Ashley Allard from UConn commits for her final year of school.
Great addition from the Transfer Portal!!
Figured it was unlikely they'd be able to keep every single one of their recruits. But this one hurts; she was the best player in Minnesota's 2027 class and now that group is missing a defender.
https://twitter.com/IanKennedyCK/status/2043011926976872674
Sydney Stoughton commits to Penn State. 2027 recruiting class down to three forwards.
@outofstateoutofmind Getting so tired of getting the leftovers Wisconsin and OSU don't want or need.
Come on Boom. Lets make something happen!
A name to remember
https://thehockeynews.com/womens/other-news/isla-mccoubrey-s-bright-future-has-already-begun
“Neutral Zone” releases their end of the year top 250 list of North American players for the class of ‘28. These are the players we’ll really be focusing on come mid-summer this year. I’ll list the top ten Minnesota girls and the top fifteen for everyone else.
Minnesota
5. F Mia Sutch (Centennial)
6. D Olivia Braunshausen (Hill-Murray) From Stillwater
8. D Taylee Manion (Proctor/Hermantown)
9. F Sydney Boss Krohn (Shattuck) Previously at Minnetonka
11. F Reese Peroutka (Northfield)
12. F Maddison Boone (Woodbury) Quinnipiac recruit
16. F Jenna Goblirsch (Farmington) Twin sister Amelia is ranked 33rd
20. F Mackenna Schlieman (Breck) From Prior Lake
22. F Taylor Hall (Breck) Previously at Rogers
27. F Laina Peterson (Mankato East)
The Rest of North America
1. F Savannah Halleran (Durham West) 🇨🇦
2. D Anais Leprohon (Limoilou) 🇨🇦 From St-Sauveur, Quebec
3. F Adison White (Stoney Creek) 🇨🇦 From Glen Margaret, Nova Scotia
4. F Catherine McCool (Noble and Greenough School) 🇺🇸 From West Roxbury, Massachusetts
7. F Ryann Chimera (OHA Edmonton) 🇨🇦 
From Edmonton, Alberta
10. F Francie Ames (Noble and Greenough School) 🇺🇸 From Brookline, Massachusetts
13. F Maika Gauthier (John Abbott College) 🇨🇦 From Mirabel, Quebec
14. F Alex Boico (BK Selects) 🇩🇪 From Chisinau, Germany
15. G Olivia De Lisle (Lovell Academy) 🇺🇸 Cornell recruit, from Grand Island, New York
17. F Adie Schneider (Delta Acadey Green) 🇨🇦 From Maple Ridge, British Columbia
18. D Cassidy Cha (Team Illinois) 🇺🇸 From Northbrook, Illinois
19. F Whitney Basso (Whitby Wolves) 🇨🇦 From Sudbury, Ontario
21. F Avery Sam (OHA Edmonton) 🇨🇦 From Calgary, Alberta
23. D Callie McCullough (BK Selects) 🇺🇸 From Westport, Connecticut
24. D Maeve Aird (Whitby Wolves) 🇨🇦 From Cobourg, Ontario
I’ve had some criticism of “Neutral Zone” and their rankings from time to time but overall I think they do a solid job in what is a very difficult undertaking. I believe the younger the age group they are trying to evaluate the tougher it is. Checking an earlier in the season list of this age group I posted they are quite different. The one thing they did not waver on was Savannah Halleran as the top prospect. Having said all that, I will throw out a few local players I think will be heavily sought in the coming recruiting wars:
39. D Alexis Ulrich (Breck)
48. D Annabelle Buccicone (Centennial)
Maybe I missed this, but I don't think the addition of Julia Schalin had been announced before today?
https://gophersports.com/news/2026/4/21/womens-hockey-gophers-ink-allard-schalin-to-2026-27-roster
Full 2026-27 roster:
F: Paul (Gr.), Allard, Kreisz, Lindsay (Sr.), Distad, Schalin (Jr.), D'Alessandro, Fanale, Hovland, Kortan, Plosova (So.), McCullough, Milani, Piggott (Fr.)
