D-FW natives Hannah Bilka, Ally Simpson become first Texans drafted to PWHL

Bilka was selected fourth overall by Boston, while Simpson was chosen in the third round by New York.

8:44 PM on Jun 10, 2024 CDT

Minnesota players celebrate a goal during the third period of Game 5 of the PWHL Walter Cup... — Minnesota players celebrate a goal during the third period of Game 5 of the PWHL Walter Cup hockey finals against Boston, Wednesday May 29, 2024, in Lowell, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)(Mary Schwalm / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

While hockey is becoming more popular in Texas, few Texans have made it to the NHL.

Only seven current NHL players were both in Texas and only four are from Dallas-Fort Worth.

But in Monday night’s Professional Women’s Hockey League draft, a player from Texas was one of the first off the board.

Coppell native Hannah Bilka was drafted fourth overall to PWHL Boston in the second draft in league history. Boston was the runner-up for the league’s championship — the Walter Cup — which Minnesota captured May 29.

The 23-year-old was the first American taken off the board in the 2024 draft and the first player drafted from Texas.

The forward played college hockey at Ohio State for the 2023-24 season after playing four seasons at Boston College. She scored 22 goals and recorded 26 assists in 39 games this year. She ended her college career with 71 goals in her five seasons.

One of the rising stars of @usahockey is forward Hannah Bilka, a 22 year old from Coppell, expected to be one of the top picks of the next @thepwhlofficial draft 👏

A proud product of #TexasHockey, today, we celebrate Hannah's journey for #NGWSD2024!@OhioStateWHKY |… pic.twitter.com/2ljYL3EOem
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) February 7, 2024

Bilka represented the United States at two IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships and three Women’s World Championships, winning two gold medals and three silver medals in her international hockey career.

While Bilka is from Coppell, she attended high school at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minn.

Not long after her name was called, Bilka was joined by fellow Texan and Fort Worth native Ally Simpson, who was drafted 16th overall in the third round by New York.

Simpson was raised in Frisco and played her college hockey at Colgate.

Bilka and Simpson played high school hockey together.

From North Texas to the top! 🙌

Congratulations to Texas natives and our friends Ally Simpson (left) and Hannah Bilka on being drafted to the @thepwhlofficial!

Hannah was drafted 4th overall to @PWHL_Boston and Ally was drafted 16th overall to @PWHL_NewYork! pic.twitter.com/WuFoJVha1c
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 11, 2024

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Lia Assimakopoulos, Staff Reporter. Lia Assimakopoulos covers the Dallas Stars and high school sports for The Dallas Morning News. She joined The News in June 2022 and previously contributed to Sports Illustrated, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, NBC Sports and the Washington City Paper. A native of Bethesda, Md., Lia graduated from Northwestern University in 2022.