Second Toronto-area player for the 2026 class. Piggott is on the same team that Hannah Clark came from.
Greetings from Bemidji 🦫
Looks like plan “B” was in the works.
I don’t know much about Ms. Piggott. She did play for Canada in the three game series against the U.S. in August which is a big feather in her cap, especially as an 2008 birth year. “Neutral Zone” was generous in their praise for her in their recap of that event. They especially liked her speed and tenacity. She will play for the Ontario Red team (as a teammate of 
commit Maddie McCullough) in the upcoming Canadian Women’s Under-18 Championships. Scroll up a few posts if you don’t know what that is. She is only 5’3” so that’s always a bit of a question until you see her at the NCAA level. Overall, looks like an interesting pickup.
2025
D Sydney Bailey (Rogers)
F Sienna D’Alessandro (John Abbott College) From Pointe-Claire, Quebec
F Bella Fanale (Bishop Kearney Selects) From Webster, New York)
G Layla Hemp (Minnetonka) Sister of Gopher forward Peyton Hemp
F Avery Hovland (NAHA) From Fargo, North Dakota
F Tereza Plosová (Djurgårdens IF) From Liberec, Czechia
2026
D Sloane Hartmetz (Shattuck) From Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
F Maddy McCullough (Durham West) From Newmarket, Ontario
F Rachel Piggott (Etobicoke) From Richmond Hill, Ontario
D Katya Sander (Holy Family)
Minnesota girls high school hockey starts November 7th, so hopefully I’ll have links for the high school girls by next weekend.
Minnesota girls high school hockey starts November 7th, so hopefully I’ll have links for the high school girls by next weekend.
Look up. That’s all the links. BK Selects and John Abbott College don’t release player stats, so I won’t have a link for Bella Fanale and the link for Sienna D’Alessandro is kind of useless.
In other news, the early signing period starts a week from today (November 13th) so the ‘25s will be putting pen to paper soon.
Fanale and Hartmetz make the US U18 team. Fanale is likely to be the team's captain.
Comparing the final U.S. team for the U-18 World Championship with the team for the three game series against Canada in August, I’m seeing six changes. The defense seems to have been left intact. One goalie change: Out is Minnetonka’s Ashlyn Hazlett ‘25, and replacing her is Apple Valley high school’s Finley Engfer ‘27. There are five forward changes: Out are two BK Select class of ‘25s, Rae Mayer and Addison Tremel, Edina’s Lorelai Nelson ‘26, Lindsay Stepnowski ‘26, Adrianna Milani ‘27. The Milani girl seems like possibly the largest surprise. She’s a Toronto area player who apparently has dual citizenship. A name to remember.
The five forwards replacing them are: An eastern girl, Christina Scalese. Two Orono forwards Maddie Kimbrel and Macy Rasmussen. Macy was on last year’s U.S. team. Two other players from last year’s World Championship team that missed the Canada series due to injury are Mary Derrenbacher and Caroline Averill.
I’ll have the U.S. roster with recruiting information by tomorrow, I hope.
The Hockey News: USA Hockey Unveils U-18 National Team For 2025 World Championships
2007 Birth Years
D Emi Biotti (Buckingham Browne & Nichols) ‘25 Harvard recruit, from Cambridge, Massachusetts
D Alaina Dunn (Dexter Southfield) ‘25 Boston College recruit, from Walpole, Massachusetts
D Kenleigh Fischer (Fargo North/South) ‘26 St. Thomas recruit, from Fargo, North Dakota
🇺🇸 D Megan Healy (BK Selects) ‘25 Princeton recruit, from South Burlington, Vermont
D Sydney Lamb (Windy City Storm) ‘25 St. Cloud State recruit, from Lombard, Illinois
🇺🇸 F Caroline Averill (Phillips Academy) ‘26 Princeton recruit, from Wayland, Massachusetts
F Evelyn Doyle (Dexter Southfield) ‘26 Yale recruit, from Needham Massachusetts
🇺🇸 F Bella Fanale (BK Selects) ‘25 from Webster, New York
F Ella Johnson (NAHA) ‘25 Quinnipiac recruit, from Palmer, Alaska
🇺🇸 F Macy Rasmussen (Orono) ‘25 Ohio State recruit
2008 Birth Years
🇺🇸 G Natalia Dilbone (Little Caesars) ‘26 Quinnipiac recruit, from South Lyon, Michigan
G Morgan Stickney (Shattuck) ‘26 Penn State recruit, from Redondo Beach, California
🇺🇸 D Maggie Averill (Phillips Academy) ‘27 From Wayland, Massachusetts
D Emma Cerruti (Shattuck) ‘26 Wisconsin recruit, from Norwell, Massachusetts
D Sloane Hartmetz (Shattuck) ‘26 From Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
F Kylie Amelkovich (Shattuck) ‘26 Penn State recruit, from Glen Ellyn, Illinois
🇺🇸 F Haley Box (Shattuck) ‘26 Wisconsin recruit, from Eden Prairie
🇺🇸 F Mary Derrenbacher (Shattuck) ‘27 From Raleigh, North Carolina
F Maddy Kimbrel (Orono) ‘26 Wisconsin recruit
F Christina Scalese (Groton School) ‘26 Princeton recruit, from West Boylston, Massachusetts
2009 Birth Years
G Finley Engfer (Apple Valley) ‘27
D Chyna Taylor (Lovell Academy) ‘27 From Louisville, Kentucky
F Jane Daley (Shattuck) ‘28 From Medfield, Massachusetts
F Anabelle Lovell (Lovell Academy) ‘27 From Hingham, Massachusetts
F Sydney Stoughton (Lovell Academy) ‘27 From Mason, Ohio
https://twitter.com/GopherWHockey/status/1857136579506065661
That most likely concludes the class of 2025. Everyone we were expecting is on board.
