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)