The NCAA's University of Minnesota Golden Gophers women's hockey team lost some top recruits, but they're still welcoming one of the more impressive NCAA women's hockey recruiting classes in the nation for 2026-27.
It's good that the University of Minnesota has a strong 2026-27 recruiting class, as their 2027-28 class took a significant hit this offseason losing Megan Mossey and Sydney Stoughton who both decommitted following the firing of Minnesota head coach Brad Frost.
Minnesota found a talent boost through the transfer portal adding forwards Julia Schalin, who plays for Team Finland, and forward Ashley Allard who comes from nationally ranked UConn. Both are offensive threats who will help soften the loss of players like Abbey Murphy, Josefin Bouveng, Madison Kaiser, Jamie Nelson, and others to the PWHL.
Minnesota Women's Hockey Recruits
The 2026-27 NCAA recruiting class has for the University of Minnesota women's hockey team has a mix of standouts incoming at every position.
Up front, underage forward Adrianna Milani is following the path of Chloe Primerano as a top Canadian recruit looking to get herself in front of national team eyes sooner than later. Milani had 34 goals and 68 points this season as a member of the powerhouse Etobicoke Dolphins.
She'll be joined by a pair of Dolphins teammates in Maddie McCullough and Rachel Piggot her alongside Milani were all members of Canada's U-18 national team.
McCullough led the OWHL U-22 Elite league in scoring this season with 90 points, including 38 goals in 46 games. Piggott had 42 points in 44 games for the Dolphins.
They aren't the only U-18 World Championship participants heading to Minnesota as Sloane Hartmetz will join Minnesota's blueline. With the graduation of defenders Nelli Laitinen and Sydney Morrow, Hartmetz will have the opportunity to step in and play immediately. She's a strong skater and dynamic from the blueline, twice representing USA at the U-18 World Championships. This season with Shattuck St. Mary's Hartmetz scored 39 points in 52 games and had five points in six games at Worlds. Her older sister Hadley plays in the PWHL with the Boston Fleet.
Fellow blueliner Katya Sander, who played high school hockey at Holy Family in Minnesota this season, also represented USA winning gold at the U-18 World Championships.
The program's final incoming recruit for next season is netminder Payton Rolli who posted a 1.43 GAA, .926 save percentage, and 10 shutouts along with a 23-6-1 record with Warroad high school.
