Quinte News had the chance to speak with newly drafted Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) defenceman and Belleville native Zoe Uens.
Uens was selected by the Montreal Victoire with the 36th pick in the third round of the 2026 PWHL draft.
She spent the last four years with the Quinnipiac Bobcats of the NCAA (W), and is coming off a 10-goals-and-nine-assists campaign in the 2025-26 season.
“Since the end of our season to coming in to get drafted, it’s definitely been a little bit of a blur, but I’m grateful for all of it,” Uens tells Quinte News.
“My family was able to come up with me too, so I’m really grateful to have them here with me through it all.”
Uens says she immediately spoke with coaches and players when she was selected by the Victoire, including forward Laura Stacey, at the draft.
“It was actually really cool, because (Marie-Phillipe) Poulin followed me on Instagram, and it was just like, oh my gosh, what is happening, but all really cool things.”
Her focus now is to get prepared for training camp in Montreal later this year.
“I think obviously just sticking to what I’m good at and kind of what brought me here, so making sure I work on all the things that I’m good at, obviously weaknesses as well,” Uens said.
“But just getting back in the gym, back on the ice, and continuing to be prepared, so I feel confident when I get to training camp in November.”
Uens says she plans to head back to the Quinte region to train, work out, and skate before heading off to Montreal ahead of the start of the school year in September.
