Vanke Rays


The Vanke Rays were a women's ice hockey team that played in the 2017–18 season as part of the Canadian Women's Hockey League. The club was based out of China and a part of the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, joining the CWHL along with the Kunlun Red Star WIH, as effort to grow hockey in China in preparation for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The general manager was Shirley Hon, who was named to the position on August 18, 2017.
In 2018, the CWHL contracted the Rays' membership after one season to focus solely on the Kunlun Red Star team in China. Shortly after, Kunlun Red Star was rebranded as the Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays as the CWHL integrated the two teams.

History

Inaugural draft class

The following players were selected by the Rays in the 2017 CWHL Draft.
Round#PlayerPositionPrevious Team Nationality
17Cayley MercerForwardClarkson Golden Knights Canada
214Elaine ChuliGoalieUConn Huskies Canada
321Brooke WebsterForwardSt. Lawrence Skating Saints Canada
428Hanna BuntonForwardCornell Big Red Canada
535Emily JanigaForwardBuffalo Beauts United States
642Ashleigh BrykaliukForwardMinnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Canada
748Emma WoodsForwardQuinnipiac Bobcats Canada