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 | # | Player | Position | Previous Team | Nationality |
1 | 7 | Cayley Mercer | Forward | Clarkson Golden Knights | Canada |
2 | 14 | Elaine Chuli | Goalie | UConn Huskies | Canada |
3 | 21 | Brooke Webster | Forward | St. Lawrence Skating Saints | Canada |
4 | 28 | Hanna Bunton | Forward | Cornell Big Red | Canada |
5 | 35 | Emily Janiga | Forward | Buffalo Beauts | United States |
6 | 42 | Ashleigh Brykaliuk | Forward | Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs | Canada |
7 | 48 | Emma Woods | Forward | Quinnipiac Bobcats | Canada |