D: Jordan (Sr.), Goldsworthy, Graham, Humphrey, Primerano (Jr.), Bailey (So.), Hartmetz, Sander (Fr.)
G: Clark (Jr.), Hemp (So.), Rolli (Fr.)
Maybe I missed this, but I don't think the addition of Julia Schalin had been announced before today?
“Youth Hockey Hub” names their girl’s youth hockey player of the year. Edina 15A forward Nora Boylan is a class of 2030 prospect.
https://www.youthhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/1359837
https://twitter.com/GopherWHockey/status/2047676937217454149?s=20
Spent a fair amount of time at “the Wooger” today myself. Coaches May and Sertich were both there. Information on the event HERE. Early steps in picking the U.S. team for the World U18 Tournament.
USA Hockey Nationals 19u All-Tournament Team
F Jane Daley (Shattuck) ‘27 Ohio State recruit, from Medfield, Massachusetts
F Evelyn Doyle (Assabet Valley) ‘26 Dexter Southfield School, Yale recruit, from Needham, Massachusetts
F Nela Lapusanova (BK Selects) ‘26 Wisconsin recruit, from Zilina, Slovakia
D Maggie Averill (Assabet Valley) ‘27 Phillips Andover Academy, Princeton recruit, from Wayland, Massachusetts
D Sloane Hartmetz (Shattuck) ‘26 Gopher recruit, from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
G Janie McGawn (MN Tradition Vegas) ‘26 Blake, Dartmouth recruit
G Kayla Swartout (MN Tradition Vegas) ‘26 Holy Family, Wisconsin recruit
”Neutral Zone” covered the Nationals and also put out All-Tournament teams of their own.
F Jane Daley (Shattuck) ‘27 Ohio State recruit, from Medfield, Massachusetts
F Alaina Gnetz (MN Tradition Vegas) ‘26 Centennial H.S., UMD recruit, from Woodbury
F Talla Hanson (MN Tradition Vegas) ‘27 Benilde, Gopher recruit, from Wayzata
D Gigi Martin (BK Selects) ‘27 UMD recruit, from Santa Ana, California
D Sloane Hartmetz (Shattuck) ‘26 Gopher recruit, from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
G Bianca Birrittieri (Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) ‘26 Providence recruit, from Flower Mound, Texas
USA Hockey Nationals 16u All-Tournament Team
F Annabelle Lovell (Lovell Academy) ‘27 Gopher recruit, from Hingham, Massachusetts
F Catherine McCool (Boston Americans) ‘28 Noble and Greenough School, from West Roxbury, Massachusetts
F Mia Shawn Daley (Easr Coast Wizards) ‘27 Williston Northampton School, Yale recruit, from Lynnfield, Massachusetts
D Taylee Manion (MN Silver) ‘28 Proctor/Hermantown
D Chyna Taylor (Lovell Academy) ‘27 Wisconsin recruit, from Louisville, Kentucky
G Olivia De Lisle (Lovell Academy) ‘28 From Grand Island, New York
STORY on Taylee Manion from WDIO in Duluth. She will be a likely target in the next recruiting cycle.
”Neutral Zone” covered the Nationals and also put out All-Tournament teams of their own.
F Annabelle Lovell (Lovell Academy) ‘27 From Hingham, Massachusetts
F Catherine McCool (Boston Americans) ‘28 Noble and Greenough School, from West Roxbury, Massachusetts
F Maddison Boone (MN Silver) ‘28 Woodbury H.S.
D Chyna Taylor (Lovell Academy) ‘27 Wisconsin recruit, from Louisville, Kentucky
D Mia MacDonald (Boston Americans) ‘28 Rivers School, from Walpole, Massachusetts
G Olivia De Lisle (Lovell Academy) ‘28 From Grand Island, New York
Annabelle Lovell remains uncommitted since decommitting from the Gophers.
