The University of Maine Black Bears women's hockey team will welcome seven rookies to their program this season along with a pair of transfers to bolster their lineup ahead of the 2024-2025 campaign.
The University of Maine Black Bears women's hockey team will welcome seven rookies to their program this season along with a pair of transfers to bolster their lineup ahead of the 2024-2025 campaign.
The University of Maine is bringing in nine new players for the 2024-2025 NCAA women's hockey season. Two of those players are transfers, but the other seven will be stepping into their rookie season of NCAA hockey.
"We are excited about the incoming class," said head coach Molly Engstrom in a school news release. "We have our sights set on the next steps for this program and we think this class is a great fit for that vision. It's a diverse group of players positionally and from where they hail; they come from great programs. We all need to understand where we want to go and be willing to lean into it. We think this group is right for that, which makes it exciting for everyone."
Maine's transfers include Jaidyn Britt from St. Cloud State and Dani Brunette from Minnesota-Duluth. Here's a look at the University of Maine's women's hockey recruiting class for this coming season.
Frederikke Foss, 2005 - The Danish forward represented Denmark at the 2024 World Championships. The 5-foot-8 Foss was one of the youngest players at Worlds this year and had a strong season at Shattuck St. Mary's scoring 23 goals and 48 points in 51 games this season. Foss should be an immediate upgrade to Maine's attack.
Kiia Lahtinen, 2003 - The 5-foot-8 netminder has been the starter for HIFK in Finland's Naisten Liiga the past two seasons posting league leading .936 and .933 save percentages over the last two seasons along with a 29-5-0 record. Lahtinen represented Finland at the 2020 U-18 World Championships, and backstopped HIFK to back-to-back Naisten Liiga titles in 2023 and 2024.
Kendall Sundby, 2005 - When you've won an award named for your future coach three times, it bodes well for your future. That's the case for Sundby who is the back-to-back-to-back Molly Engstrom Award winner as Wisconsin's top defender. The Hammond, Wisconsin product spent the last season with Team Wisconsin 19U 'AAA' earning First Team All-State honors after scoring 33 goals and 58 points from the blueline.
Also joining Maine are Minnesota's Gracie Hanson, North Dakota blueliner Brenna Curl, Manitoba product Stephanie Jacob, and California netminder Madisyn Ryan.