A pair of graduating California women’s NCAA Division I hockey players took one step closer to pro hockey when they were selected at the 2024 PWHL Draft on June 10 at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minn.

Eastvale native Cayla Barnes went in the first round (fifth overall) to PWHL Montreal and then Hermosa Beach’s Dominique Petrie was taken in the fifth round (27th overall) by PWHL Minnesota.

Last season for national champion Ohio State, Barnes led the country with a plus-71 rating and blocked a team-high 62 shots. She finished the season with 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points. The Second Team All-American and Frozen Four All-Tournament Team member helped the Buckeyes to top-five marks in scoring defense, goals-against average and scoring margin.

Prior to Ohio State, Barnes played four seasons at Boston College and is a two-time Olympian for USA Hockey. The defenseman won silver with Team USA at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and silver at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. She has earned a spot on four World Championship teams, playing in three. She won gold at the World Championships in 2019 and silver in 2021 and 2022. Barnes has also helped Team USA to two Four Nations Cups (2017, 2018).

In her collegiate career, Barnes was a two-time captain for the Eagles, helping the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

During her youth career, Barnes skated for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks, Anaheim Lady Ducks, LA Selects, California Stars and Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

Petrie spent the 2023-24 season at Clarkson, collecting 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points.

She had played from 2018-22 at Harvard, tallying 30 goals and 41 assists for 71 points.

Internationally, Petrie represented USA Hockey at the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Under-18 Women’s World Championships.

In California, Petrie spent time with the Jr. Ducks and San Diego Jr. Gulls.

Photos/Ohio State Athletics (Barnes)/Clarkson Athletics (Petrie)

— Matt Mackinder

(June 11, 2024)