Official release on the early signers
https://gophersports.com/news/2024/11/14/womens-hockey-the-u-adds-six-to-2025-26-freshman-class
One final thing about the U.S. u18 team for the World Championships. In my post yesterday I missed a couple changes between the World Championship team and the August series with Canada.
Out: D Faith Baratta (Lovell Academy) ‘27 From Naples, Florida
- A quick, shifty, but quite small (5’2”) defender. Her size probably worked against her with 5’3” defender Sloane Hartmetz also on the roster.
In: F Ella Johnson (NAHA) ‘25 Quinnipiac recruit, from Palmer, Alaska
- Good size forward (5’10) who played at Shattuck last season. Has a younger sister (Olivia ‘27) who is a similar player.
Comparing the final U.S. team for the U-18 World Championship with the team for the three game series against Canada in August, I’m seeing six changes. The defense seems to have been left intact. One goalie change: Out is Minnetonka’s Ashlyn Hazlett ‘25, and replacing her is Apple Valley high school’s Finley Engfer ‘27. There are five forward changes: Out are two BK Select class of ‘25s, Rae Mayer and Addison Tremel, Edina’s Lorelai Nelson ‘26, Lindsay Stepnowski ‘26, Adrianna Milani ‘27. The Milani girl seems like possibly the largest surprise. She’s a Toronto area player who apparently has dual citizenship. A name to remember.
The five forwards replacing them are: An eastern girl, Christina Scalese. Two Orono forwards Maddie Kimbrel and Macy Rasmussen. Macy was on last year’s U.S. team. Two other players from last year’s World Championship team that missed the Canada series due to injury are Mary Derrenbacher and Caroline Averill.
I’ll have the U.S. roster with recruiting information by tomorrow, I hope.
Not the point here, but Milani would not be eligible to play for Team USA until she lives/plays in the US for a full year. So from USA Hockey's perspective they have to hope Canada doesn't scoop her up next year (knowing they don't take double underagers to this tournament).
If anyone’s interested, here’s an recruit vs. recruit game from yesterday. Bella Fanale is #97 in black and Avery Hovland is #22 in white.
https://www.youtube.com/live/Hb4JrTQMjFM?si=uh_GfeZlXdYf_xwz
Canada releases their ROSTER for the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships to be held January 4-12 in Vantaa, Finland.
Gopher freshman defender Chloe Primerano and class of 2026 forward commits Rachel Piggott and Maddie McCullough will be team members.
Similar to Fanale on the American side, Primerano is expected to be the Canadian captain.
IIHF Women’s U18 World Championships starts Saturday in Vantaa, Finland. Pre-tournament warmup today for the U.S. against the Czechs. Looks like all USA games (not today’s exhibition) will again be on NHL Network. (TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE)
The U.S. team wins their warmup game 7-1 over Czechia. Gopher ‘25 recruit Bella Fanale scores a pair of first period goals and is named player of the game.
Canada also wins a warmup 7-0 over Finland. Gopher freshman Chloe Primerano scores a goal and ‘26 recruit Rachel Piggott with two assists.
Similar to Fanale on the American side, Primerano is expected to be the Canadian captain.
VANTAA, Finland – Forward Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.) has been named captain of the 2025 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team that will compete at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship Jan. 4-12 in Vantaa, Finland.
Joining Fanale, as an alternate captain, is defender Megan Healy (South Burlington, Vt.). Both Fanale and Healy are three-time U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team members having played an integral part of the 2024 squad that won gold at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship and 2023 iteration that took home bronze.
