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Top 40 College Prospects For The New Pro Women's League

Ian Kennedy
Jul 14, 2023
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Ian Kennedy
Jul 14, 2023
Partner

Here's a look at the top 40 college hockey players who could crack the new professional women's hockey league roster.

Here's a look at the top 40 college hockey players who could crack the new professional women's hockey league roster.

Emma Maltais - Photo by Ohio State Athletics - Top 40 College Prospects For The New Pro Women's LeagueEmma Maltais - Photo by Ohio State Athletics - Top 40 College Prospects For The New Pro Women's League

The new professional women's hockey league will have fierce competition for roster spots. While the bulk of the league's roster will come from the PHF and PWHPA, there will be an incoming cohort from one of the strongest NCAA graduation classes in recent memory.

A number of young players have signed in Europe including Jenniina Nylund, Sini Karjalainen, Andrea Braendli, Cami Kronish, Emily Pinto, Kate Stuart, Shae Demale, Courtney Vorster, Shay Maloney, Abby Moloughney, Eleri Mackay, Saskia Maurer, Georgia Kraus, Tanner Gates, and Lotti Odnoga. Since the acquisition of the PHF, previously signed PHF players Naomi Rogge and Lauren Dabrowski also signed overseas.

Here's a look at 40 players who could crack rosters in the new league. The list is not definitive as some players may use eligibility to return, or choose to join the new league.