USA Hockey Nationals 14u All-Tournament Team
F Abigale Loring (Boston Jr. Eagles) ‘30 Dexter Southfield
F Audrey Nichols (MN Lakers) ‘29 Holy Family, from Victoria
F Madeline Staffieri (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) ‘29
D Graycen Bowman (Chicago Mission) ‘29 Daughter of Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman, Granddaughter of NHL Hall-of-Fame Coach Scotty Bowman
D Marie Coplean (Fox Motors)
G Melanie Allen (Boston Jr. Eagles) ‘29 St. Mark’s, from Norwood, Massachusetts
”Neutral Zone” covered the Nationals and also put out All-Tournament teams of their own.
F Audrey Nichols (MN Lakers) ‘29 Holy Family, from Victoria
F Marie Coplean (Fox Motors)
F Madeline Staffieri (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) ‘29
D Josie Nelson (MN Lakers) ‘29 Edina 15A
D Noelle Zocco (Fox Motors)
G Melanie Allen (Boston Jr. Eagles) ‘29 St. Mark’s, from Norwood, Massachusetts
Fox Motors is a Detroit area youth hockey organization.
USA Hockey's national goaltending/defense development camp roster was quietly announced. The camp will last from May 18 to 21.
Attending from the Gophers are Layla Hemp and Molly Jordan, who were both there last year.
For future watch purposes, the class of 2028 attendees are Shattuck goalie Quinn Kelly and four defenders: Hill-Murray's Olivia Braunshausen, Hermantown's Taylee Manion, Breck's Alexis Ulrich, and Team Illinois's Cassidy Cha.
USA Hockey's national goaltending/defense development camp roster was quietly announced. The camp will last from May 18 to 21.
Attending from the Gophers are Layla Hemp and Molly Jordan, who were both there last year.
For future watch purposes, the class of 2028 attendees are Shattuck goalie Quinn Kelly and four defenders: Hill-Murray's Olivia Braunshausen, Hermantown's Taylee Manion, Breck's Alexis Ulrich, and Team Illinois's Cassidy Cha.
Quinn Kelly is a Chicago area girl. Big goalie, around 6’0”. I’ve seen her play a few times and have been impressed. I love Cassidy Cha. Big, mobile defender. Olivia Braunshausen is very skilled, but quite small. Taylee Manion does not bring you out of your seat, but is a very solid player. Played for the U.S. at the World U18 and didn’t look out of place at all. Alexis Ulrich has good size and, I think, a high ceiling.
Figured it was unlikely they'd be able to keep every single one of their recruits. But this one hurts; she was the best player in Minnesota's 2027 class and now that group is missing a defender.
Mossey commits to Wisconsin.
Of course she does.
Oof that one stings a lot. Especially to Wisco
Gopher women's forum and recruiting news activity has been pretty quiet past few weeks. Unclear to me what the "Boom" impacts will be positive or negative. I'm trying to remain hopeful...but I have a feeling next year is going to be a tough one for the Women's team. Thoughts?
Gopher women's forum and recruiting news activity has been pretty quiet past few weeks. Unclear to me what the "Boom" impacts will be positive or negative. I'm trying to remain hopeful...but I have a feeling next year is going to be a tough one for the Women's team. Thoughts?
They didn't lose anyone who was supposed to be on campus in 26-27. That being said, without Abbey Murphy on the roster I have no idea if there's anyone on the team who will be able to just take games over.
I have to confess...anytime I saw the team play without Murphy I was not impressed. Game play was slow and scoring next to non-existent. Sure...she had a habit of living in the penalty box now and then...but I'll take that anytime over little to no offense. You aren't going to beat Wisconsin or Ohio State in 1-0 or 2-1 games.
Murphy to me was sort of like a F version of Matt DeMarchi - a total pill for the other team that occasionally got you in trouble, but your team was almost always better when she got involved.
Maybe it's cause it's May, but I'm feeling cautiously optimistic. I'm trying to withhold judgment on the coaching staff, but I still wish they had gone outside the program for a head coach.
