7 takeaways from women’s college hockey recruiting season, so far

We're in the thick of this year's women's college hockey recruiting cycle.

It's been just about a month and a half since June 15, which is when girls hockey players in the class of 2027 became eligible to commit.

Plenty of 2008 and 2009-born prospects in the class of 2027 have landed commitments so far, and there are plenty of uncommitted players to keep track of as we roll into the back end of the summer. Other 2007s and 2008s in the class of 2026 who became eligible to commit in 2024 continue to find landing spots as well.

The activity certainly picked up throughout July, including a flurry of high-profile commitments, so it's a perfect time to take stock of where things are at.

Top Lovell Academy prospects headed to the Big Ten

Big Ten powers Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Penn State made splashes at Lovell Academy.

Top 2009 defender Chyna Taylor committed to reigning national champ Wisconsin, while '09 forward Sydney Stoughton committed to Minnesota. Meanwhile, '09 forward and defender Aubryn Monter committed to Penn State.

All three are coming off wildly productive seasons with the Lovell 16Us.

Monter captained the Lions and led the way with 71 goals. She was also second on the team with 129 points in 83 games. Monter skated at USA Hockey's National 16/17 camp in July.

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Stoughton, meanwhile, is effective in all situations and finds ways to make winning plays. She filled the scoresheet this past season with 119 points (62 goals) in 83 games. She also took home silver at the U18 Women’s Worlds and will skate at the U18 Women’s National Team Festival.

Taylor is an electrifying presence on the blue line, evidenced by her 107 points (26 goals) in 83 games for Lovell this past season. She also won silver at the U18 Women’s Worlds. She’s dynamic and has a knack for taking over shifts, thanks to her powerful skating, high hockey IQ and quick shot. She does a great job facilitating puck movement out high and pushing the pace in transition. Taylor also made the U18 Women’s National Team Festival.

Daley, Frost, Jonas and Lahah commit to Yale

The Bulldogs, who have their fair share of New England talent among the 2007s and 2008s, increased their footprint with four strong pickups in Williston Northampton's Mia Daley, Nobles' Annika Jonas (Weston, Mass.), St. George's Maddie Lahah (North Attleboro, Mass.) and Deerfield's Sophie Frost.

Lahah, a powerful '08 forward who plays a good 200-foot game, was previously committed to Holy Cross. She's led St. George's in scoring over the last two seasons, posting a combined 71 points (36 goals) in 45 games. This past season, she had 17 goals and 17 assists in 23 games, helping the Dragons make the Small School tournament.

Meanwhile, Daley, a 2009, has been a key contributor in Williston's top six over the last two seasons, proving herself in big minutes alongside other high-end players. After scoring 24 points (eight goals) in 26 games in 2023-24, she found another level this past season with 34 points (17 goals) in 25 games. She plays a smart game and drives offense. After a strong spring, Daley skated at National 16/17 camp along with Lahah.

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Frost has been a strong producer for the Big Green. She had 22 points (11 goals) this past winter, which followed 25 points (10 goals) the year prior. She's a strong skater who carries the puck confidently and can be difficult to contain.

Jonas, meanwhile, was stellar in the crease for Nobles in her first year as the starter as a sophomore. The '07 posted a .950 save percentage as one of the NEPSAC's top goaltenders.

Lahah and Frost join Dexter Southfield's Sawyer Merrill (Hingham, Mass.) and Loomis Chaffee's Annie Schwarz (Fairfield, Conn.) among fellow 2008 New England products headed to Yale. Daley is the first '09 out of the region to commit to Yale.

The Bulldogs also have a bevy of committed players with ties to the region among the '07s between Deerfield's Chloe Cleaves (Riveside, Conn.), Nobles' Gretta Hulbig (Foxboro, Mass.) and Dexter's Evelyn Doyle (Needham, Mass.).

Austen, Glantz commit to Brown

Brown was active early in the recruiting cycle, securing commitments from Deerfield's Olivia Austen (Darien, Conn.) and BB&N's Kate Glantz (Burlington, Mass.).

Austen joins her sister Keira (Darien, Conn.), a 2007 defender at Deerfield, in the Bears' pipeline. Olivia has been a consistent producer for the Big Green, putting up 20 points (nine goals) as a sophomore this past season en route to a Large School title. It followed up a 22-point (seven-goal) freshman season. Austen has good hands and strong instincts, allowing her to facilitate offense off the cycle and create chances for herself and her teammates.

Glantz is a smart playmaking forward in her own right for BB&N, showcasing good vision, awareness and passing in the offensive zone. She had 13 points (six goals) this past season, which followed eight points (two goals) in 2023-24. Teammate Anika Singh (Lexington, Mass.), a 2007 forward, is also a Brown commit.

Bartlett, Lind commit to Harvard

No sooner do I highlight Choate's Sophia Lind (Madison, Conn.) among uncommitted standout defenders and goalies at the Beantown Classic last weekend, does she commit to Harvard.

The smooth-skating '09 defender has had a good spring and summer for the CT Polar Bears between USA Hockey Nationals and the Beantown Classic, moving the puck well and effectively skating it through the neutral zone. She had a goal and three assists on Choate's blue line last season.

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Lind joins Rivers' 2008 Brooke Bartlett (Wayland, Mass.) in the Crimson's pipeline. Bartlett is a key piece on a young Red Wings squad that should continue to come into its own next winter.