  1. Alina Müller, F, Northeastern - Coming out of Northeastern, where she scored 27 goals and 60 points in 38 games, Müller was a five-time Patty Kazmaier nominee. Best forward at the Olympics and U-18 Worlds, she's one of the best in the World. Her signing with the PHF's Boston Pride was monumental, and perhaps a catalyst for the acquisition of the league after it became abundantly clear that much of the world's young talent was making the PHF choice.
  2. Taylor Heise, F, Minnesota -  Heise was second in the nation in scoring with 65 points in 38 games, and she's regularly emerged as Team USA's top forward. She plays a power forward role at times, but with playmaking finesse. Former World Championship MVP and multi-time All-Star, as well as a Patty Kazmaier winner. Alongside Müller, these are the two impact forwards to watch.
  3. Sophie Jaques, D, Ohio State - When you're the reigning Patty Kazmaier winner as the top NCAA player in the nation, and you're the top scoring blueliner in the country, you'll be expected to step in and play. Team Canada could have used Jaques at the Worlds this year, and she's a likely candidate to be looked at for a position on the senior national team this season.
  4. Chloe Aurard, F, Northeastern - With 20 goals and 54 points in 38 games for Northeastern, Aurard was eighth in national scoring. Any team trying to build a youthful line should look at re-connecting Aurard with Müller. They were a formidable 1-2 punch as linemates at Northeastern, and the Boston Pride saw that and brought them in as a pair. Aurard also represents France's senior national team.
  5. Emma Soderberg, F, Minnesota-Duluth - Voted to the tournament All-Star team at the recent IIHF World Championships, Soderberg is one of several prominent European goalies set to come out of the NCAA this season. She signed a two-year contract with the PHF's Connecticut Whale before the league was acquired, and is capable of stealing a job in the new league from almost any netminder. Goaltending positions will be tough to come by, but Soderberg should be safe.
  6. Grace Zumwinkle, F, Minnesota - Something fascinating happened days before the IIHF World Championships. Team USA announced they would not be bringing back Zumwinkle, the NCAA's third leading scorer with 25 goals and 61 points in 38 games. She'll be a scoring threat in the new league, consistently showing not only her goal scoring abilities, but her on ice vision as a set up player.
  7. Jesse Compher, F, Wisconsin - Transferring to Wisconsin last year, Compher won a national title, and she'd been one of USA more consistent bottom six players at recent World and Olympic events before being snubbed from this year's team. She'll be out to prove something when the new league begins.
  8. Emma Maltais, F, Ohio State - At Ohio State, Maltais was an elite scorer. For Team Canada, Maltais was a fly pestering opponents and providing energy from the bottom six. She's a player who was under-utilized as the American's relied heavily on NCAA players with significant success. 
  9. Theresa Schafzahl, F, Vermont - Schafzahl was 23rd in national scoring with 45 points in 36 games with Vermont. She'd signed to play with the PHF's Montreal Force for two seasons. The Austrian national team member is a future star in the game and should earn a spot in the new league.
  10. Gabrielle Hughes, F, Minnesota-Duluth - Hughes launched herself onto the scene making Team USA's gold medal roster, stealing a spot from multiple veterans in the process. She played a depth role, but got into games for USA and given the strong ties between the PWHPA and national team players, Hughes should be safe moving to the new league.
  11. Ashton Bell, D, Minnesota-Duluth - Another national team cut, who could have benefitted Canada in building a more game ready, competitive roster this year, Bell has two World Championship and an Olympic gold, emerging as a surprise contributor in those events. She finished this season with 33 points in 39 games as Minnesota-Duluth's captain.
  12. Emma Seitz, D, Yale, NCAA - Back-to-back All-American, there's perhaps no player more underrated in the discussion of national teams than Emma Seitz. If not for a deep and youthful USA blueline, Seitz would be there. Without question, she's one of the best puck moving bleuliners coming from the NCAA. Seitz was signed with the PHF's Metropolitan Riveters.
  13. Gabrielle David, F, Clarkson, NCAA - Finishing tenth in NCAA scoring, the 23-year-old recorded 52 points in 42 games. David can flat out score, and will make an immediate impact in professional hockey. David, who hails from Drummondville, Quebec, is a common invitee to Canada's senior national team camp and she represented Canada at the U-18 level. David was signed with the PHF's Boston Pride.
  14. Maureen Murphy, Northeastern - The third head of Northeastern's offensive monster alongside Müller and Aurard, Murphy has consistently been one of the top American born scorers in the NCAA the past two seasons. She previously represented USA at the U-18s.
  15. Sandra Abstreiter, Providence - While Soderberg took top goaltending honors at the IIHF women's World Championship, Abstreiter garnered consideration as well. Her performance holding Team USA to only three goals, and magically keeping an offensively starved German team from relegation was miraculous. Abstreiter was signed with the PHF's Connecticut Whale. Will there be enough goaltending positions?
  16. Noemi Neubauerova, Providence - Statistically, there are other players who outperformed Neubauerova. Coming out of Team Czechia with a bronze medal around her neck however, Neubauerova was part of a group that showed impact is not always measured in blowout games that pad your stats. Not a single Czechian player finished in the top 35 of IIHF scoring, but they still won. Neubauerova is one of those players that contributes in many ways. She was signed to play with the PHF's Metropolitan Riveters.
  17. Sophie Shirley, Wisconsin - Sophie Shirley is a unique player on this list, having played in the CWHL with the Calgary Inferno prior to her NCAA career, being named CWHL rookie of the year. After a spectacular NCAA career culminating in multiple NCAA titles, Shirley is a two-way contributor that has garnered interest from Canada's national team. She was signed to play with the PHF's Boston Pride.
  18. Lexie Adzija, F, Quinnipiac - She finished her five seasons of NCAA hockey captaining Quinnipiac. Adzija is rarely pushed off a puck, playing a well balanced game using her five-foot-ten frame to her advantage. Adzija was invited to Canada's senior national team selection camp this summer, and is a former Canadian U-18 team member. She was signed with the Metropolitan Riveters.
