, and lightning quick glove hand impressed scouts enough that she was selected in the 14th round by the Sarnia Sting becoming the first woman to earn the honor of being drafted into the OHL.
While 16 year old netminders actually cracking an OHL roster are a rarity regardless of gender, director of OHL scouting Darrell Woodley believes that Currie will receive every opportunity to earn a spot on the Sting as a 17 or 18 year old. Other scouts have praised Taya’s lateral movement, athleticism, and ability to take away the bottom part of the net in the blink of an eye. Currie, who stands only 5’7” won’t be turning any heads because of her size between the pipes, but more than makes up for it with an off the charts compete level and grace under pressure.
Not surprisingly, Currie lists Shannon Szabados and Manon Rheaume as some of the players she looks up to the most. Both Szabados and Rheaume were groundbreakers in their own right with Shannon becoming the first woman to play in a WHL game, and Manon famously taking part in an NHL exhibition game as well.
While many high level female hockey players who come up through the boys AA/AAA ranks eventually transition back to the women’s game towards the end of their high school careers to try to secure college scholarships, Currie has been non committal about her future thus far. Currently in grade 10, Taya and her family will enjoy the historic draft results for the time being before making any decisions.
Whether she ever suits up for the Sting or not isn’t her main priority at the moment, as Currie says she is focused on one day representing Team Canada on an international stage. Regardless, this will be a weekend for the history books and one the Currie family won’t forget anytime soon.