She put up career-bests across the board this past winter with 21 points (nine goals), up from 13 points (six goals) the season prior. She’s a speedy, skilled center who facilitates well with her linemates, whether it was at Rivers this winter or at Mass. Hockey festival. Bartlett, who plays split-season with the East Coast Wizards, made National 16/17 Camp.

Fellow 2008 Lindsay Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.), a Loomis Chaffee standout, is also in Harvard's pipeline.

Hockey East active among the '09s

Several Hockey East programs hardly wasted any time securing commitments from 2009-born players.

Boston University got to work with four commits out of Ontario.

The Terriers landed Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins forwards Sydney Bowness and Skyler Ruschpler, Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres defender Eve Ouellette and Quinte Red Devils goalie Lily Reid. Both Bowness and Ruschpler have been productive at the U18 levels in previous seasons. Ruschpler, in particular, had 91 points (63 goals) in 75 games with the Brampton Canadettes U18s last season. Reid went 11-4-1 with one shutout and a 2.38 goals-against average last season. Ouellette had 14 points (three goals) in 32 games on defense for Stoney Creek.

Providence College has been busy, locking up six commits.

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The Friars added four Canadian skaters, including three from the Durham West Jr. Lightning, between forwards Neve Thatcher and Peyton Fleming as well as defender Taylor Supryka. PC also got commits from forward Madison Stark (Edmonton Jr. Oilers), Bishop Kearney defender Micayla Hunt and Apple Valley (Minn.) goalie Finley Engfer. Stark had 17 points (six goals) in 28 games as a 15-year-old playing at the U18 AAA level last season. Engfer went 10-8-1 with a .911 save percentage and a 2.53 GAA for Apple Valley High last season. She also made Team USA's roster for the IIHF Under-18 Women's Worlds.

Northeastern and UConn secured a handful of commits on the blue line, too.

NU added a trio of defenders between Bishop Kearney's Cady Kowalow, Winchendon's Abby Waara and the Barrie Jr. Sharks' Adrielle Charette. Waara had 57 points (11 goals) in 50 games for Winchendon's 16U AAA squad, while Charette had seven points (two goals) in 39 games for Barrie.

UConn landed two Canadian defenders as well, with the Ottawa Lady Senators' Olivia VanSickle and Etobicoke's Mia Venusio. Venusio had 20 points (two goals) in 40 games on defense last season.

Boston College, meanwhile, picked up Honeybaked goalie Lilly MacLeish out of Michigan. She went 21-11-5 with a 2.79 GAA in 37 games with Honeybaked's 15U squad last season.

ECAC programs land other Lovell standouts

While a trio of Lions found landing spots at Big Ten programs, another trio committed to ECAC programs.

Clarkson added Lovell defender Faith Baratta. The left-shot 2008 brings speed and an ability to accelerate quickly to the back end. She had 53 points (10 goals) in 83 games on defense for the Lovell 16Us last season.

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Cornell, meanwhile, picked up Czech forward Tereza Gildainová. The '08 had a whopping 122 points (53 goals) in 83 games for the Lions, good enough for the third-highest output on the team.

Joely Wexler (Needham, Mass.) also committed to Union. Although undersized, Wexler plays with high energy and pace. She had 34 points (13 goals) in 83 games last season.

Other notable commitments...

• Phillips Exeter's Erin Sears commits to Northeastern: Sears (Cornwall, Vt.), a 2008, was a vital piece to Exeter's productive top line this past season, posting 29 points (13 goals) in 25 games alongside Vermont commit Maria Gray and uncommitted Paisley Meyer (Greenland, N.H.). It was a big step up for Sears, who had 14 points (four goals) as a freshman in 2023-24.
• Nobles' Lily Bromley commits to Princeton: Bromley (Carlisle, Mass.) was a big piece for Nobles this past season as a freshman, posting seven goals and 23 points in 30 games. It was a solid improvement from 15 points (seven goals) as an eighth-grader the year before. Bromley, an '09, is a ton of fun to watch, playing with high energy. She can be a wrecking ball out there and creates a lot of offense in middle ice to go along with a heavy shot.
• Assumption lands Middlesex's Janie Martin and Tilton's Gabby Cerqua: Martin (Burlington, Mass.) has taken off over the last two seasons at Middlesex, leading the Zebras in scoring both seasons. She had 18 goals and 24 points this past season, following 10 goals and 22 points the year prior. Cerqua (Pocasset, Mass.), meanwhile, is a versatile skater for the Rams, capable of playing both forward and defense. Her 14 points (10 goals) this past winter were a big step up from four points (three goals) in 2023-24.
• Loomis Chaffee's Alexine Beaulieu commits to RPI: Bealieau (Hudson, N.H.), a former standout at Tilton, is about to enter her second season with Loomis. She's coming off five points (two goals) from the blue line last season, helping the Pelicans take the Elite 8 title. She'll have a chance at a big uptick in minutes this winter.
• Groton's Jamie Noonan commits to Stonehill: Noonan (East Bridgewater, Mass.) is an effective, versatile presence on the blue line for the Zebras. She brings speed and agility to generate exits and take skating lanes. She had six points (two goals) last season, following 12 points (five goals) the year before.
• Lovell's Rose Solomon and Gracesyn Louis commit to Vermont: The Catamounts picked up a pair of Lovell forwards. Louis had 49 points (22 goals) in 83 games last season, while Solomon had 42 points (16 goals).