  19. Abbey Levy, G, Boston College - Abbey Levy has a unique advantage few women's hockey netminders have, a six-foot-one frame. She uses her size to cover the net well, and put up sparkling numbers over five NCAA seasons, spending the last three with Boston College. Last year in 30 games, Levy recorded a 1.77 GAA and .947 save percentage. She was the third goalie for USA at the World Championships. Spots are limited in net, but Levy should earn a backup role or third goalie spot.
  20. Nicole LaMantia, D, Wisconsin - LaMantia spent five seasons with Wisconsin helping her team to a pair of national championships. LaMantia is a mobile defender who has offensive upside. She was the reserve defender for USA's senior national team at Worlds, and won gold as a member of USA's U-18 national team. This season with Wisconsin, LaMantia scored 29 points in 41 games. LaMantia may not play in any new league after accepting a full time job in Illinois. 
  21. Claire Dalton, F, Yale - Four strong seasons at Yale, Dalton averaged more than a point per game across her NCAA career, and helped take Yale from an afterthought to a national contender. A former member of Canada's U-18 national team, Dalton was an on and off-ice leader with Yale, serving as team captain. Dalton was signed with the PHF's Toronto Six.
  22. Maude Poulin-Labelle, D, Northeastern - An offensive defender who adds excitement to the game, she split her NCAA time between Vermont and Northeastern. She's mobile, and can bring you out of your seat from the blueline. Poulin-Labelle was signed with the PHF's Connecticut Whale.
  23. Audrey-Anne Veillette, F, Montreal - There aren't many USports athletes who can take the place of top NCAA stars, but Audrey-Anne Veillette is one. She's represented Canada twice at the U-18 Worlds and was an All-Canadian with Montreal before signing with the PHF's Montreal Force this offseason. She's one of the best pure goal scorers in this pool.
  24. Catherine Skaja, F, Minnesota - Notching 81 points in her last 74 NCAA games with the University of Minnesota, Skaja can produce. Skaja, 23, has two gold medals playing with USA's U-18 national team, and was signed to play with the PHF's Minnesota Whitecaps.
  25. Abigail Boreen, F, Minnesota - One of the better scorers in the NCAA, Boreen captained the University of Minnesota last season. While she is an excellent shooter, Boreen also has playmaking skills, and plays a consistent enough two-way game. She was signed to play with the PHF's Minnesota Whitecaps.
  26. Natalie Buchbinder, D, Wisconsin - Buchbinder is not going to add a lot of flash and offense, but that doesn't mean her impact is lesser. As a third pair defender, she's a shut down specialist. Two national titles with Wisconsin, senior national team experience with USA, and a U-18 gold. She's got the experience.
  27. Madison Bizal, D, Ohio State - Former national champion and U-18 World Championship gold medalist, Bizal was signed to play with the Minnesota Whitecaps. A solid blueliner who defends well, but can also contribute offensively.
  28. Paetyn Levis, F, Ohio State - Yet another Minnesota product, Levis was one of the top producers in the NCAA the last two seasons, and would undoubtedly contribute at the next level. She has an excellent shot that rarely misses its target, and was signed to play with the PHF's Minnesota Whitecaps.
  29. Amy Potomak, F, Trinity Western - After four seasons in the NCAA, Potomak jumped over to USports hockey this season and is a top candidate to join her sister Sarah in the new league. She's represented Canada at the national level multiple times.
  30. Tatum Amy, F, Mount Royal - Another All-Canadian and national champion with Mount Royal, Amy should not be overlooked in the discussion for a new league. She's strong on her skates and would be an excellent contributor in the bottom six of a team in the new league. She was signed with the PHF's Buffalo Beauts.
  31. Maggie Flaherty, D, Minnesota-Duluth - An offensively minded defender Flaherty had signed this offseason with the PHF's Minnesota Whitecaps and was an invitee to USA's National Festival after representing the American's at the U-18 Worlds in the past.
  32. Zoe Boyd, D, Quinnipiac - Signed this offseason to play for the PHF's Boston Pride, Boyd has represented Canada at the U-18 level and remains on the national team radar.
  33. Isabel Heminger, D, Penn State - Five solid seasons with Penn State, culminating with Heminger sitting among the top 10 all-time in CHA scoring by a defender. The Ohio product should have a shot at the new league.
  34. Gabby Rosenthal, F, Ohio State - Averaging a point per game over her last two seasons with Ohio State, Rosenthal will be in the mix competing for a roster spot in the new league. She was an invitee to USA's national summer festival.
  35. Emily Rickwood, D, New Hampshire - When you look at the scoresheet, Rickwood's numbers are middling, but when you look beyond the scoresheet, her impact is undeniable. One of the top shot blockers in NCAA hockey, Rickwood cleans up her own end and is a top tier shutdown defender, who can still distribute the puck and grab the odd point. The former U-18 Canadian national team member was signed to play with the PHF's Montreal Force.
  36. Emily Oden, F, Minnesota - The two-time U-18 World Championship gold medalist played her high school hockey at Edina before playing five seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. She'll be a good professional player if there's room in the new league.
  37. Courtney Correia, F, Penn State - A former member of Canada's U-18 national team, Correia had her best NCAA season as a graduate player with Penn State collecting 33 points in 38 games.
  38. Anneke Linser, F, Minnesota-Duluth - A consistent five season contributor for Minnesota-Duluth, Linser was signed to play for the PHF's Metropolitan Riveters. She previously represented USA at the U-18 level.
  39. Claire Butorac, F, Minnesota State - Captain of Minnesota State, Butorac will be in a fight for a roster spot, or reserve position. She's a two-way contributor who grew offensively in her graduate season.
  40. Blanka Skodova, G, Minnesota-Duluth - Skodova is interesting to discuss, because she only played three games in the NCAA this season buried behind Soderberg in Minnesota-Duluth. That said, she did win a bronze medal backstopping Czechia at the World Championships. With limited goaltending jobs available, Skodova could return to Czechia or another European league in search of starts, or stay as a third goalie option in the new league.
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