There will be plenty of talent heading to U SPORTS this season as the depth of women's hockey continues to grow, and the level of play in Canada's top university loop evolves as well.

This year, there is more talent than ever shifting back from the NCAA to U SPORTS as transfers. But it doesn't stop there are a number of exciting first year university players will be entering Canada's top loop. Here's a look at some of the names to watch as U SPORTS rookies.

The University of British Columbia is sending talent to the pro ranks, and saw a very talented class graduate, but they're also welcoming in a deep and skilled recruiting class, perhaps the best group of first-year players in the nation. The Thunderbirds are bringing in Cassie Carvalho and Payton Henwood who both played for Team Manitoba at the U-18 National Championships.  Both were better than point-per-game players in their respective leagues. They also have Team Saskatchewan forward Maggie Rauckman joining from the Battleford Sharks. Shawnigan Lake defender Alyssa Worsley and netmidner Ella Dunham-Fox who has spent the past three seasons playing her trade with top programs in Edmonton and at Delta Hockey Academy.

Heading to the University of Calgary, defender Madison Batch, is coming off a stellar season at Delta Hockey Academy, and has represented British Columbia at both the U-18 National Championships and National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.

Saskatchewan is getting one of Western Canada's top goalies in Addison Tomes who played with Eastman Selects and also made starts for Saskatchewan at the U-18 nationals.

Ivy Perkin is an exciting young player heading to Regina after captaining the Westman Wildcats last season scoring 60 points in 28 games. She played for Team Manitoba alongside fellow Regina recruit Aliyah Teixeira, while another first-year Regina player, Raela Packet, skated with Team Saskatchewan.

Other rookies in Canada West to keep an eye on include Vayda Rigaux (MacEwan), Addilyn Nohlgren (Manitoba), Ayden Kehrig (Mount Royal), Danelle Steffen (Mount Royal) and Sarah McNabb (Alberta).

Toronto remains a contender for Ontario's top team this season. One of their more intriguing recruits this season is Hungarian forward Berta Mozolai. Mozolai put up good numbers at Stanstead College over the last three seasons, and also represented Hungary at three U-18 World Championships, and made her senior national team World Championship debut in 2024 and also played with Hungary in Olympic qualifying. Alongside Abby Dingwell, the University of Toronto has a few top recruits. 

One of the stronger first year OUA recruiting classes comes from Ontario Tech. They reached West to grab netminder Julianne Hendriks and forward Leah Hill out of the CSSHL from British Columbia. Hendricks backstopped Team British Columbia at the U-18 National Championships and played at the heralded RINK Kelowna, a top producer of elite talent. Hill has been an offensive catalyst everywhere she's played including Fraser Valley, and the last two seasons with Shawnigan Lake averaging more than a point per game.

The University of New Brunswick is doing their part to grow the global game this season taking in a pair of touted Norwegian forwards in Ella Morken and Aurora Winther-Johannessen. The pair finished second and third respectively in Norway's women's league in scoring last season while notching 56 and 53 points in 30 games respectively. Both made their World Championship debuts with Norway this season, and are both alumni of Norway's U-18 national team. Emily Thomas is another top young player heading to New Brunswick this season after playing for Rothesay Netherwood and representing Team Atlantic.

Dalhousie is welcoming Sydney Stibbard from RINK Winnipeg. She was top five in the CSSHL in scoring last season with 55 points in 30 games, which is an impressive stat line for one of Canada's best leagues. 

ST.FX has a pair of CSSHL alumni worth watching as well in Kendal Leader (RINK Winnipeg) and Grace Cooper (Shawnigan Lake).

Perrine Lavorel is a former assistant captain for France's U-18 national team joining first year program Laval. The defender has three seasons of experience at John Abbott College. Newfoundland's Sophie Urquhart is joining powerhouse Concordia. She had some good performances with Rothesay Netherwood School and also won a historic silver medal with Team Atlantic at the 2026 U-18 National Championships. Bishop's University will add another intriguing prospect in Laurence Lafleur. Lafleur joins the Gaiters as a proven scorer in RSEQ's collegiate loop, and she twice represented Quebec at the U-18 Nationals.