Up front, they certainly lack the high-end talent that Murphy brought, but I like the forward group. Allard and Schalin are good additions, and I think Plosova and Fanale have a chance to be real difference-makers in their second year. Plus Paul (I think she'll be back, right?), Kreisz, Lindsey, and if one of McCullough, Milani, or Piggott can step in right away, I think you have a chance to have a pretty decent top nine. You're certainly lacking a true game-breaker like Murphy, but I like the depth.
On defense, I'm excited to see an unleashed Chloe Primerano. I think the losses of Laitinen and Morrow means Primerano can run PP1 and play a ton. She might be their best chance to replace Murphy's ability to take over a game. The depth of that defense group does scare me a bit.
Paul (assuming health) and apparently Kaiser will be back.
Players moving directly to the U18 Women’s National Team Festival are being released today
2009 Birth Years
F Maddison Boone (Woodbury) ‘28
F Sydney Boss Krohn (Shattuck) ‘28 Formerly at Minnetonka
D Olivia Braunshausen (Hill-Murray) ‘28
D Annabelle Buccicone (Centennial) ‘28
D Taylee Manion (Hermantown) ‘28 Was on last year’s U.S. team at the World U18 Championships
2010 Birth Years
F Amelia Sutch (Centennial) ‘28
D Alexis Ulrich (Breck) ‘28
Other Minnesota players will move on to the 16/17 National Camp and will still have an opportunity to advance to the U18 Festival.
The 16/17 Camp will take place in Oxford, Ohio July 13-18. The U18 Festival will be in Lake Placid, New York August 2-9.
Here are all of the early invitees to the U18 National Team Festival.
https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026womensfestival
2009 Birth Years
🇺🇸 G Cecilia Wielenberg (Team Illinois) ‘27 Princeton recruit, from Downers Grove, Illinois
D Olivia Braunshausen (Hill-Murray) ‘28 Penn State recruit, from Stillwater
D Annabelle Buccicone (Centennial) ‘28
🇺🇸 D Taylee Manion (Hermantown) ‘28
D Mirella Martinelli (Tabor Acedemy) ‘27 Providence recruit, from North Providence, Rhode Island
D Nadiya Nadaud (Little Caesars) ‘27 Colgate recruit, from Toledo, Ohio
🇺🇸 D Chyna Taylor (Lovell Academy) ‘27 Wisconsin recruit, from Louisville, Kentucky
F Maddison Boone (Woodbury) ‘28 Quinnipiac recruit
F Sydney Boss Krohn (Shattuck) ‘28 Colgate recruit, from Deephaven
🇺🇸 F Lily Bromley (Noble & Greenough School) ‘27 Princeton recruit, from Carlisle, Massachusetts
🇺🇸 F Jane Daley (Shattuck) ‘27 Ohio State recruit, from Medfield, Massachusetts
F Isabella Freitas (Cushing Academy) ‘28 Yale recruit, from Everett, Massachusetts
F Lena Levins (Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) ‘27 From Lewis Center, Ohio
🇺🇸 F Annabelle Lovell (Lovell Academy) ‘27 From Hingham, Massachusetts
🇺🇸 F Catherine McCool (Noble & Greenough School) ‘28 Penn State recruit, from West Roxbury, Massachusetts
F Aubryn Monter (Lovell Academy) ‘27 Penn State recruit, from North Ridgeville, Ohio
F Brooke Schlutter (Williston Northampton School) ‘27 Cornell recruit, from Ladera Ranch, California
F Kathryn Spyhalski (Little Caesars) ‘27 Ohio State recruit, from Northville, Michigan
F Sydney Stoughton (Lovell Academy) ‘27 Penn State recruit, from Mason, Ohio
2010 Birth Years
D Cassidy Cha (Team Illinois) ‘28 Wisconsin recruit, from Northbrook, Illinois
D Callie McCullough (BK Selects) ‘28 From Westport, Connecticut
D Alexis Ulrich (Breck) ‘28 From Prior Lake
F Francie Ames (Noble & Greenough School) ‘28 Princeton recruit, from Brookline, Massachusetts
F Amelia Sutch (Centennial) ‘28
At the USA Hockey camp for players who have aged out of the U18 process but haven't yet played their first college season: Talla Hansen, Sloane Hartmetz, and Katya Sander.
