USports players are already being signed by PHF teams, here's a look at the top 10 remaining USports players on the women's professional free agency market.
After the Montreal Force signed Audrey-Anne Veilette from the University of Montreal and Rosalie Bégin-Cyr of Concordia University, PHF free agency eyes turned toward USports.
Last year, the PHF included several former USports standouts including Jade Downie-Landry, Ann-Sophie Bettez, Tricia Deguire, and Alexandra Labelle with Montreal, and Metropolitan's Sarah Bujold and Kennedy Ganser. In total, 20 USports alumni appeared in the PHF last season. Another nine played with the PWHPA.
Although signings are underway, and other USports stars including Tatum Amy and Lauren Dabrowski have also been linked to teams in the PHF, there are still a number of USports free agents to watch. Here are 10 players to keep an eye on.
Kendra Woodland, G, New Brunswick - The USports Player of the Year, Woodland was an invite to Canada's national team summer showcase, and was a four year standout with the University of New Brunswick. This season she recorded a 14-3-0 record alongside a 1.10 GAA and .960 save percentage. They are eye popping numbers that could translate to the pro game. Woodland, 23, was a member of Canada's U-18 national team in 2018.
Leah Herrfort, F, Waterloo - One of the best goal scorers in the nation, Herrfort put in a dominant campaign with the University of Waterloo. A first team All-Canadian, Herrford spent multiple seasons playing NCAA Division I hockey with Union College before shifting to Waterloo. The move to USports seemed to spark Herrfort offensively. This year she collected 35 points in 23 games. Herrfort has spent four seasons in college hockey, but can still return to Waterloo. She was one of three finalists alongside Veilette and Amy for the USports player of the year honor.
Shae Demale, F, St. Mary's - Demale, 23, was one of Western Canada's most dominant offensive players this season with St. Mary's. She was also a standout for Canada at the Universaide this seasons scoring 10 points in the tournament. In regular season play, Demale notched 19 goals and 34 points in 24 games, earning herself second team All-Canadian honors. During the pandemic season, Demale played part of a season with Leksands in the SDHL.
Hannah Koroll, D, British Columbia - A second team All-Canadian, Koroll just finished her fifth season with the University of British Columbia. Koroll has shown offensive growth in each season of USports competition, culminating in 20 points in 28 games this year.
Carley Olivier, D, Waterloo - With six seasons of college hockey behind her, Olivier enters free agency as one of the most mature defenders on the market. Olivier, 23, spent spent one season playing NCAA Division I hockey for Connecticut before returning to Canada. This year in Waterloo she scored 23 points in 23 games from the back end and was named a second team All-Canadian.
Maggy Burbidge, F, St. Francis Xavier - The top scorer in Canada by 12 points, Burbidge potted 25 goals and 47 points in 24 games, and added another 13 in 7 postseason games. She was a standout at Universaide representing Canada. The 22-year-old is eligible to return to St. FX after spending the first two seasons of her college hockey career playing NCAA Division I hockey at Robert Morris. She returned to Canada after Robert Morris decided to take a hiatus. Burbidge was named a first team All-Canadian.
Halle Oswald, G, Alberta - If there was any netminder in Canada who could go one-on-one with Woodland, it's Oswald. Her numbers across four seasons with Alberta are out of this world. Last season she recorded a 1.19 GAA and .942 save percentage.
Emmy Fecteau, F, Concordia, USports - Canada's captain at the Universaide, Fecteau played alongside Rosalie Bégin-Cyr at Concordia as one of the most dynamic and dangerous duos in the nation. Fecteau had 32 points in 23 games. Fecteau still has a season of eligibility after being named a second team All-Canadian this year.
Lea Macleod, F, St. Francis Xavier, USports - Similar to many on this list, Macleod could return for her COVID season at St. FX, and was also a member of Canada's gold medal winning Universaide team. Macleod has three solid offensive seasons under her belt. There's not much left to prove for the Nova Scotia product, other than chasing a national title.
Maria Dominico, F, Nipissing, USports - Scoring 11 points in seven games en route to gold for Canada at the Universaide, Dominico was a leader among the top players in the country. She's the former USports rookie of the year and alongside Herrfort was one of Ontario's top scoring threats.