Michela Cava

Michela Cava (born March 26, 1994) is a Canadian ice hockey centre for PWHL Minnesota of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).

Playing career
Along with goaltender Danika Ranger, Cava is one of only two players to have won a gold medal at the Esso Cup, Canada’s National Female Midget Championship and the U18 Canadian women’s nationals. Cava was the first, winning the Esso Cup with the Thunder Bay Queens in 2010 and with Team Ontario Red at the 2011 nationals.

College
Cava played college ice hockey her first two seasons with the University of Connecticut Huskies. Prior to her junior season, she transferred to the University of Minnesota Duluth to join the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs women's ice hockey program. In her final NCAA season, she recorded 38 points in 37 contests, including 12 multi-point games.

Professional
Cava was selected by the Toronto Furies in the third round of the 2016 CWHL Draft. She made her debut on October 14 against the Boston Blades. Cava recorded a five-game scoring streak, starting on October 30 and lasting until November 20. She was selected to compete in the 2017 CWHL All-Star Game.

After just one year in Toronto, Cava left the league to move to Sweden, signing with Modo Hockey in the SDHL. She would score 55 points in 36 games in her first season in Sweden, leading Modo in points and finishing 5th in the league in scoring. The next year, she would score 64 points, finishing the season as the SDHL's leading scorer.

In 2019, Cava left Modo to sign with Brynäs in Gävle, seeking a new challenge and wanting to move to a bigger city. She would score 45 points in 36 games for Brynäs, finishing fourth in club scoring, as the club advanced to the SDHL semi-finals for the first time in seven years. She would sign with Luleå ahead of the 2020–21 SDHL season.

On October 6, 2021, Cava signed with the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation. She would be named the Playoff MVP for the 2022–23 season, leading the Six to win the Isobel Cup.

Cava was drafted in the 12th round of the 2023 PWHL Draft by Minnesota. During the 2023–24 season, she recorded five goals and three assists in 24 regular season games. During the playoffs she tied Taylor Heise for the team lead in scoring with four goals and four assists in ten games, and helped Minnesota win the inaugural Walter Cup. On June 21, 2024, Minnesota re-signed Cava to a one-year contract for the 2024–25 season.

Awards and honours

 * 2012 Esso Cup MVP
 * CWHL First Star of the Game (October 16, 2016)
 * CWHL Second Star of the Game (October 30, 2016)
 * SDHL Top Point Scorer, 2018–19 season
 * SDHL Champion, 2020–21 (Luleå HF/MSSK)
 * ZhHL Champion, 2021–22 (KRS Vanke Rays)
 * PHF Playoff MVP, 2022–23 (Toronto Six)
 * PHF Isobel Cup Champion, 2022–23 (Toronto Six)
 * PWHL Walter Cup Champion, 2023–24 (Minnesota)