Women’s recruiting has been somewhat on the back burner lately. A few things coming up starting with OS Hockey’s annual “Prospects & Futures” showcase this weekend at Bloomington Ice Garden (prospects) and Plymouth Ice Center (futures). The second weekend will be July 10-12 at Plymouth (both age groups).
2028 recruiting period starts tomorrow. And, for those who may not remember, the 2027 recruiting class is down to two players.
2028 recruiting period starts tomorrow. And, for those who may not remember, the 2027 recruiting class is down to two players.
HERE are the Minnesota players moving on to the national 15 camp (2011 birth years). The camp will be held July 19-25 in Oxford, Ohio. The big question is who from the 15 camp might be invited to the Select 18 camp to compete for spots on the U.S. U18 team for the World Championships. No one nationally in this age group has been pre-invited. The two most likely Minnesotans, in my mind, to get that chance would be Holy Family forward Audrey Nichols and Breck goal tender Clara Milinkovich.
HERE are the Minnesota players moving on to the national 15 camp (2011 birth years). The camp will be held July 19-25 in Oxford, Ohio. The big question is who from the 15 camp might be invited to the Select 18 camp to compete for spots on the U.S. U18 team for the World Championships. No one nationally in this age group has been pre-invited. The two most likely Minnesotans, in my mind, to get that chance would be Holy Family forward Audrey Nichols and Breck goal tender Clara Milinkovich.
Remember that no one in the 2010 age group made the U18 team last year and the team ended up winning gold. I wonder if that happens again.
HERE are the Minnesota players moving on to the national 15 camp (2011 birth years). The camp will be held July 19-25 in Oxford, Ohio. The big question is who from the 15 camp might be invited to the Select 18 camp to compete for spots on the U.S. U18 team for the World Championships. No one nationally in this age group has been pre-invited. The two most likely Minnesotans, in my mind, to get that chance would be Holy Family forward Audrey Nichols and Breck goal tender Clara Milinkovich.
Remember that no one in the 2010 age group made the U18 team last year and the team ended up winning gold. I wonder if that happens again.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. The only 2010 even invited to the final camp was Breck’s Alexis Ulrich. I don’t know enough about the 2011s to know if there’s anyone that would tempt the powers-that-be to alter that thinking.
It’s list time again. “Neutral Zone” puts out their list of the top 225 North American players for the class of 2029. These players will be high school sophomores in the fall. I’ll list the top ten Minnesotans and the top fifteen of everyone else.
Minnesota
2. Anna Pohl (Hill-Murray)
11. F Audrey Nichols (Holy Family)
26. F Olivia Anthony (Warroad)
29. F Hannah Rychley (Hill-Murray) From Forest Lake
36. F Jozie Kelzenberg (Centennial)
45. F Alaina Lindsay (Minnetonka) Sister of current Gopher Ava Lindsay
46. F Ellie Bailey (Rogers) Sister of current Gopher Sydney Bailey
50. F Carmen Benedict (Minnetonka)
55. F Nora Ptak (Shattuck U16) From Prior Lake
69. G Poppy Carlson (Minnetonka)
Other
1. F Isla McCoubrey (Waterloo) 🇨🇦 From Heidelberg, Ontario
3. F Elizabeth Belanger (Stanstead College) 🇨🇦 From Beloeil, Quebec
4. F Annabelle Daniel (Moncton Rockets) 🇨🇦 From Dieppe, New Brunswick
5. F Paige Fox (North York Storm) 🇨🇦
6. F Whitney MacMillen (St. Albert Raiders) 🇨🇦
7. F Maëlie Boudreau (East Ottawa Stars) 🇨🇦
8. F Eva Belanger (Shattuck U16) 🇨🇦 From Laval, Quebec
9. F Genevieve Walsh (BK Selects U16) 🇺🇸 From Fairfield, Connecticut
10. F Kate Jessup (BK Selects U16) 🇺🇸 From St. Charles, Illinois
12. F Sienna Saunders (Calgary Fire Red) 🇨🇦 From Calgary, Alberta
13. F Teagan Gloyns (North York Storm) 🇨🇦
14. G Abigail Running (Rocky Mountain Roughriders) 🇺🇸 From Farmers Branch, Texas
15. F Madeline Staffieri (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) 🇺🇸
16. F Maize Wilner (BK Selects U16) 🇺🇸 From Old Greenwich, Connecticut
17. F Neely Broadfoot (Saskatoon Stars) 🇨🇦 From Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
So, where are the defenders you ask? The first one to show up is Chicago Mission player Graycen Bowman at #21. An interesting side note, Graycen is the granddaughter of NHL Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman. The highest rated Minnesota defender is Cloquet’s Brooke Koski at #84.
