The USA 19U national championships will drop the puck this week with many of the nation's top prospects ready to compete.
The USA 19U national championships will drop the puck this week with many of the nation's top prospects ready to compete.
USA Hockey's girls national championship tournaments are underway, headlined by the 19U 'AAA' nationals in Wesley Chapel, Florida from April 2-7.
The dominant Bishop Kearney Selects enter as the top ranked team in the nation. Their roster includes 17 NCAA D1 committed players, and one of the uncommitted players on the roster is Nela Lopusanova. Their depth includes past and present USA U-18 national team members including Finlay McCarthy, Megan Healey, Bella Fanale, Rose Dwyer, and Lucia DiGirolamo, along with Czech national team netminder Michaela Hesova.
The second ranked team in the nation heading into nationals is Shattuck-St. Mary's. Forward Maggie Scannell may be the most physically mature and dominant skater at nationals, and she'll be a player other teams key in one, although Shattuck also has U-18 national team members Haley Box and and Jordyn Petrie to contend with. This is a deep and talented roster that will give Bishop Kearney everything they're worth. Netminder Genevieve Klein will be difficult to beat for Shattuck.
Rounding out the top eight of the 16-team national championship pool are Chicago Mission (3), Boston Jr. Eagles (4), East Coast Wizards (5), Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (6), Little Caesars (7), and Mid Fairfield CT Stars (8).
Players To Watch
Aside from the aforementioned USA national team members and international stars like Nela Lopusanova, there are plenty of players to watch in this tournament. Chicago Mission sisters Rachel Gorbatenko and Kelly Gorbatenko are two, who impose with their size and can contribute offensively as well. Chicago has solid depth in their attack including Carla McSweeney, Ella Pukala, and Rosie Klein. Playing for Philadelphia, Ava Thomas is one of the most dynamic forwards in the nation, and defender Ellie Dimatos was invaluable for USA at the U-18 Worlds. Little Caesars brings a one-two punch up front and on the blueline as well in Addison Spitz and Taylor Senecal. Meanwhile the East Coast Wizards have a crop of players including Hannah Weyerhaeuser, Kennedy Walker, Molly Boyle, and Morgan McGathey.
Teams To Watch
Don't expect a stunning upset in this tournament. Bishop Kearney remains the heavy favorite. They've dominated everywhere they've been this season, and their bottom lines are better than almost every other top line in this event. Depth is their calling card as the premier program in the United States at the moment. If there's any team that could knock off BK, it's Shattuck-St.Mary's. They finished the season with a 42-5-4 record. They dropped a 4-3 decision against Bishop Kearney earlier this season and have gone even with the third ranked Chicago Mission with a 1-1-3 record this season against the team. Just outside of the top eight teams, NAHA shouldn't be discounted with with some top end talent on their roster including Alanna Devlin, Mikah Keller, and Kassidy Carmichael.