The NCAA saw one of the top graduating classes in decades depart, opening the door for new powerhouse programs to emerge. Here are five teams to watch.
Two teams, Wisconsin and Ohio State emerged as the cream of the crop in NCAA Division I women's hockey last year. The pair faced off in the national championship, with Wisconsin defeating last year's champion Ohio State to take the crown. Both teams return as favorites to challenge for a title again.
Wisconsin however, will look to repeat primarily through internal growth, while Ohio State looked to recruiting and the transfer portal to bolster their lineup.
Here are five teams to watch heading into the 2023-2024 NCAA women's hockey season.
1. Ohio State
Losing two of the best players in NCAA hockey, defender Sophie Jaques, who won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the NCAA's top player, and forward Emma Maltais, a member of Canada's national team, was going to be hard. All Ohio State did was go out and get some of the best available players in the world to replace their outgoing seniors.
Through the transfer portal, Ohio State secured Hanna Bilka and Cayla Barnes, both members of USA's national team, who recently won gold at the World Championships. But they didn't stop there. Ohio State also brought over Penn State captain and leading scorer, and two-time USA U-18 national team member Kiara Zanon, and Clarkson blueliner and assistant captain Stephanie Markowski, who previously represented Canada at the U-18 World Championships. Add in Kelsey King from Minnesota State and new recruits Jordan Baxter, Jocelyn Amos, and Delaney Fleming, and this is a powerhouse before you even consider returning players.
Among key players coming back are Jennifer Gardiner, who led Ohio State in scoring and goaltender Amanda Thiele.
2. Wisconsin
It will be a challenge for Wisconsin to replicate their success, but they are a perennial powerhouse, and depending on the rate of internal growth, they could find themselves right back in the mix for a title again next season. The loss of Jesse Compher, Sophie Shirley, Nicole LaMantia, and Naltalie Buchbinder is immense.
Their youthful core of Kirsten Simms, Laila Edwards, Claire Enright, and Vivian Jungels has the potential to emerge as better than the outgoing group. Wisconsin also has the best defender on the planet, Caroline Harvey, as well as their top three scorers - Casey O'Brien, Lacey Eden, and Britta Curl - from last season. The internal development of this group will make or break Wisconsin's season.
Incoming recruits Laney Porter and Cassie Hall have the potential to make an immediate impact on the roster.
3. Colgate
Having Danielle Serdachny return for a fifth year is the biggest boost this team could hope for. The top scorer in NCAA hockey last year will captain Colgate, who has the bulk of their roster eligible to return, and one of the top recruiting classes in the nation entering.
Kristýna Kaltounková and Elyssa Biederman should be one of the top scoring duos in the nation this season. They bring a lot of skill and speed to Colgate's attack, which also has solid veteran depth. Colgate also has one of, if not the best goaltending tandems in America in Hannah Murphy and Kayle Osborne. It doesn't matter who is starting, the duo give Colgate a chance to win every night.
Incoming standouts Emmalee Pais, Madeline Palumbo, and Avery Pickering should be positives as rookies.
4. Minnesota
Similar to Wisconsin, Minnesota is watching a lot of talent walk away. It will be a very different team this season without Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle, or Catherine Skaja and Abigail Boreen. That is four of Minnesota's top five scorers.
Also similar to Wisconsin, what remains is a dominant group of athletes. Nelli Laitinen is one of the best blueliners in the world, and up front USA senior national team standout Abbey Murphy remains, as do Ella Huber, Peyton Hemp, and Josefin Bouveng, who should all take another step forward. Backstopping Minnesota's hopes is again Skylar Vetter, who from day one this season should be considered one of the leading contenders for the NCAA's goaltender of the year honor.
While there could be growing pains, as Minnesota integrates rookies Ava Lindsay, Emma Kreisz, Josie Hemp, Isabelle Goettl, and Elly Klepinger, among others, this team stands a chance to peak at playoffs.
5. Yale
The growth of Yale's program in recent years has been incredible to watch. The coaching staff and recruiters deserve much credit. As with every program, Yale has lost a core group of seniors, but many of their key players remain.
The team's top two scorers from last season, Ivy League Player of the Year Elle Hartje and Ivy League and ECAC Rookie of the Year Jordan Ray return. In net, Pia Dukaric, one of three finalists for the NCAA's top goaltender, and winner of the ECAC's Goalie of the Year title also returns in net. The biggest loss Yale suffered this offseason was through the graduation of defender Emma Seitz, who was an All-American, and standout forward Claire Dalton. Blueliner Vita Ponyatovskaya will be asked to fill Seitz's shoes, but she won't have to do it alone, as five of Yale's top six blueliners are back.
Between Dukaric and Yale's blueline, this will be a challenging team to generate offense against.
Honorable Mention: Minnesota-Duluth, Northeastern