A couple of others with some ties to the program:
- 61. F Mikayla Fanale (BK Selects) Sister of current Gopher Bella Fanale
- 151. F Ava Moe (Minnetonka) Sister of Gopher men’s player Mason Moe
I’ve always maintained that the younger these type of lists are, the more skeptical we should be. If another version of this comes out a year from now it will likely be quite different. Minnesota players I’d expect to be considerably higher in the future: Breck goal tender Clara Milinkovich (104 here) and defender Josie Nelson (138 here). She was on Edina’s 15u team last season but in my (admittedly limited) viewings I like her quite a bit.
For those that might be interested HERE is an ARTICLE I posted a while back on the top rated player here - Isla McCoubrey.
A couple of interesting outstate players moving to the metro this season.
Hermantown’s Taylee Manion: (found this on the “SportsRecruits” site)
Personal Statement
Hi! My name is Taylee Manion. This year I will be playing hockey for Hill Murray. This past year I competed with the U18 Women's National team in Nova Scotia. I will be returning to Lake Placid again this August, 2026 working to be a part of the team again in January, 2027. During my high school career I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and participated in Student Council. I love fishing at my cabin and hanging out with friends and cousins. I have coached U8 soccer for two years and was a youth hockey mentor.
Taylee is a class of ‘28 recruit that likely has her choice of destinations.
It also sounds like Marshall’s Brooklyn Mauch will be playing her senior year at Holy Family. Brooklyn led the state in scoring last season (27 games 73-33-106). She’s a class of ‘27 prospect that hasn’t committed anywhere yet. I’ve seen her play a bit in the selects process and I think she’ll play D-1 somewhere. Some nice hand skills. Marshall is the southwest Minnesota town, not Duluth Marshall.
Here’s one I thought the staff might have been after.
https://twitter.com/YouthHockeyHub/status/2070216659495702571?s=20
First commitment of the new cycle! Forward Ryann Chimera of Okanagan Hockey Academy Edmonton. (Yes, the daughter of longtime NHLer Jason.) Ranked 3rd among 2028 recruits according to FiveHoleFrenzy on the USCHO forum.
Fortunately teenagers can change their minds. Found this ARTICLE from a couple of years back on Ryann and her father.
“For a long time now, I’ve wanted to go to Boston College“
Thought I’d bring this list (class of ‘28) forward as this is where most of the action is right now. I’ll continue to edit this post as commitments become known.
