Big Names Make Their NCAA Commitments
Chloe Primerano - Minnesota
When people ask who the closest player to cracking Canada's senior national team blueline is, they often answer Sophie Jaques or Sara Swiderski. If age were only a number in the eyes of Hockey Canada, Swiderski would have been in attendance at Canada's senior national team selection camp this Fall, and would be a serious contender to make the jump in the next year. She's that good. No defender out there sees the ice, and controls the play with such fluid skating and deceptive feet and hands like Primerano. It's hard to make a comparison to her, but perhaps the defender that most resembles her game is NHLer Cale Makar. Minnesota hit gold with Primerano, who will immediately make an impact on their blueline.
Tereza Plosova - Minnesota
The next in a long line of elite players from Czechia to choose the NCAA, it's a pathway that's paid off for the nation internationally, and Plosova will have the opportunity to add to that when she joins Minnesota next season. Don't expect the 5-foot-9 forward to light the NCAA on fire in year one, but after a season playing in North America, she should burgeon into one of the top threats in the nation.
I wonder if the bolded part is accurate. Seems like the general consensus had her coming in the fall of ‘25. Keep an eye out for LOI announcement soon.
ONTARIO RED WINS GOLD AT 2023 NATIONAL WOMEN'S U18 CHAMPIONSHIP
Most valuable player: Sara Manness (La Salle, MB/Burlington, OWHA U22 Elite) 
Top forward: Morgan Jackson (Courtenay, BC/Shawnigan Lake, CSSHL) Northeastern recruit
Top defence: Rosalie Breton (Saint-Bernard, QC/Limoilou, RSEQ)
Top goalie: Hannah Clark 
Most sportsmanlike player: Mackenzie Alexander Princeton recruit
Top 15 Performers From The U-18 National Championships
Gopher recruits at 1,4,5 & 15
Oh Canadaaa..
The Hockey News: Wisconsin, Minnesota Announce Talented Recruitment Classes
I’ll bump this up. Not finding stats anywhere for Selects Academy or John Abbott College so I guess this is what we’ve got.
2024
G Hannah Clark (Etobicoke) From Oshawa, Ontario
F Kendra Distad (Minnetonka)
D Gracie Graham (Rink Hockey Academy-Kelowna) From Kelowna, British Columbia
D Carly Humphrey (Elk River)
D Kate Kosobud (Moorhead)
F Ayla Puppe (Northfield)
2025
F Sienna D’Alessandro (John Abbott College) From Pointe-Claire, Quebec
F Bella Fanale (Selects Academy) From Webster, New York
G Layla Hemp (Minnetonka) Sister of current Gophers Peyton and Josie Hemp
D Kate Manness (Burlington) From La Salle, Manitoba
F Sara Manness (Burlington) From La Salle, Manitoba
F Tereza Plosová (Djurgårdens IF) From Liberec, Czechia
D Chloe Primerano (Rink Hockey Academy-Kelowna) From North Vancouver, British Columbia
EDIT: Still not a link, but found these stats for Sienna D’Alessandro in her games for John Abbott College played before the World U18 tournament. These are probably just from games JAC played in their league (CEGEP).
15 games, 13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points, 16 penalty minutes
The Strib’s metro “Dream Team”
Here’s a Minnesota high school girls hockey Dream Team for 2023-24, the best six players in the metro area, as selected by the Star Tribune’s David La Vaque.
F Lindzi Avar (Minnetonka) Sr. Cornell recruit
F Ayla Puppe (Northfield) Sr.
F Josie St. Martin (Stillwater) Sr. Ohio State recruit
D Mackenzie Jones (Andover) Jr. Wisconsin recruit
D Cailin Mumm (Andover) Sr. St. Thomas recruit
G Dani Strom (Maple Grove) Sr. St. Thomas recruit
Not the Gopher commit out of the dream team, but thought this interview with Eric St. Martin was pretty good.
A little peek into the future here. A game from this weekend from the USA/Canada cup tournament going on in Kitchener, Ontario between Rink Academy-Kelowna and the Burlington Barracudas. Rink Academy (black jerseys) has future Gophers Gracie Graham (#4) and Chloe Primerano (#72). Burlington has twin sisters Sara (#8) and Kate (#20) Manness.
Early season high school showdown in Minnetonka this afternoon with #1 Tonka and #2 Hill-Murray. While both teams have outstanding upperclassmen who have made their commitments, there are several young players in this game to keep tabs on over the next few years. Hill has an all freshman line of Emily Pohl, Jaycee Chatleain (a transfer from Centennial) and Ellianna Engelhardt. Emily is the oldest daughter of former Gophers Johnny Pohl and Krissy Wendell. I think Emily plays more like her father, great hands and a knack for finishing around the net. Ellianna is also the daughter of a former Gopher but, I apologize, I don’t remember which of the Curtin sisters (Rhonda or Renee) is her mother. She is a tall, slender player with good hands reminiscent of both her mother and her Aunt. Maybe not as polished right now as her line mates, but big upside I believe.
