Recruiting Class: Connecticut Bolsters Their Blueline

The University of Connecticut is bringing in a trio of blueliners for their 2023-2024 recruiting class, headlined by a member of Canada's U-18 national team.

Last season, the University of Connecticut women's hockey team featured a blueline of veterans. Four of those players were fourth year seniors including standouts Claire Peterson and Camryn Wong. 

To prepare for a fresh beginning on the back end, Connecticut is bringing in a trio of talented defenders headlined by Canadian U-18 national team member Maya Serdachny.

Here's a look at Connecticut's 2023-2024 NCAA women's hockey recruiting class:

Maya Serdachny, D, 2005- If the name sounds familiar, it should as Serdachny is the cousin of Canadian national team member Danielle Serdachny. The five-foot-nine blueliner was a standout for RINK Academy this season scoring 30 points in 25 games. She also represented Canada at the U-18 World Championships and was one of the top scoring blueliners, helping British Columbia win gold this winter at the Canada Games.

Jade Lore, D, 2005 - Lore was one of the best all around players at the 2023 Esso Cup national championships, playing a key role in her Fraser Valley Rush winning back-to-back silver medals. Lore finished her season with the Rush scoring 15 points in 18 games. She's a fluid skater who likes can help her team with zone exits and entries. 

Julia Stephen, D, 2005 - Stephen is a steady blueliner who doesn't have the flash of the above two, but makes up for it in on-ice intelligence and her calming presence. Stephen, five-foot-seven, had 16 points in 43 games this season for the OWHL U22 Elite's Burlington Barracudas. 

UConn is also bringing in defender Brigitte McGuire, and will soon announce more recruits.

For the 2024-2025 recruiting class, Connecticut landed one of the best scorers from Ontario in Claire Murdoch, a standout from the Burlington Jr. Barracudas. She had 69 points in only 41 games this season, and has another campaign to continue to build on her dominance. At the Canada Winter Games playing for Team Ontario, Murdoch finished seventh in tournament scoring with eight points. She is elite. Connecticut has also committed to Taylor Porthan, a defender playing high school hockey for Edina in Minnesota.