A nice new reference site for women’s recruiting.
https://www.cleansheethockey.com/databases/womens-ncaa-commitments
Girls’ high school section playoffs begin this week. (BRACKETS)
I’ve done little bits the past couple years putting percentages on Gopher recruits making the State Tournament, so I’ll give it another go. This is brief as there are only three current commits playing high school hockey this year.
- Layla Hemp (Minnetonka) ‘25 - 75%
- Katya Sander (Holy Family) ‘26 - 24%
- Sydney Bailey (Rogers) ‘25 - 1%
The section to watch most closely in this scenario is 2AA. Minnetonka is the top seed and Holy Family is seeded second in the section. Tough to see anyone else coming out of this section beyond the top two. Minnetonka has an edge in depth, but Holy Family has the talent to make this a fun battle. A goal tender show down in the section final is a real possibility.
Roger is the number seven seed in 5AA and is not a real contender here. Centennial is the favorite here, but Maple Grove is a dangerous #2. Champlain Park/Coon Rapids has some interesting young players and could pull some surprises.
Time to bump these up
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 Šimonovice, 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)
A few European names to possibly keep in mind.
“Teenagers Make An Impact At 2026 Olympic Qualification Tournaments”
Ten uncommitted players to keep an eye on during the State Tournament. (listed alphabetically)
- D Annabelle Buccicone (Centennial) ‘28
- F Jaycee Chatleain (Hill-Murray) ‘27
- F Audrey Davis (Edina) ‘27
- F Jaylie French (Warroad) ‘27
- F Jenna Goblirsch (Farmington) ‘28
- F Grace Laager (Centennial) ‘27
- F Gabi Lopez (Orono) ‘28
- D Libby Moe (Edina) ‘27
- F Emily Pohl (Hill-Murray) ‘27
- F Mia Sutch (Centennial) ‘28
A few “honorable mentions”: F Allie DeFauw (Holy Family) ‘28, F Elliana Engelhardt (Hill-Murray) ‘27, D Lydia Johnson (Fergus Falls) ‘27, D Taylee Manion (Hermantown) ‘28, F Gwynn Skoogman (Hill-Murray) ‘28, D Lucey Wilson (Moorhead) ‘26.
Layla Hemp is the Strib’s Girls Hockey Player of the Year. They are kind of changing things up this year and naming a single 25 player All-Minnesota team as opposed to the three All-Metro teams in previous years.
- F Alida Ahern (South St. Paul) ‘25
- F Mercury Bischoff (Grand Rapids) ‘25 Mankato recruit
- D Katy Comstock (Warroad) ‘25 Bemidji State recruit
- D Bella Finnegan (Minnetonka) ‘25 Harvard recruit
- F Alaina Getz (Woodbury) ‘26 UMD recruit
- G Layla Hemp (Minnetonka) ‘25
- F Whitney Horton (Edina) ‘25 St. Thomas recruit
- G Ida Huber (Dodge County) ‘25 Long Island University recruit
- D Mackenzie Jones (Andover) ‘25 Wisconsin recruit
- F Olivia Kortan (Moorhead) ‘25
- F Teagan Kulenkamp (Centennial) ‘25 St. Thomas recruit
- F Zoe Lopez (Orono) ‘25 Mankato recruit
- F Lauren Mack (Minnetonka) ‘25 Providence recruit
- F Brooklyn Mauch (Marshall) ‘27
- F Makayla Moran (Apple Valley) ‘25 Mankato recruit
- F Lorelai Nelson (Edina) ‘25 Penn State recruit
- D Lily Pachl (South St. Paul) ‘25 Harvard recruit
- F Emily Pohl (Hill-Murray) ‘27
- F Macy Rasmussen (Orono) ‘25 Ohio State recruit
- F Payton Remick (Roseau) ‘25 St. Cloud State recruit
- G Kaydence Roeske (River Lakes) ‘25 Mankato recruit
- D Campbell Rucinski (Benilde) ‘25 Maine recruit
- D Josie Skoogman (Hill-Murray) ‘25 St. Thomas recruit
- F Sophie Stramel (Rosemount) ‘25 Mankato recruit
- G Kaia Weiland (Centennial) ‘27
1 out of 15 to UM.
