Delaware is set to drop the puck on their inaugural season with a pair of games September 26 and 27 against Long Island University. Delaware becomes the 45th women's hockey program [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/college/delaware-adding-ncaa-di-womens-hockey-to-cha] in the nation joining Atlantic Hockey America as the conference's seventh team. Allison Coomey will serve as Delaware's first ever head coach supported by assistant coaches Melissa Samoskevich and Taylor Willard. TRANSFERS BRING VETERAN PRESENCE TO DELAWARE Delaware grabbed four players out of the transfer portal bringing a veteran presence to their inaugural roster. In net Mattie Robitzer joins transferring from Northeastern where she appeared in three games last season posting a 1-1-0 record with a 1.98 GAA and .907 save percentage. Robitzer will get an opportunity to take over a starting role at the NCAA level next season. On Delaware's blueline, Tiana McIntyre brings 76 games of NCAA experience over three seasons with Quinnipiac. The 5-foot-8 right shot defender hasn't put up numbers, but will be a steadying presence for the Blue Hens. Up front, Delaware found two veteran forwards in Danica Mark and Kaitlin Finnegan. Finnegan has played parts of five seasons at Lindenwood scoring a career best 11 points in 32 games in 2023-24 before missing almost the entirety of last year. Mark comes over from Union College where she had three points in nine games last season. A LOOK AT DELAWARE'S WOMEN'S HOCKEY RECRUITS Delaware will largely field a team of true rookies this season. Katelynn Charlton is one of their top performing Canadian recruits. She had 17 goals and 40 points in 40 games last year for the Burlington Barracudas, one of Canada's top junior teams. Charlton comes from a hockey family as her cousin, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, is entering her third season in the PWHL this season playing in Seattle. Delaware will also bring Norwegian national team member Ida Haave. Francesca Barresi, an assistant captain for the Ottawa Lady Senators last year is another player to watch up front. She's a physical presence who played for Team Ontario Blue this year at the Canadian national championships. Six-foot forward Madison Bonavita is an intriguing incoming prospect, and Thayer Academy captain Wren Abboud is another to watch. In net, Oakville Hornets goaltender Charlotte Payne could immediately challenge for playing time and has the potential to become Delaware's starter. On the blueline rookies Emma MacIntyre from Stanstead College and Shattuck St. Mary's defender Lexie Lonask are a pair to watch. MOVING ON UP Donning a Delaware Blue Hens jersey will be new for every player on the roster except one, Sydney Butler. Butler has spent the past three seasons as a goaltender with Delaware's ACHA D2 club team. She'll likely be Delaware's third goalie, but opening the path from their club team to the NCAA is exciting. Patty Kazmaier winner Casey O'Brien discusses turning pro
