Ranking The PWHL's Goaltending Trios

With PWHL netminding trio finalized, we count down each team's group from best to worst as the PWHL season approaches.

Two things are true in the PWHL this season. First, the depth on the blueline isn't great. Second, the depth in net is immense. If you wanted to add another item, it's that scoring depth on lineups often creeps onto the fourth line and beyond. Those items will play against each other this year as some goaltenders will be facing their share of high danger scoring opportunities. With a 24 game season and few back-to-back games, starters are expected to take the lions share of games, although one injury, which for some goalies could become a very realistic concern given how little some of these netminders have played over the past four years, and the depth will be tested.

Truly, you could roll a dice and choose any of the top four groups on this list to replace the other and take top spot; that's how deep this league is in goaltending talent.

Here's THN's ranking of each PWHL team's goaltending trio:

1. Boston - Aerin Frankel, Emma Soderberg, Cami Kronish - Bringing in the four-time Hockey East goalie of the year, Patty Kazmaier winner, and two-time NCAA goalie of the Year Aerin Frankel, who backstopped USA to a World Championship gold medal in 2023 was huge. When you consider Emma Soderberg was a two-time WCHA goaltender of the year, was named a tournament All-Star at the 2023 Worlds, and was Sweden's Player of the Year last year, it's a formidable duo. Cami Kronish likely won't be called upon to play, but if she were, Kronish backstopped Wisconsin to an NCAA national title last year. 

2. New York - Corinne Schroeder, Abbey Levy, Lindsey Post - Some people may disagree with this, but there's reason to believe in this trio that averages six-feet in height. Schroeder was the 2023 PHF Goaltender of the Year posting a 19-1-0 record with seven shutouts, a 1.67 GAA, and .955 save percentage. She followed that up by not allowing a goal at Canada national team Fall Festival selection camp. In her lone PWHL preseason game, Schroeder posted 39 saves and was the game's first star. Levy is 6-foot-1 and is Team USA's third goalie...for now. She played 30 games for Boston College last year posting a 1.77 GAA and .947 save percentage. In her PWHL preseason game, she posted a shutout and earned first star. In terms of depth, it doesn't get much better than Post who is a former USports national champion where she earned playoff MVP, and won SDHL Goaltender of the Year honors in 2022. Last year she played 21 games in Sweden for SDE. No team in the league has a trio as game ready as this group, which could play a significant role in the shortened season.

3. Minnesota - Nicole Hensley, Maddie Rooney, Amanda Leveille - Looking at depth, whether your third goalie is Rooney or Leveille, it's a goalie who could easily step in without missing a beat. Hensley is a former World Championship Best Goaltender with and was USA's starter at the World Championships in 2021 and 2022. Rooney has been Team USA backup for several seasons before Hensley and then Frankel took the role. Between the two they have five World Championship golds and a pair of Olympic gold medals. Leveille is no slouch herself, winning NWHL Goaltender of the Year twice, two-time Isobel Cup champion, and backstopped Minnesota to three NCAA national titles. 

4. Montreal - Ann-Renee Desbiens, Elaine Chuli, Marlène Boissonnault - Ann-Renee Desbiens is arguably the best goaltender in the world. She's been Canada's starter for years winning Olympic and World Championship gold. She was a three-time NCAA goalie of the year and won the Patty Kazmaier Award with Wisconsin. Last season she was named the PWHPA's Goaltender of the Year backstopping Team Harvey's to a Secret Cup. Speaking of champions, Elaine Chuli backstopped the PHF's Toronto Six to an Isobel Cup title last year. In 2022 she was named the PHF's Goaltender of the Year, and has national team experience at the U-18 level winning gold with Canada back in 2012. The third goalie in this group is Boissonnault, who hasn't played regularly since 2019 when she was at Cornell. She has a lot of upside, and could be a surprise if the opportunity presents itself. She also represented Canada at the U-18 level winning silver in 2015.

5. Ottawa - Emerance Maschmeyer, Sandra Abstreiter, Rachel McQuigge - It's a little deceiving to call this the fifth best group. Maschmeyer is Canada's second netminder behind Desbiens, but has rarely faltered in her opportunities. She was solid last year for Team Scotiabank playing 10 games. It was the most she'd played since 2019 when she was a member of the CWHL's Montreal Canadiennes. The only concern here is how the wear and tear of a full season will impact her. Sandra Abstreiter has the edge as Ottawa's backup at the moment. She was Germany's starter at the World Championships, and backstopped Providence in the NCAA last year. Without Abstreiter in net for Germany, her nation would have suffered some incredibly lopsided results. Finally, Rachel McQuigge grabbed the third spot in Ottawa's crease. She played eight games for the PHF's Metropolitan Riveters last year after an NCAA career with Princeton. 

6. Toronto - Kristen Campbell, Erica Howe, Carly Jackson - Kristen Campbell is Canada's third goalie, and has potential, but has really struggled over the past few months. She posted good numbers for Team Scotiabank last year splitting time with Maschmeyer, but hasn't played regularly since being named the NCAA's Goaltender of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. Recently, Campbell has put up disastrous starts in Canada's selection camp, the Rivalry Series, and PWHL preseason. She was however excellent in her other PWHL preseason start. In this league however, consistency will be key, as even a few off games could sink a season. Behind Campbell are Erica Howe and Carly Jackson. Both are good goalies, but neither would be a solution in this league should Campbell falter. Toronto went all in on Campbell. Now it's up to Campbell to prove this ranking wrong.