World champion Canadian defender Nicole Gosling poised to be picked early in PWHL Draft

A little more than a year ago, Nicole Gosling was celebrating on the ice in Utica, N.Y., with the rest of Team Canada.

The Canadians had just defeated the Americans on home ice in overtime to win the world championship, and it was the defender from London, Ont.'s first title with the senior national team.

Now, the 23-year-old is poised for what could be the biggest season of her life. She's projected to be taken high in the 2025 PWHL Draft, which is set for Tuesday in Ottawa, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

She's also one of the defenders fighting for a spot on the blue line for Canada at next year's Olympics. That has been a lifelong dream.

"Obviously now there are other goals like playing in the PWHL, winning a Walter Cup, all that," Gosling said in an interview with CBC Sports. "But hopefully one day I could play in an Olympics. That's the ultimate goal, and then hopefully win gold, too. That will always be at the top of my list."

She projects as an offensive, intelligent defender for whichever team selects her in the PWHL Draft. The New York Sirens have the first pick, followed by the Boston Fleet, Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Minnesota Frost, PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle.

Gosling is about as pro ready as they come, and projects to slot into a team's top two or four right away.

She could play the same role on Team Canada for years to come, as the team ushers in a new wave of talent. 

"She's just someone that can really take control of a game with the way that she plays," said Clarkson University head coach Matt Desrosiers, who has coached Gosling for the last five seasons.

Gosling comes from a big family in London where just about everyone plays hockey. Gosling's father, Peter, played, and it was