We may be in the dog days of the hockey season, from girls prep school hockey to high school to full-season. But that doesn't mean the recruiting carousel has stopped.
It's been a while since we checked in on the latest in recruiting locally, given the busyness of the season. But the mid-point of the season is as good a time as any.
The last time we checked in on the recruiting scene was Oct. 8. Naturally, there's a fair amount to catch up on.
Several local stars landed commitments, and several local programs were busy.
Let's dive in.
Jane Daley commits to Ohio State
One of the college scene's perennial powerhouses, the Buckeyes picked up another electrifying prospect when Daley (Medfield, Mass.) committed on Dec. 28.
Daley possesses an elite skillset, and it showed at the recent IIHF U18 Women's World Championship. The forward was named tournament MVP with 17 points and a record 12 goals in six games as she helped Team USA dominate en route to a gold medal.
An '09, Daley has been a standout with Shattuck-St. Mary's over the last three years. She put up 82 points (26 goals) in 57 games in her first season with Shattuck's 16U squad in 2023-24, following it up with 89 points (39 goals) in 37 games last season. Through 19 games with Shattuck's prep squad this season, Daley has 33 points (15 goals).
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Daley is a strong skater with a tremendous release and a relentless motor, and she's only scratching the surface of her potential. She has one more year at Shattuck and another year of eligibility at the U18 women's worlds.
Three NAHA stars land commitments
Some of NAHA's best skaters were among the top uncommitted prospects we had our eye on, and three found their next stops over the last few months.
Left-shot defender Kaylee Mandeville (Uxbridge, Mass.) committed to Merrimack on Oct. 11. The '08 is a solid three-zone presence. She reads plays well, makes a good first pass, finds skating lanes and facilitates effectively in the offensive zone. Mandeville, who advanced to the U18 Festival last season after impressing at National 16/17 camp, has 13 points (two goals) in 40 games this season. She had 12 points in 30 games last season.
Fellow '08 defender Olivia Bonarrigo (Walpole, Mass.) committed to Stonehill on Nov. 20. The right-shot blue-liner has quick feet and plenty of strength. She moves well with and without the puck and recognizes forechecking pressure. She's also strong in defensive battles down low and around the net. After posting 10 points in 54 games last winter, Bonarrigo has 11 points (two goals) through 40 games this season.
Meanwhile, forward Abby Richardson committed to Clarkson on Dec. 10. The '08, who was at 16/17 camp in the offseason, is a speedy difference-maker up front. She puts opponents on their heels and consistently gains the offensive zone with possession. She has plenty of scoring touch, too, putting up 61 points (33 goals) through 40 games this season. Richardson had 57 points (36 goals) in 57 games last winter.
Kimee Duplessis commits to Delaware
Duplessis was another uncommitted name to watch ahead of the scholastic season. She'll join a handful of former prep standouts at Delaware after she committed to the Fightin' Blue Hens on Nov. 12.
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The Phillips Andover blue-liner has parlayed the commitment into a strong start to her junior season. Through 13 games, Duplessis is on track to beat her previous career bests from last season (five goals and 15 points in 26 games), posting 10 points (two goals).
The '08 has shown year-over-year improvement from her freshman season. She makes quick reads with the puck, makes strong passes and has improved her strength and assertiveness.
Duplessis, who also skates with Assabet, advanced to the U18 Festival in the offseason after skating at 16/17 camp, too.
Delaware, which is in its inaugural season in Division 1, boasts former NEPSAC skaters in Wren Abboud (Weymouth, Mass./Thayer), Eva Mayo (Kent), Charlie Voge (St. Paul's) and Madison Bonavita (Longmeadow, Mass./Milton Academy).
Assumption lands local standouts
The Greyhounds were busy over the last few months, getting commitments from local standouts like Dexter Southfield goalie Addie Sutherland (West Roxbury, Mass.), Winchendon forward Haley Hasbargen and Lovell Academy defender Haven Mills.
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Sutherland, who committed on Oct. 23, has been a big part of Dexter's success over the last two-plus seasons. After posting a .968 save percentage in limited action as a freshman, Sutherland has split the net with Annabelle Aitken (Winchester, Mass.) over the last two seasons and performed well. She had a .909 as a sophomore before a .932 last season. One of her best outings this season was a 21-save showing in a 3-2 upset of Nobles. The '08 reacts quickly and stands tall against second-chance opportunities.