Minnesota
5. F Mia Sutch (Centennial)
6. D Olivia Braunshausen (Hill-Murray) From Stillwater
8. D Taylee Manion (Proctor/Hermantown)
9. F Sydney Boss Krohn (Shattuck) Cornell recruit, previously at Minnetonka
11. F Reese Peroutka (Northfield)
12. F Maddison Boone (Woodbury) Quinnipiac recruit
16. F Jenna Goblirsch (Farmington) Twin sister Amelia is ranked 33rd
20. F Mackenna Schlieman (Breck) From Prior Lake
22. F Taylor Hall (Breck) UMD recruit, previously at Rogers
27. F Laina Peterson (Mankato East)
The Rest of North America
1. F Savannah Halleran (Durham West) 🇨🇦
2. D Anaïs Leprohon (Limoilou) 🇨🇦 From St-Sauveur, Quebec
3. F Adison White (Stoney Creek) 🇨🇦 Princeton recruit, from Glen Margaret, Nova Scotia
4. F Catherine McCool (Noble and Greenough School) 🇺🇸 Penn State recruit, from West Roxbury, Massachusetts
7. F Ryann Chimera (OHA Edmonton) 🇨🇦 From Edmonton, Alberta
10. F Francie Ames (Noble and Greenough School) 🇺🇸 Princeton recruit, from Brookline, Massachusetts
13. F Maika Gauthier (John Abbott College) 🇨🇦 From Mirabel, Quebec
14. F Alex Boico (BK Selects) 🇩🇪 Wisconsin recruit, from Chisinau, Germany
15. G Olivia De Lisle (Lovell Academy) 🇺🇸 Cornell recruit, from Grand Island, New York
17. F Adie Schneider (Delta Acadey Green) 🇨🇦 Penn State recruit, from Maple Ridge, British Columbia
18. D Cassidy Cha (Team Illinois) 🇺🇸 Wisconsin recruit, from Northbrook, Illinois
19. F Whitney Basso (Whitby Wolves) 🇨🇦 Northeastern recruit, from Sudbury, Ontario
21. F Avery Sam (OHA Edmonton) 🇨🇦 From Calgary, Alberta
23. D Callie McCullough (BK Selects) 🇺🇸 From Westport, Connecticut
24. D Maeve Aird (Whitby Wolves) 🇨🇦 From Cobourg, Ontario
Forward Mackenna Schlieman from Breck is the second 2028 commit.
One of these days I will figure out how to embed these posts properly again. But not today.
Forward Mackenna Schlieman from Breck is the second 2028 commit.
From Prior Lake. 5’5”, right hand shooter.
Here's the list of 2028 recruits the Gopher Women's Hockey Instagram account is following (besides Chimera and Schlieman):
F Alexandra Boico (BK Selects), Mia Sutch (Centennial)
D Maeve Aird (Whitby), Cassidy Cha (Team Illinois), Taylee Manion (Hill-Murray), Callie McCullough (BK Selects), Alexis Ulrich (Breck)
G Rylee Allison (BK Selects), Quinn Kelly (Shattuck)
Great minds think alike. I had just written these down and was about to post. As usual, the old man is just too slow. 😉
- Cha and Kelly are Chicago area natives
- McCullough is a Connecticut native and no obvious reason to think she’s related to freshman forward Maddie McCullough
- Boico is from Germany
- Aird is from Cobourg, Ontario
- Ulrich is from Prior Lake
- Allison is a New Jersey native (I think)
- As most probably know, Manion has previously been playing for Proctor/Hermantown
Allison's from Pittsburgh. I live in Connecticut and I'm pretty sure McCullough's dad played at Yale and is very involved in the hockey scene out here.
Not saying you can only build a winning roster by having more MN kids than they currently have (10 this season), but they had 15, 12, 16 and 18 MN kids respectively on their 4 championship teams.
Not saying you can only build a winning roster by having more MN kids than they currently have (10 this season), but they had 15, 12, 16 and 18 MN kids respectively on their 4 championship teams.
Well then you'll love that the two 2027 recruits who stuck around after the coaching change were from the Metro and the players who decommitted were from Ohio, Massachusetts, and Prince Edward Island. (Hansen's a great player. Glad she stuck around.)
I firmly believe the program's decline predates the shift in recruiting strategy. The 2020-21 team that missed the tournament entirely had 17 in-staters + Boreen and the out-of-staters were all from Frost/Johnson's patented locations (BC and Chicago). In recent years, many of the local recruits who make it to campus don't stick. I fight back against the notion of the not-really-all-that-significantly declining number of Minnesotans as being a key problem.