I note that 4 of those 25 were signed by current top 10 PWR teams. Minnesota, UMD, WisconSIN and tOSU each got one. After that, you've got the 5 going to #21 Mankato.
There can certainly be some thinking that we'd want to get more of those players, but, with 5 of the top 25 not committing anywhere, it seems more that the development of the girls HS players in Minnesota is lagging behind the boys pretty badly.
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
I note that 4 of those 25 were signed by current top 10 PWR teams. Minnesota, UMD, WisconSIN and tOSU each got one. After that, you've got the 5 going to #21 Mankato.
There can certainly be some thinking that we'd want to get more of those players, but, with 5 of the top 25 not committing anywhere, it seems more that the development of the girls HS players in Minnesota is lagging behind the boys pretty badly.
Yeah, of the ten committed recruits only three are from the Twin Cities. If you look at the most recent USA U18 roster (Hemp missed the age cutoff), there were just three players from MSHSL high schools. I don't think recruiting has been a problem for the Gophers even as Sconnie has returned to form and tOSU has emerged as a power—the problem has been development when they get to campus.
3 of those 5 uncommitted you mentioned are too young to commit and the other two are decent players but not "misses" so to speak. I do think your point about the talent in MN girls high school hockey lagging behind is correct.
recruit and Minnetonka senior Layla Hemp wins the “Jori Jones” award as top senior goal tender. Grand Rapids senior (and Mankato recruit) Mercury Bischoff is named Ms. Hockey.
There was no interest in Mercury from Brad Frost? I don;t remember.
There was no interest in Mercury from Brad Frost? I don;t remember.
I believe there was some mutual interest at one time, but not sure how far it went. Had she still been uncommitted at the time the Manness twins decommitted then maybe? Strictly reckless conjecture on my part.
“Neutral Zone” has released a Mid Season Rankings of the top 275 North American prospects for the class of 2025. I generally take a lot of NZ’s stuff with a grain of salt but I keep on subscribing as they are pretty much the only entity doing this sort of thing on the female side of things and I like to take in other opinions beside my own. Having said all that, they were kind to the bulk of next fall’s incoming freshmen.
#4 F Sienna D’Alessandro (John Abbott College)
#5 F Annabella Fanale (BK Selects)
#8 G Layla Hemp (Minnetonka)
#142 D Sydney Bailey (Rogers)
#251 F Avery Hovland (NAHA)
The rankings do reflect the hit to this class that the flipping of the Manness twins to Clarkson caused. Forward Sara is #2 in the ranking and defender Kate is #30.
Plosova is in Europe but I imagine if she were on this side of the pond she'd be in the same range as D'Alessandro, Fanale, and Hemp.
Some names to remember for the future. I believe Haley Rosenthal is the daughter of former Gopher Chelsey (Brodt) Rosenthal.
I worked the JWHL playoffs last week in the Boston area and Avery Hovland was playing in that tournament. I noticed her graduation year listed on the roster was 2026. Even though she did sign her NLI, I don't know for sure if she is holding back a year or not.
“Neutral Zone” has released a Mid Season Rankings of the top 275 North American prospects for the class of 2025. I generally take a lot of NZ’s stuff with a grain of salt but I keep on subscribing as they are pretty much the only entity doing this sort of thing on the female side of things and I like to take in other opinions beside my own. Having said all that, they were kind to the bulk of next fall’s incoming
#4 F Sienna D’Alessandro (John Abbott College)
#5 F Annabella Fanale (BK Selects)
#8 G Layla Hemp (Minnetonka)
#142 D Sydney Bailey (Rogers)
#251 F Avery Hovland (NAHA)
The rankings do reflect the hit to this class that the flipping of the Manness twins to Clarkson caused. Forward Sara is #2 in the ranking and defender Kate is #30.