From “The Hockey News”:
The Women’s U18 World Championships start playing for real tomorrow. The U.S. starts out with Japan. If you don’t mind losing some sleep it will be on NHL Network starting tonight at 2:00 a.m. Gopher recruits numbers are Bella Fanale (#28) and Sloane Hartmetz (#6).
A couple of preview articles from the IIHF site:
“Americans favoured to win Group A”
“Can Czechs challenge Canada in Group B?”
And a pretty in depth one from “The Ice Garden”:
“2025 U18 Women’s World Championship Preview”
A little on the Canadian point of view at the U18 Worlds. First an article from CBC……
“Generational defender Chloe Primerano to lead Canada's quest for gold at U18 hockey worlds”
………..then Team Canada’s roster with some recruiting information. (🇨🇦 -returners from last year’s World U18 team)
2007 Birth Years
🇨🇦G Marilou Grenier (UMD)
G Ava Drabyk (Syracuse)
G Amelia Wilkinson (UConn)
D Danica Maynard (Penn State)
D Alex Therien (New Hampshire)
🇨🇦D Chloe Primerano ( )
D Sydney Sawyer (Colgate)
D Kate Manness (Clarkson)
F Lexie Bertelsen (Boston U)
F Ava Wood (Colgate)
🇨🇦F Maxine Cimoroni (Ohio State)
🇨🇦F Styker Zablocki (Northeastern)
F Riley Sorokan (Princeton)
F Dorothy Copetti (Colgate)
🇨🇦F Sara Manness ( Clarkson)
2008 Birth Years
D Anaïs Leprohon (uncommitted)
D Kate Viel (Ohio State)
F Alida Korte (Ohio State)
F Sofia Ismael (Penn State)
F Rachel Piggott ( )
F Caileigh Tiller (UConn)
F Rosalie Tremblay (Wisconsin)
F Maddie McCullough ( )
F Hayley McDonald (Ohio State)
Missed this earlier. More comprehensive U18 Worlds recruiting information HERE
EDIT: a couple of boo-boos in the article. Missed Rachel Piggott as a ‘26 recruit. Also ‘26 Ohio State recruit is listed as a Syracuse commit.
An ARTICLE on Chyna Taylor, one of five 2009 birth year players on the U.S. U18 team. She is from the hockey hotbed of Louisville, Kentucky. She plays at Lovell Academy in Massachusetts. Lovell was in town for the Girls Elite League NIT tournament last fall and I saw a couple games. She seemed like a bit of a raw player, but a high ceiling prospect to watch closely.
Documents for the upcoming game against Japan:
🇺🇸 6
🇯🇵 0
“Team USA Opens Under-18 Women’s Worlds With 6-0 Shutout Over Japan”
U.S. back at it tonight with what should be a much tougher test against Sweden. Game time is again 2:00 a.m. on NHL Network.
🇺🇸 3
🇸🇪 0
“Americans maintain perfect record”
Tomorrow is an off day. The U.S. finishes the preliminary portion of their tournament schedule on Tuesday against Finland. Face off is at a more sleep friendly 9:00 a.m. on NHL Network. The knockout round begins on Thursday.
🇺🇸 vs. 🇫🇮
9:00 a.m. NHL Network
“USA & Finland Prep for Final U18s Preliminary Game”
up 3-0 in the 1st
Aloha!
U.S. and Canada finish the preliminary round undefeated to finish first in Group A and Group B respectively. Thursday’s quarterfinals look like this:
🇸🇪 vs. 🇨🇭 2:00 a.m.
🇺🇸 vs. 🇸🇰 5:30 a.m.
🇨🇿 vs. 🇫🇮 9:00 a.m.
🇨🇦 vs. 🇯🇵 12:30 p.m.
Semifinals are on Saturday, and the Gold Medal game is Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Primerano Becomes All-Time Leading Scorer Among Defenders At U18 WorldChampionships
A story on the Averill family. Daughters Maggie and Caroline are both in their second year on Team USA at the U18 Worlds. Mom played in the first U18 tournament 30 years ago. Caroline is following in Mom’s footsteps and heading to Princeton. Maggie is a year younger and won’t make her decision until next recruiting cycle. Odds for Princeton are probably very strong, but at this point there seems to be, at least, some mutual interest with the staff.
https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2025/ww18/news/65285/like_mother_like_daughters
Thursday’s quarterfinals look like this:
🇸🇪 vs. 🇨🇭 2:00 a.m.
🇺🇸 vs. 🇸🇰 5:30 a.m.
🇨🇿 vs. 🇫🇮 9:00 a.m.
🇨🇦 vs. 🇯🇵 12:30 p.m.
