Grace Elliott is one of women’s hockey’s truly unique prospects. The University of British Columbia forward was the best player in Canadian university women’s hockey this year.
While it’s generally accepted that the NCAA is the primary path to the PWHL, there are a handful of U Sports players who can and will make the jump. There are hidden gems sprinkled across U Sports women’s hockey. Grace Elliott is no different. In fact, she may be one of the better, and more unique prospects to come out of U Sports hockey. She’ll almost certainly return for at least one more season with the Thunderbirds, but if and when she declares for the PWHL Draft, one of the league’s more savvy general managers may take a shot on Elliott.
What sets Grace Elliott apart?
Grace Elliott led U Sports women’s hockey in goals and points this season scoring 22 goals and 42 points in 28 games. Both were new British Columbia program records. For her efforts, Elliott was the U Sports Player of the Year and a First Team All-Canadian.
It’s had to miss Grace Elliott on the ice not only for her scoring, but for an aspect of her presence that truly sets her apart from almost every other player in North America, is her size.
Elliott stands 6-foot-2, and uses her size to her advantage. She’s mobile for her stature, and utilizes her reach and compete level to battle for pucks.
“The work Grace has put in and how she competes, every shift she wants to score and she wants to be the best every time she touches the ice and that’s special,” said UBC head coach Graham Thomas.
There are few prospects in the world who combine her size and scoring in women’s hockey.
In fact, at the PWHL level, the average height of each of the PWHL’s six teams is only 5-foot-7. Minnesota Frost defender Lee Stecklein is the only skater in the PWHL who measures in at 6-foot. In fact, across the PWHL there are only four skaters standing 5-foot-11, and 12 who measure 5-foot-10. One of those 5-foot-10 players is Toronto Sceptres defender Rylind MacKinnon. MacKinnon was last season’s captain of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
Elliott’s size is a unique aspect. With patience, as she develops as a pro, it could become an considerable asset. The White Rock, British Columbia product led Canada West with a +28 rating and 15 power play points. She also tied for the conference lead with seven power play goals and six game winning goals.
As a net front presence, it’s obvious why Elliott has thrived with the player advantage. But she’s more than just a big player. Elliott is an offensive talent. The power forward has done it through a combination of skill and on ice awareness, multiplied by her unique size.
While there’s no guarantee any U Sports player will be capable of making the jump to the PWHL this season, when Grace Elliott decides to declare, she could be the next unique prospect from Canadian university hockey to highlight the talent U Sports hockey is hiding north of the border.
