Toronto goalie Sophie Jovanovic drafted by OHL, making history

Seventeen-year-old goalie Sophie Jovanovic has shattered a glass ceiling in Canadian junior hockey, becoming only the second female player ever selected in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft. The Brantford Bulldogs chose Jovanovic 40th overall in the Under-18 draft this week, a significant milestone that grants her an invitation to the team's training camp.

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You never know what can happen.

Jovanovic, a Grade 11 student from Toronto, expressed her shock and joy upon receiving the news. "For them to call me and let me know I was being picked to Brantford, it was such an honour," she told Global News. She described the moment of the call as surreal, especially as she was with her family, anxiously awaiting the draft results.

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I was so shocked. I was so happy.

Inspired by her older brother, Jovanovic has been playing hockey for about 12 years. Her selection comes at a time when women's sports are experiencing a surge in popularity and opportunity across North America. Bulldogs director of hockey operations and scouting, Mike Galati, stated that the organization drafted Jovanovic because they saw her as "the best possible player" at pick 40.

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For them to call me and let me know I was being picked to Brantford, it was such an honour.

While the draft selection does not guarantee a roster spot, it provides Jovanovic with a crucial opportunity to train and compete. She is focused on continuous improvement, balancing her demanding hockey schedule with her academic responsibilities. "You don’t have much time for yourself, but that’s the lifestyle. I love it," she said. Looking ahead, Jovanovic harbors dreams of playing in the Olympics, calling it a "dream come true" if it were to happen.

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We go into a draft looking for the best possible player. To us, we saw her as that at pick 40, so we made the pick.