Looks like the Gophers have picked up a commitment from Gracie Graham a good size (5’10”) defender from either Kelowna or Fort Nelson, British Columbia depending on which site you want to believe. Gracie plays at Rink Academy-Kelowna (which, I believe, used to be called Pursuit of Excellence). She was one of the youngest players at Canada’s recent U18 camp, but did not play in the three game series with the U.S.
Possible goalie recruit Margaux Favre also plays at Rink Acememy-Kelowna. She recently removed “Gopher commit” from her Instagram page, so not sure where she stands at this point.
2023
D Josie Hemp (Minnetonka)
D Elly Klepinger (Minnetonka)
F Isa Goettl (Andover)
F Emma Kreisz (Stanstead College) From Budapest, Hungary
F Ava Lindsay (Minnetonka)
F Lauren O’Hara (Centennial)
2024
F Kendra Distad (Minnetonka)
G Margaux Favre (Rink Hockey Academy-Kelowna) From Fribourg, Switzerland
Another twist in the case of maybe/maybe not Gopher commit Swiss goal tender Margaux Favre. Looks like she has left Rink Hockey Academy in Kelowna, British Columbia and will play this season for HC Bulle la Gruyère, a men’s team in the Swiss second division.
I’ve also seen her listed as a ‘23 grad year, so if she is indeed still a Gopher commit, she could possibly be on campus next fall instead of 2024 as I had listed her previously.
The schedule is out for the Girls Elite League end of the season NIT Tournament. As always, Winnie does a great job of bringing in top teams from around North America. From a Gopher recruiting angle, beside all the local commits on various Elite League teams, there will be a chance to get a look at latest Gopher commit Gracie Graham on the Rink Academy-Kelowna team. Tournament is October 21-23. I’ll probably have a little more as it gets a little closer.
Hannah Clark, 2006 goalie from the Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins in Ontario who participated in Team Canada's U18 camp this summer, commits per her Instagram.
Hannah Clark, 2006 goalie from the Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins in Ontario who participated in Team Canada's U18 camp this summer, commits per her Instagram.
Clark is a 2024 recruit from Oshawa, Ontario (I’ve also seen Ajax). She played in the three game series against the U.S. back in August.
2023
D Josie Hemp (Minnetonka)
D Elly Klepinger (Minnetonka)
F Isa Goettl (Andover)
F Emma Kreisz (Stanstead College) From Budapest, Hungary
@iceburg Thanks for the pointer! Those Canadian U22 games are fun to watch - lot of skill, discipline, structure. Those two Cornell commits both look very good. The play is definitely better than all but the very best MN high school games, and taken more seriously than a lot of elite league games.
I scanned through the game - beautiful patience and then execution on the pass by Kreisz on their fourth goal. What did you think? She (like the other Europeans) is a lot older than her peer group. Oldest on her team (with one exception) by a year++. The oldest other '23 Gopher commit is Josie Hemp - and Kreisz is more than a year older than her. Do players entering college at that age still have the same upside potential as an 18 year old?
I haven’t had the chance to watch more than the first half of the first period yet. Your point about older players being closer to their ceiling is legitimate. Whatever lack of quality competition she’s had growing up in Hungary might offset that somewhat, but she’s already played in two senior women’s world championships and one round of Olympic qualifying. I think I have less of an idea on what kind of a player will show up on campus than almost anyone since I’ve been following this stuff closely.
There will be a chance to see Stanstead in person later this season. The JWHL will be at Mariucci/Ridder for a series of games January 27-29. Also Stanstead will be down in Faribault on Thursday, January 26th for a game with Shattuck’s Prep team.
Some uncommitted players to keep an eye on at the NIT tournament. Kept it at ten for each category. Not trying to pass myself as any kind of expert. Players are in alphabetical order.
Girl’s high school hockey practice starts today. First games start on November 10th. As usual, I will link names on the commit list to stat pages as they become available. Got a couple links for the not-local girls.
In: D Ella Hause (Hill-Murray) St. Thomas recruit, Megan Healy (Selects Academy) uncommitted, Kendra Distad (Minnetonka) recruit
Out: D Kamdyn Davis (Chicago Mission) UMD recruit, D Rosie Klein (Chicago Mission) Princeton recruit, F Grace Sadura (Minnetonka) UMD recruit, F Ava Thomas (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) uncommitted
Here’s a list of links for streaming girl’s games. Never tried any of these before, and Tonka-Andover shows as a pay site, but apparently the option is there.
Don’t put too much stock in this list, but fun to look through. Just done a quick read so far but two corrections I see are Rylee Bartz and Alexis Kirkeby, likely North Dakota’s two best players, are at Warroad this year.
Gopher class of ‘24 recruits Hannah Clark and Gracie Graham are named to Canada’s team for the upcoming World U18 Championships scheduled for January 8-15 in Östersund, Sweden.
USA Hockey girl’s development camps are moving from St. Cloud to Ohio.
Any known reasoning behind that?
Nothing that was announced. It was discussed a bit on the high school board, here’s one poster’s two cents……
I'll say the Miami campus is a little more centrally located and the campus is an upgrade from SCSU. Newly renovated dorms and the Arena has two sheets and is pretty tricked out. The campus area is really nice and safe - plenty of food and stuff is walkable. It seemed like the kids in St. Cloud were trapped in the dorms, maybe they wanted to give them some freedom.
Sweden scores a late goal for a 1-0 win. Just an exhibition, but doesn’t instill a lot of confidence in this squad coming off the three game sweep by Canada in the summer series. Things start for real Sunday morning again against the Swedes.
Canada (with recruits Gracie Graham and Hannah Clark) lose their pre-tournament exhibition with Finland 4-3 . Either this is going to be a more competitive tournament than usual (likely somewhat true) or these exhibitions aren’t to be taken too seriously (probably more likely). Canada did outshoot the Finns 40-11. The Clark girl gave up a goal on six shots in one period of work.
Looks like all of the U.S. early round games will be on NHL Network for the World Women’s U18 tournament. ESPN+ factors into this somehow also. Not sure on all the particulars yet.
recruit 