Just a reminder. Took a while, but my guide is now showing that tomorrow morning’s USA/Slovakia game will be televised on NHL Network.
Quarterfinals done (scores ⬆️ above). No real surprises except possibly the one sidedness of the Czech/Finland game or the total beat down Canada gave Japan. Saturday’s semifinals look like this:
🇺🇸 vs. 🇸🇪 7:00 a.m.
🇨🇦 vs. 🇨🇿 10:30 a.m.
Saturday Semifinals
🇺🇸 vs. 🇸🇪 7:00 a.m. (LIVE STATS)
🇨🇦 vs. 🇨🇿 10:30 a.m. (LIVE STATS)
U.S. game on NHL Network
https://twitter.com/IIHFHockey/status/1878080516181606578
…….but as I post this, the Swedes tie things up at one apiece
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1878085518858023360
Bella Fanale again
U.S. up 2-1 after two periods
🇺🇸 2 🇸🇪 1 (LIVE STATS)
🇨🇦 4 🇨🇿 2 (LIVE STATS)
The Gold Medal game is tomorrow (Sunday) at 11:00 a.m. on NHL Network
Gold Medal game: 🇺🇸 vs. 🇨🇦 11:00 a.m. on NHL Network (LIVE STATS)
Current and future Gophers to watch:
- 🇺🇸 Bella Fanale ‘25 (#28)
- 🇺🇸 Sloane Hartmetz ‘26 (#6)
- 🇨🇦 Chloe Primerano ‘24 (#8)
- 🇨🇦 Rachel Piggott ‘26 (#13)
- 🇨🇦 Maddie McCullough ‘26 (#19)
Some pre-game reading:
Individual awards will be named following today’s game. One group of tournament individual honors was released yesterday as the coaches name the top three players from each team (LINK). No surprise that Gopher freshman defender Chloe Primerano and future Gopher forward Bella Fanale were among those selected.
Looking ahead to next year’s tournament, future Gophers Hartmetz, Piggott and McCullough are all young enough to return. Next year’s tournament will be in Canada. I saw an article on the “Hockey Canada” site that said Canada will be hosting this tournament in 2026, 2028 and 2030. The exact sites were not mentioned. Japan and Germany have been ping ponging back and forth the last few years between the top tournament and the 1A tournament. Japan did lose the relegation game yesterday to Slovakia and will again move down, but Hungary upset the norm by winning the 1A tournament this week in Budapest.
“Hungary Earns Promotion To Top Division At U-18 World Championships”
🇨🇦 3 🇺🇸 0 final
🥇 Canada
🥈 U.S.A.
🥉 Czechia
Tournament MVP
LOPUSANOVA Nela (SVK) #12
Media All-Star Team
Goaltender: STICKNEY Morgan (USA) #30
Defender: PRIMERANO Chloe (CAN) #8
Defender: HEALY Megan (USA) #18
Forward: LOPUSANOVA Nela (SVK) #12
Forward: ZABLOCKI Stryker (CAN) #21
Forward: FANALE Anabella (USA) #28Directorate awards
Best goalie: NOVAKOVA Daniela (CZE) #30
Best defender: PRIMERANO Chloe (CAN) #8
Best forward: FANALE Anabella (USA) #28
A couple of articles to probably wrap up coverage of the U-18 Women’s Worlds.
“Top 10 Players From The U-18 Women's Worlds”
“Five Standouts for Team USA at Women's U18s”
From the first article Czech forward Linda Vocetkova is the only uncommitted player on the list. She plays for the same Swedish team that ‘25 signee Tereza Plosova currently plays for. Haven’t seen any evidence that the staff is targeting her, but things with European players often kind of pop up out of the blue.
Bella Fanale’s coming out party in Vantaa is very encouraging. Will she be a Heise, Zumwinkle or Murphy level Gopher? Not totally sure about that, but I think she will be a fan favorite. Both her and fellow ‘25 recruit Sienna D’Alessandro seem like skill players who thrive in the tough areas around the net.
The recruiting wars for the class of ‘27 players on team USA over the summer months will be fierce. Defenders Maggie Averill and Chyna Taylor, forwards Mary Derrenbacher, Annabelle Lovell and Sydney Stoughton, plus back up goalie Finley Engfer (from Apple Valley) should all be highly coveted.
Quebec native defender Anaïs Leprohon is the only uncommitted player from Team Canada.
One more article for those that might want to dig a little deeper:
“Nine U-18 Players Not In The Top World Division You Need To Know “
We’ll surely see some of these girls at the NCAA level in the coming years. The one to maybe remember is the Polish girl listed at number one. Been reading about her for a while now.