Minnetonka has several interesting younger players, but the one who really jumps out is 8th grade forward Sydney Boss Krohn. Nice early production on a team full of veteran forwards.
Anyway to watch a free stream for that game? Or any others even on the boys side?
Anyway to watch a free stream for that game? Or any others even on the boys side?
Looks like the girls game for today is available, but at a cost
Thanks
Early season high school showdown in Minnetonka this afternoon with #1 Tonka and #2 Hill-Murray.
Some highlights HERE
The CSSHL, where Rink Academy-Kelowna (with recruits Gracie Graham and Chloe Primerano) plays, seems a bit top heavy this season as far as competitive balance goes. This reached a bursting point today as Rink Academy outshot their opponent 92-9. Guest appearance by the Penn State stats crew?
Early season high school showdown in Minnetonka this afternoon with #1 Tonka and #2 Hill-Murray. While both teams have outstanding upperclassmen who have made their commitments, there are several young players in this game to keep tabs on over the next few years. Hill has an all freshman line of Emily Pohl, Jaycee Chatleain (a transfer from Centennial) and Ellianna Engelhardt. Emily is the oldest daughter of former Gophers Johnny Pohl and Krissy Wendell. I think Emily plays more like her father, great hands and a knack for finishing around the net. Ellianna is also the daughter of a former Gopher but, I apologize, I don’t remember which of the Curtin sisters (Rhonda or Renee) is her mother. She is a tall, slender player with good hands reminiscent of both her mother and her Aunt. Maybe not as polished right now as her line mates, but big upside I believe.
Minnetonka has several interesting younger players, but the one who really jumps out is 8th grade forward Sydney Boss Krohn. Nice early production on a team full of veteran forwards.
Rhonda is the one who is now an Englehardt.
Rochester’s Sawyer Fleming (Shattuck), who decommitted from Ohio State, is headed to Princeton.
Canada names their ROSTER for the IIHF Women’s U18 World Championships to be held January 6-14 in Zug, Switzerland. Gopher recruits Gracie Graham, Hannah Clark, Sienna D’Alessandro, Sara Manness and Chloe Primerano all made the team. Manness and Primerano will both be eligible for next year’s tournament also.
What a world it is that we have five players on Team Canada and only three on Team USA.
I am really looking forward to these next couple of years recruiting classes coming down the pipeline. Lots of really great talent that may "knock on wood" make a run at a title.
IIHF World Women’s Championship starts on Saturday in Zug, Switzerland.
https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2024/ww18/news/57070/ww18_group_a_preview
recruits mentioned: Chloe Primerano, Tereza Plosová
USA Hockey announces a late addition to their ROSTER for the World Women’s U18 Championship starting on Saturday.
ZUG, Switzerland – Forward Quinn Taylor (Centerville, Mass.) has been added to the roster of the 2024 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team.
Taylor previously represented the U.S. as a member of the 2023 U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team during the three-game Under-18 Select Series vs. Canada in August. Taylor played in all three games, registering an assist.
The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team competes at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, January 6-14, in Zug, Switzerland.
Quinn was on the team that played the three game series against Canada in the fall. She was not named to the original U.S. roster for Worlds. Recruiting wise, Quinn is a class of ‘26 prospect so is not eligible to make a commitment yet. Her NAHA team will be at Ridder later this month when the JWHL comes to town for their annual series of games.
USA Hockey announces a late addition to their ROSTER for the World Women’s U18 Championship starting on Saturday.
ZUG, Switzerland – Forward Quinn Taylor (Centerville, Mass.) has been added to the roster of the 2024 U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team.
Taylor previously represented the U.S. as a member of the 2023 U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team during the three-game Under-18 Select Series vs. Canada in August. Taylor played in all three games, registering an assist.
The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team competes at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, January 6-14, in Zug, Switzerland.
Quinn was on the team that played the three game series against Canada in the fall. She was not named to the original U.S. roster for Worlds. Recruiting wise, Quinn is a class of ‘26 prospect so is not eligible to make a commitment yet. Her NAHA team will be at Ridder later this month when the JWHL comes to town for their annual series of games.
She's there as an injury replacement for Hannah Weyerhaeuser.
15 Players To Watch At The U-18 World Championships
Players mentioned with commitments
- Chloe Primerano ( )
- Nela Lopusanova (class of ‘26)
- Adela Sapovalivova (Wisconsin)
- Hilda Svensson (Ohio State)
- Caitlin Kraemer (UMD)
- Abby Stonehouse (Penn State)
- Tereza Plosová ( )
- Emma Venusio (Wisconsin)
- Naemi Herzig (no commitment to my knowledge)
- Ivana Wey (no commitment to my knowledge)
- Stryker Zablocki (Northeastern)
- Ebba Hedqvist (no commitment to my knowledge)
- Maggie Scannell (Wisconsin)
- Tuuli Tallinen (no commitment to my knowledge)
- Ema Tothova (no commitment to my knowledge)
‘25 commit Bella Fanale will wear an “A” for the U.S. team in Switzerland.
