‘A dream that came true’: Two former Regina Rebels drafted to the PWHL

Two Regina-born players are taking the next step after being drafted into the PWHL. Jacob Carr has the story.

A pair of former Regina Rebels teammates heard their names called in last month’s Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Draft.

Balgonie’s Alexis Petford was up first, selected in the fifth round, 53rd overall by PWHL Las Vegas, one of four expansion teams this season along with San Jose, Detroit and Hamilton.

After starring for the Rebels between 2018 and 2022, Petford took her talents down south to Stonehill College in Massachusetts for two years, before transferring to Colgate University in New York for her final two college seasons.

Before then, becoming a professional hockey player wasn’t even something on Petford’s radar.

“Honestly, being drafted means everything. It’s kind of something that wasn’t really a reality before I went into college. So, for the league to pick up so quick and be a dream that came true really quick is honestly so exciting,” she said.

Petford’s Rebel teammate Neena Brick was picked in the fifth round, 59th overall by the Ottawa Charge.

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Brick also played with Petford at Colgate in 2024.

But just a few days after the draft, the Charge traded Brick’s rights to the Seattle Torrent in exchange for forward Jenna Buglioni.

Brick was most recently playing hockey in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League for Modo.

Before that, she spent four years at Colgate University.

The Regina-born forward told CTV News that the trade came as a surprise, but the prospect of playing in the Pacific Northwest is an exciting one.

“They have great fans. They have some of the best fans in the league. So, I’m really excited to get there and get to meet these fans and just play for a great program,” she said.

Brick said her one year spent playing in the Swedish league was a great prerequisite to becoming a pro in the PWHL.

“The hockey there was faster and better and more physical than college was. So, it was a really good step for me to take into wanting to play in the PWHL,” Brick said.

‘Don’t forget to have fun’

Petford offered up some advice for current and future Rebels players that may have dreams of playing professionally.

“Put your head down and keep working, whether it’s on the ice [or] in the gym, but don’t forget to have fun,” Petford said.

“I think that’s a big thing that a lot of people kind of forget sometimes is that it is a game.”

The future Las Vegas player added that on-ice friendships in hockey turn into off-ice friendships, and she is excited to make brand new bonds as part of a brand-new franchise.