Clarkson is welcoming four talented players to Potsdam this season filling voids at all positions. Here's a look at Clarkson's 2026-27 women's hockey recruiting class.
Clarkson has a smaller recruiting class this season, but they also have a lot of strong talent returning including co-national NCAA Rookie of the Year Sara Manness, and twin sister Kate Manness, who both earned All-ECAC honors last season.
The team watched Sena Catterall and Lara Beecher selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft, and Megan McKay and Rhea Hicks will attend PWHL camps. The program's alumnae list continues to grow with top players like Haley Winn, Nicole Gosling, Renata Fast, Ell Shelton, Jamie Lee Rattray, Anne Cherkowski and many others making their mark in the PWHL and internationally.
2026-26 Clarkson Women's Hockey Recruiting Class
Kennedy Sisson, F, Canada
Sisson made the Canadian U-18 national team this year after another strong season with with RINK Academy where she spent four seasons. This year Sisson scored 26 goals and 52 points in 26 games for RINK. She's also represented Team BC at the Canadian U-18 national championships on three occasions. Sisson finds open space and uses her edges to get into shooting lanes and freeze goalies before snapping a quick release.
Ciara Lang, D, Canada
The former Esso Cup Best Defender joins the legacy of exceptional defenders who have come through Clarkson. She represented Team Alberta at the Canadian U-18 national championships this season and spent the last three seasons playing for the Edmonton Jr. Oilers, who are one of Western Canada's perennial powerhouse teams.
Abby Richardson, F, USA
One of the top scorers in USA's 19-U loops this season, Richardson has never cracked Team USA, but she's certainly an American NCAA prospect to watch. In 77 games last season with NAHA, Richardson totalled 102 points. She'll be a key to Clarkson's future attack.
Kalia Pharand, G, Canada
Clarkson has a solid stream of netminders joining over the coming seasons, all with elite experience, and Pharand is the first who will get her chance to claim playing time. She spent years playing boys' 'AAA' hockey including an appearance at the OHL Cup with the Sudbury Wolves. She spent the past two seasons backstopping the Mississauga Hurricanes, this season posting a 1.69 GAA, .933 save percentage, and five shutouts. She also backstopped Team Ontario Red at the national championships.
