Mellissa Channell-Watkins Bio
Mellissa Channell-Watkins (born December 16, 1994) is an American-Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). She previously played for the Minnesota Frost of the PWHL and the Toronto Furies of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL). She played college ice hockey at the University of Wisconsin, where she made significant contributions to her team’s success.
Early Life and Background
Mellissa Channell-Watkins was born in Everett, Washington, USA, and moved to Michigan at a young age. She later relocated to Seattle for grades four and five, before returning to Michigan. During her youth, she played two years with the Detroit Little Caesars U-16 program and one year with the Little Caesars U-19 team, winning a state championship in her freshman year of high school. In grades eleven and twelve, she moved to Oakville, Ontario, where she played for the Burlington Barracudas of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League for two seasons, recording seven goals and thirty assists in fifty-seven games.
Path to Hockey
Channell-Watkins began her collegiate career with the Wisconsin Badgers during the 2013–14 season. In her freshman year, she appeared in all thirty-eight games, recording two goals and ten assists. Her sophomore year saw her tally three goals and seventeen assists in thirty-six games. In her junior year, she recorded three goals and twelve assists in thirty-seven games, and during her senior year, she added three goals and fourteen assists in thirty-six games. A highlight of her college career occurred on March 17, 2017, when she scored the game-winning goal against Boston College in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal, propelling Wisconsin to the championship game.
Mellissa Channell-Watkins Career
Early Career (2013–2018)
After completing her college career, Mellissa Channell-Watkins was drafted 11th overall by the Connecticut Whale in the 2016 NWHL Draft. However, she did not sign with the Whale and was subsequently drafted 14th overall by the Toronto Furies in the 2018 CWHL Draft. During the 2018–19 season, she recorded twelve assists in twenty-eight games, marking a strong start to her professional career.
Breakthrough (2019–2024)
Following her time with the Toronto Furies, Channell-Watkins played four seasons in the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). On September 18, 2023, she was drafted in the tenth round, 59th overall, by the PWHL Toronto in the 2023 PWHL draft. After being placed on waivers by Toronto, she signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Frost on December 22, 2023. During the 2023–24 season, she recorded two assists in twenty-four regular season games and five assists in ten playoff games. Notably, during game five of the Walter Cup finals against PWHL Boston, she recorded three assists, making her the first PWHL player to achieve this milestone in a postseason game.
Notable Works and Milestones
Mellissa Channell-Watkins has established herself as a significant player in women’s hockey, with her record of three assists in a postseason game standing out as a career highlight. She also played a crucial role in helping the Minnesota Frost win the inaugural Walter Cup.
Mellissa Channell-Watkins Family
Mellissa Channell-Watkins is the daughter of Craig Channell, a former professional ice hockey player and current scout.
Personal Life
Mellissa Channell-Watkins married Colin Watkins on June 22, 2024. She currently resides in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, and continues to be an active player in the PWHL, representing the Vancouver Goldeneyes.