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1742693204749664609?s=20
Women’s U18 World Championships
So, the tournament starts Saturday, and the U.S.’s first game is Sunday (U.S. schedule). There is a U.S. exhibition game today at noon with the Czechs. Looks like that game will be streamed HERE (seems like it’s free).
recruits with their numbers:
- 🇺🇸 Layla Hemp #1
- 🇺🇸 Kendra Distad #14
- 🇺🇸 Bella Fanale #28
- 🇨🇿 Tereza Plosová #22
Exhibition game winds up 3-3 in regulation. Nobody scores in a five minute 3x3. The Czechs win the shootout.
KLOTEN, Switzerland – The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team dropped its pre-tournament game to Czechia, 4-3, in a shootout at Stimo Arena on Thursday evening.
“While we always want to come out on the winning side, today was a good opportunity for us to get our legs underneath us and see what we have to hone in on before tournament play starts this weekend,” said Liz Keady Norton (Boston, Mass.), head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team. “We’ll take this as a learning opportunity and move towards our first game against Slovakia.”Josie St. Martin (Stillwater, Minn.) opened the game’s scoring with 11:55 remaining in the first, deflecting a slapshot five-hole into the net. Czechia responded with two-straight in the second half of the first to take a 2-1 lead into the locker room.
St. Martin tallied her second of the game early in the second on a breakaway, the only score of the period.
In the third, the teams exchanged goals to head into extra time tied, 3-3. Ava Thomas (Downington, Pa.) tallied one early in the third, before Czechia responded later in the period. Thomas also received a penalty shot in the waning minutes of the game, but could not convert.
After a scoreless overtime period, the teams moved to a shootout, where Czechia topped the U.S. 2-1 to win the game.
Manness Looks To Build Off U-18 National MVP Honor At Worlds
Also stumbled across THIS, “Hockey Canada’s” guide to their U18 team. Lots of information on each individual player. Also a lot of historical information about the tournament.
15 Players To Watch At The U-18 World Championships
Players mentioned with commitments
- Chloe Primerano (
- Nela Lopusanova (class of ‘26)
- Adela Sapovalivova (Wisconsin)
- Hilda Svensson (Ohio State)
- Caitlin Kraemer (UMD)
- Abby Stonehouse (Penn State)
- Tereza Plosová (
- Emma Venusio (Wisconsin)
- Naemi Herzig (no commitment to my knowledge)
- Ivana Wey (no commitment to my knowledge)
- Stryker Zablocki (Northeastern)
- Ebba Hedqvist (no commitment to my knowledge)
- Maggie Scannell (Wisconsin)
- Tuuli Tallinen (no commitment to my knowledge)
- Ema Tothova (no commitment to my knowledge)
Understand Team USA's kind of in the mud here but Megan Healy was the US's best blueliner as a 15-year-old last year, I think she deserves a mention.
Women’s U18 World Championships
Tournament kicks off today (first game has started)
Places to follow things
Looks like all U.S. games will be on NHL Network.
recruits participating
🇺🇸 U.S.A.
- 1 Layla Hemp ‘25
- 14 Kendra Distad ‘24
- 28 Bella Fanale ‘25
🇨🇦 Canada
- 4 Gracie Graham ‘24
- 8 Chloe Primerano ‘25
- 13 Sara Manness ‘25
- 14 Sienna D’Alessandro ‘25
- 30 Hannah Clark ‘24
🇨🇿 Czechia
- 22 Tereza Plosová ‘25
Canada roughs up Germany 11-0 in the opening U18 game for both.
D'Alessandro treble leads Canada past Germany
Future Gophers have a part in the proceedings. Sienna D’Alessandro with the hat trick, Chloe Primerano with five points (2-3) and goalie Hannah Clark stands on her head in a four save shutout.
Germany won last year’s lower class tournament to move up with the big fish. Don’t recall who moved down. I’m thinking it was Japan, but I’m too lazy to look it up.
Canada roughs up Germany 11-0 in the opening U18 game for both.
Must be revenge from Canada’s performance and World Jr’s.
Keep your stick on the ice...
No Bella Fanale in the line up, injury?
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1743937911609815330?s=20
U.S. and Slovakia go into the third tied 1-1, then the U.S. explodes for six in the third (including five goals in 4:02) for a 7-1 win.
U.S. vs. the home team Swiss. Face off at 1:00 on NHL Network. Still no Bella Fanale in the lineup.
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1744424482381406556?s=20
Any score yet?
Aloha!
6-0 after two. Future Gopher Kendra Distad scores the sixth goal.