Burnaby Winter Club Academy defender Chloe Primerano has made history.
The Vancouver Giants made the 15-year-old the first female skater ever to be selected in a Canadian Hockey League (CHL) draft.
She was taken in the 13th round, 267th overall during the WHL Bantam Draft on Thursday (May 19).
"Chloe’s play this season in the top U15 league in Canada made her fully deserving of this selection today," Vancouver Giants general manager Barclay Parneta said after the selection was announced.
"The Vancouver Giants are happy to recognize her strong play by drafting her to the Western Hockey League."
Primerano appeared in 30 games last season with the Burnaby Winter Club Academy U15 prep squad, where she scored two goals and added 17 assists for 19 points in 30 games played.
In three playoff matches, the North Vancouver product tallied two assists.
"I was driving home from school with my mom in the car and I was just praying for it and it just happened. I was in shock honestly," she said in an interview posted by the Vancouver Giants.
"I would say I'm a two-way defenceman. I can go up in the rush and go in the offensive zone, but when it comes time to play shutdown, I can do that as well."
Other notable females to make history include Team Canada goalie Shannon Szabados in 2002 when she became the first female to appear in a Western Hockey League (WHL) regular-season game on Sept. 22 against the Tri-City Americans.
Three girls have also appeared in the Quebec Major Junior League (QMJHL) as recent as this year when goaltender Eve Gascon started a game for the Gatineau Olympiques.
From 1999 to 2001, goaltender Charline Labonte was between the pipes in 28 games for Acadie-Bathurst.
Manon Rheaume played for Trois-Rivieres during the 1991-92 season.
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) saw its first female drafted in 2001 when goaltender Taya Currie was picked in the 14th round, 267th overall by the Sarnia Sting.
