3 former Huskies taken in PWHL Draft

OTTAWA — For the first time, multiple former St. Cloud State women’s hockey players were selected in the Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft that took place on Tuesday, June 24 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Forward Emma Gentry, defenseman Dayle Ross and goalie Sanni Ahola were all taken in the draft, which was six rounds and 48 players were selected. Ross is the first former SCSU defenseman and Ahola the first SCSU goalie to be selected in the draft.

Gentry, who is from Alpena, Michigan, was selected by the Toronto Sceptres in the second round with the 11th overall pick. Gentry, who played for the Huskies from 2020-25, became the highest drafted SCSU alum.

Klára Hymlárová

was taken in the third round with the 15th overall pick by the Minnesota Frost in the 2024 Draft.

Ross became the program’s first defender to be drafted and Ahola became the first netminder to be picked.

For the Huskies, Gentry scored the most career game-winning goals (14), is second in career games (152), second in career goals (59), second in career shots (585) and eighth in career points (59-31-90). Gentry served as an alternate captain in 2023-24 and a co-captain in 2024-25.

“Emma is the prototypical power forward,” former

SCSU coach Brian Idalski

said of Gentry, who is listed at 5-foot-11. “I think the pro game is even going to unlock that more with the ability to really finish your hits and checks and just be a physical presence.

“Her hockey IQ grew a ton in our time together, but at the higher level, she’s going to be a relentless F1, heavy down low and super tough to play against. I’m excited to see how she grows in the next couple of years.”

Ross, who played at SCSU from 2021-25, was picked by the New York Sirens with the first pick of the fourth round (25th overall). She was the Sirens’ fifth pick of the draft.

At SCSU, Ross finished her career tied for ninth in career plus-minus (plus-7) and recorded 40 points (seven goals and 33 assists). She was an alternate captain in 2023-24 and co-captain in 2024-25.

“Dayle is probably arguably the best defensive defender, if not in the country, definitely going out of this draft class,” Idalski said before the draft. “Her skating, her ability to handle talented skill players in space 1-on-1, and contain and hit and pin, take the puck away is at a high level.

“She gives up her body. (She has the) willingness to block shots and just compete all over the ice. I think Dayle is going to be a super good pro.”

Ross has earned her degree in exercise science and was a two-time WCHA All-Academic Team pick. In her career, she had 252 shots, 92 penalty minutes and had 269 blocked shots in 142 games. In 2022-23, Ross set an NCAA record with 104 blocked shots.

Ahola, who played for SCSU from 2020-25, was selected by the Ottawa Charge in the fifth round with the 37th overall pick. She was the third goalie taken in the draft and was Ottawa’s fifth pick.

The Helsinki, Finland native was named the WCHA Goaltender of the Year and a First Team All-WCHA pick in 2023-24 and a Third Team All-WCHA selection in 2024-25. She earned WCHA Goaltender of the Month honors three times during her career and was given WCHA weekly honors five times (one rookie and four goaltender).

Ahola graduated as the program leader in career wins (35), career shutouts (10) and season shutouts (5, tie, 2023-24). She also is second in season goals-against average (1.72, 2023-24), second in season save percentage (.935, tie, 2023-24), fourth in career goals-against average (2.62), fifth in career saves (2,340), fifth in career save percentage (.917), fifth in season goals-against average (2.22, 2024-25), seventh in season wins (10, 2023-24), eighth in season wins (9, tie, 2022-23), 10th in season save percentage (.923, tie, 2022-23) and tied for first in season shutouts (5, 2023-24).

“Sanni very athletic, she did a great job for us,” Idalski said before the draft. “She was obviously part of the reason that we were able to turn things around — with her consistency and her growth and, obviously, I’ve already seen that translate to some success at the international level and I continue to see her grow and think she’ll do the same thing at higher level in the PWHL.”

Ahola is a member of the Finnish national team since 2019.