Hasbargen, who previously played for Lawrenceville, has been as productive as they come since arriving at Winchendon. The '09, who captains Winchendon's 16U squad, had 87 points (26 goals) in 59 games last season. Through 46 games this year, she has 98 points (28 goals).
Mills, a right-shot blue-liner, has put up solid numbers on the back end. The former Dallas Stars Elite standout has 13 points (three goals) through 36 games for the Lions last season, following a 17-point, seven-goal run in 74 contests last winter.
Aside from the three who play locally, Assumption also picked up forward Harper Wieneke out of Maple Grove High in Minnesota. The '09 has 21 points (five goals) in 21 games this winter. She had 17 points (nine goals) in 28 games last season.
Northeastern lands Tess Martin
The Huskies kept busy, adding Shattuck-St. Mary's defender Tess Martin to their pipeline.
Martin was originally committed to Harvard, but announced her commitment to NU on Nov. 17.
The rangy blue-liner, standing at 5-foot-10, has eight points (one goal) through 27 games with Shattuck this season, following 10 points (two goals) last season. Martin, an '08, also had 40 points in 112 games over two seasons with Shattuck's 16U squad, including a 24-point year in 2023-24.
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Martin's older sister, Lacey, played for Boston University from 2020 to 2024.
UNH lands a productive Finnish prospect
The Wildcats added a pair of commits since our last check-in, including Finnish '05 center Sofia Kari.
Kari has been playing professionally in Finland's Auroraliiga (formerly Naisten Liiga) since 2020-21 and has appeared on the international stage at the U18 Women's World Championship.
In the last six seasons, she has totaled 107 points (63 goals) in 159 games for Team Kuortane. Kari found her stride last season with 34 points (19 goals) in 31 games as an assistant captain. She's on pace to beat those totals this season, posting 31 points (18 goals) through 24 games as she captains Team Kuortane.
UNH also added goalie Mae Steigerwald to its pipeline. Steigerwald, an '08, stands at 5-foot-10. The Gilmour Academy standout was at National 16/17 camp and advanced to the U18 Festival in the offseason.
Stonehill stays busy
On top of Bonarrigo, Stonehill added defender Reese Combe (York, Maine) and forward Spencer Vaccari to the mix.
Combe is currently with Northwood School for a postgrad season after playing three years at Kimball Union. She had 21 points in 85 games in the NEPSAC, including 10 points (nine assists) as a senior. Her sister, Summer, is a freshman forward at Stonehill after putting up 24 points (28 games) at KUA last season.
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Vaccari, meanwhile, has been a productive skater for the Etobicoke Dolphins of the OWHL. She has 28 points (eight goals) in 32 games this season, following 23 points (six goals) in 42 games last winter.
Other notable commitments...
- Annie Banks commits to Post:Â Banks, an '07 defender with Lovell Academy's 19U squad, joined Post's pipeline. The 5-foot-6 blue-liner has nine points (three goals) through 33 games this season. She had 19 points (six goals) in 72 games last winter.
- Marissa Gloyns commits to Dartmouth:Â In Gloyns, the Big Green committed a productive defender out of Ontario. The '08 has 14 points in 38 games on the Mississauga Hurricanes' (OWHL) blue line. She had 20 points in 41 games last season.
- Siya Grewal commits to Merrimack: In addition to Mandeville, the Warriors also landed '08 center Siya Grewal. The Sacramento, Calif., native is in her first season with Bishop Kearney's 19U squad after standing out with the San Jose Jr. Sharks. She had 115 points in 120 games in two 16U seasons, including 74 points (34 goals) in 64 games last year.
- Holy Cross adds two European prospects: The Crusaders dipped into the overseas pipeline as well, adding Swedish goalie Jorinde Heller and Italian forward Manuela Heidenberger. Heller has been a standout with Linköpings HC and the Swedish U18 squad. Heidenberger, who has appeared with the Italian U18 national team, will skate for Italy in the upcoming Olympics. She plays with HPK in Finland's Auroraliiga, too. In 16 games this season, she has four points (six goals). Last winter, she had 12 points (six goals) in 32 games.
