Edmonton Oilers Invite Three University of Minnesota Players to Development Camp

It was an unusual sight at the Edmonton Oilers’ annual development camp this July: three women’s hockey players from the University of Minnesota integrated into a pool typically reserved for NHL prospects. The move was the brainchild of general manager Stan Bowman, who formulated the idea while serving as an assistant general manager for the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team in Milan during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The invitees included Gopher player Chloe Primerano, former Gopher captain Abbey Murphy, and University of Minnesota-Duluth junior forward Caitlin Kraemer. The trio didn’t just observe; they were fully immersed in the camp’s ecosystem, participating in on-ice practices, off-ice team-building activities, and professional information sessions alongside the Oilers’ premier young talent.

Filling the PWHL Development Gap

The decision to bring in female athletes wasn’t merely a gesture of inclusivity. According to reporting from The Athletic, Bowman’s motivation was twofold. First, he wanted to grant these athletes access to the high-end resources and professional training inherent to an NHL camp. This is a critical void in the current professional landscape; the PWHL does not currently offer developmental camps, which often leaves players and prospects facing up to seven months of an offseason without professional-grade training.

The second objective was pedagogical. Bowman intended for his own prospects, including those selected in the 2026 NHL Draft, to experience the challenge of sharing the ice with elite women’s hockey players. By blending the pools, the Oilers created a mutual learning environment where both the male prospects and the invited women could sharpen their games against different styles of play.

Chloe Primerano, a University of Minnesota player, said it was a great opportunity and experience for Abbey, Caitlin, and herself to be there, and expressed her gratitude to the Oilers for inviting them.

Professional Stakes for Primerano and Murphy

For the participants, the camp served as a bridge between collegiate success and the professional grind. Chloe Primerano, a sophomore defender, is returning to the Gophers for her third season this fall. She enters the season coming off a career-high 30 points, which placed her fourth in the WCHA overall with 10 goals.

Primerano noted that the professional environment of the Oilers’ facilities provided a stark lesson in the realities of elite sports. She described the experience as top-notch and emphasized a core takeaway regarding the nature of professional advancement.

Chloe Primerano, a University of Minnesota player, stated that everything is earned rather than given, noting that this was only the first step in learning from the impressive staff, people, and resources available there.

While Primerano returns to college, Abbey Murphy is transitioning to the professional ranks. A member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team in 2026, Murphy was drafted second overall by the Seattle Torrent in the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft following the 2025-26 season.

Primerano, who was one of the final cuts from Canada’s 2026 Olympic roster, spoke to the broader implications of Murphy’s move to Seattle and the growth of the league.

Chloe Primerano, a University of Minnesota player, mentioned that having played with Murphy for the last two years at Minnesota, she considers her an amazing player and an even better person who will succeed in Seattle, adding that the continued expansion of the PWHL is wonderful as it provides more teams for girls in the future.