”Neutral Zone” returns with their Mid Season Rankings for the class of 2026. Top 250 this time.
Recruits:
#3 F Maddie McCullough (Durham West)
#8 D Sloane Hartmetz (Shattuck)
#18 F Rachel Piggott (Etobicoke)
#81 D Katya Sander (Holy Family)
“USA Hockey” national championships start on Tuesday at various sites around the country. Girls Tier 1 (19u, 16u & 14u) will be held in suburban Boston (Marlborough if you want to be picky).
Three commits will be on display. Bella Fanale will be playing for the Rochester Youth BK Selects team in the 19u division. Sloane Hartmetz is on the Shattuck team also in the 19u division. Katya Sander will play for the MN Silver team in the 16u division.
Links for following the tournament.
I’ll probably do a little more with potential future targets in the next day or two.
Seems to be early interest in these girls, of course pretty much everyone will be casting a line in these waters.
“A TRIO OF U.S. UNDER-18 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS ARE SHINING AT LOVELL ACADEMY”
I broadcast a game a few years ago with the Lovell Academy boys' team. Annabelle was on it.
Totally missed an recruit in my previous post. Fargo native Avery Hovland plays at NAHA (listed here as Worcester Whitehawks/NAHA) in the 19u division.
@iceburg how do the women pick teams to go to Nationals? I'm assuming this is a tryout or invite process? The boys send the Junior Gold A winning team.
@iceburg how do the women pick teams to go to Nationals? I'm assuming this is a tryout or invite process? The boys send the Junior Gold A winning team.
Each DISTRICT holds a playoff for the one spot that each district gets (Minnesota’s one game playoff takes place in October right after the fall Elite Leagues wrap up their season*). Shattuck’s Prep and 16u teams won the games to secure the automatic bids for 19u and 16u. Than a certain number of “at large” spots are given by “USA Hockey”.
* now that I think about it, I believe the 14u spot is a four team playoff from “Minnesota Hockey’s” fall league. The Lakers team representing Minnesota in 14u are players from “Minnesota Hockey” district six.
Incoming Gopher freshman Tereza Plosová (along with outgoing fifth year senior Natálie Mlýnková) will be playing for Czechia in the upcoming Women’s World Championship.
“Czechia Announces 2025 World Championship Roster”
Part Two
Did not see Layla Hemp when I checked the rosters before this National Championship started, but she was in net today as the Minnesota White team upset Shattuck in today’s quarterfinal game.
“TOP TEAMS TO SQUARE OFF FOR 2025 CHIPOTLE-USA HOCKEY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS”
Gopher recruits playing for a National Championship today:
- Gavin Katz (Shattuck) Youth Tier I 18u
- Katya Sander (MN Silver) Girls Tier I 16u
- Avery Hovland (Worcester White Hawks) Girls Tier I 19u
- Bella Fanale (RYHA at BK Selects) Girls Tier I 19u
@iceburg This thread doesn't get as much talk as the men's threads, but thank you for all these updates. I do appreciate all the info. I'm sure others do to.
“15 Teenagers To Watch At The 2025 IIHF Women's World Championships”
Tereza Plosová, 2006, Czechia - Heading to Minnesota next season, Plosová has size and reach that set her apart. The 5-foot-10 forward has shown steady progression in her two-way game.
Plosova, Fanale, D'Alessandro, Hemp look like the makings of a strong freshman class. Hopefully at least one of the forwards emerges as a real 30-point option right away.
https://www.youthhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/1336333
Saw some games at the State 15u Tournament that was won by Audrey Nichols’ Chaska/Chanhassen team. She was one of my two favorite players along with Alexandria’s Maya Dutton. Nichols was the leading scorer at the 15u tournament and was also the leading goal scorer at the recently concluded National 14u tournament while playing for the Minnesota Lakers team. The Lakers lost in a shootout in the semifinals to the eventual champion Boston Jr. Eagles team. Nichols is an exciting skater with good puck skills. The Chaska/Chanhassen team had several nice players. It will be interesting to see where they wind up for their high school years.
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