Cornell will welcome nine first year players for the 2026-27 NCAA women's hockey season as they look to challenge the best in the ECAC.

The 2026 PWHL Draft plucked McKenna Van Gelder, Grace Dwyer, Avi Adam, Alyssa Regalado, and Georgia Schiff from Cornell's roster. But what remains has enough talent to remain a program worth watching. Cornell has become a consistent producer of pro talent, and players with intangible qualities. Perhaps it's why two of the league's eight captains last season, Brianne Jenner and Micah Zandee Hart, are Cornell alumni. This season, it's possible another Cornell alumni Kristin O'Neill joins them.

Cornell will hope for similar success for their incoming class of recruits.

The California product spent her youth playing in San Diego, playing boys' hockey until the 2023-24 season. McLaughlin spent the past two seasons with the heralded RINK Academy in British Columbia playing with and against many NCAA bound players. This year she represented USA at the U-18 World Championships scoring three goals in the tournament winning gold.

The 2025 Canadian Sport School MVP playing for Shawnigan Lake, Lonsdale wasn't in action this season. How she gets back to the game will be a story to watch.

Twins incoming. Cornell is getting not one, but two talented players in the Bishop sisters with Rachel a steady defender, and Renee a skilled forward who put up 53 points in 48 games with the Etobicoke Dolphins. At 19, they're major players for Canadian prospects, and both bring national championship experience to the table representing Team Quebec.

Joining what has become a goaltending factory at Cornell, MacDonald represented Team Ontario Blue at back-to-back national championships while skating in the OWHL with the Mississauga Hurricanes. Not likely to produce a ton in year one, but even in the OWHL, she was still getting better, and MacDonald has excellent upside.

Other Cornell Recruits To Watch: Kiera Bruen, Zahra Nauhaus, Kayla O'Donnell, Carly Dann