Some of the top prospects on the planet including Chloe Primerano, Caitlin Kraemer, Stryker Zablocki, and Tereza Plosova all recently made NCAA commitments.
Some of the top prospects on the planet including Chloe Primerano, Caitlin Kraemer, Stryker Zablocki, and Tereza Plosova all recently made NCAA commitments.
It's been a star studded few weeks for NCAA commitments, and fans of the WCHA are certainly excited to see the wealth of talent continuing to choose the conference. National Signing Day came and went this week with another group of notable prospects choosing their NCAA destinations.
Here's a look at the biggest names to make their NCAA commitments in recent weeks.
Caitlin Kraemer - Minnesota-Duluth
Canada's next power forward is headed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The program is looking to reclaim their spot atop the WCHA, a position that's been dominated by Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Minnesota the past few seasons. Kraemer will go a long way in that effort as a player who can make an immediate impact. The Waterloo Ravens forward and U-18 World Championship gold medalist and leading goal scorer will look to add another gold to her trophy case before heading to the NCAA. Kraemer is dangerous off the rush, and not afraid to play in traffic.
Chloe Primerano - Minnesota
When people ask who the closest player to cracking Canada's senior national team blueline is, they often answer Sophie Jaques or Sara Swiderski. If age were only a number in the eyes of Hockey Canada, Swiderski would have been in attendance at Canada's senior national team selection camp this Fall, and would be a serious contender to make the jump in the next year. She's that good. No defender out there sees the ice, and controls the play with such fluid skating and deceptive feet and hands like Primerano. It's hard to make a comparison to her, but perhaps the defender that most resembles her game is NHLer Cale Makar. Minnesota hit gold with Primerano, who will immediately make an impact on their blueline.
Stryker Zablocki - Northeastern
Everyone knew Northeastern would have an adjustment period following the graduation of Alina Muller, Chloe Aurard, and Maureen Murphy. Perhaps no one expected the hit to be as painful as it's been for Northeastern this year. Help however, is on the way in Stryker Zablocki. She's one of the fastest and most competitive players out there, and is able to execute at a high pace. She's creative and pushes defenders back. She won't be able to solve Northeastern's scoring alone, but she'll be a key piece of retooling the powerhouse program.
Ava Thomas - Boston College
One of the best scorers in America, Thomas was recently named to USA's U-18 national team. She is always on the prowl without the puck, and when the puck arrives, she can change gears with the best of them. In the offensive zone, Thomas is a threat from everywhere. After scoring 54 goals and 120 points last season, the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers forward is on pace to eclipse those totals this season.
Reese Logan - Minnesota-Duluth
Watching Reese Logan run shotgun with Caitlin Kraemer will be an exciting show at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The 5-foot-9 forward grabbed a spot on Canada's U-18 roster this summer in a series against the USA and is a likely candidate to make Team Canada's for the 2024 U-18 Worlds. She plays for the Etobicoke Dolphins, perhaps North America's top development program at the moment, and can pivot from playmaker to a scoring threat at a moments notice. Logan uses strong puck possession skills to create time and space for herself. In four years, Kraemer and Logan will strike fear into opponents.
Tereza Plosova - Minnesota
The next in a long line of elite players from Czechia to choose the NCAA, it's a pathway that's paid off for the nation internationally, and Plosova will have the opportunity to add to that when she joins Minnesota next season. Don't expect the 5-foot-9 forward to light the NCAA on fire in year one, but after a season playing in North America, she should burgeon into one of the top threats in the nation.